Has anyone had success with any earplugs that don't cut out the high end and muffle everything? I tried the Etymotic high fidelity ones but didn't notice that much of a difference b/w those and the cheap Hearos. I've got constant tinnitus in both ears - probably too many years standing next to our drummers ice bell. I'd sure like to make it not any worse.
Earplugs
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I have found that in a band setting earplugs are great once you get used to them. They do cut out a lot of the high end, but you can usually hear yourself and what everyone else is doing much more clearly. Give em a chance. 
I use Hearos High Fidelity Ear Filters. They have a different construction than the cheap foam kind of earplugs and IMO, don't kill the highs like the cheap foam kind do.
Riff Blister
Well-known member
jab,
I'm in the same boat as you with ringing ears. Too many years of rock and roll for sure.
I have used the Hearos "Rock 'n Roll" ear filters but I always ended up taking them out. Maybe I didn't give them a chance. I don't know, but I did not like them.
If I go to a concert though, you better believe I don't leave home without them.
I'm in the same boat as you with ringing ears. Too many years of rock and roll for sure.
I have used the Hearos "Rock 'n Roll" ear filters but I always ended up taking them out. Maybe I didn't give them a chance. I don't know, but I did not like them.
If I go to a concert though, you better believe I don't leave home without them.
Turumbar82
Well-known member
I've tried the Etymotic ones too. They do a good job of a balanced sound but I just don't think they lower the volume that much to really save my ears. Of course I bought the 12 dollars ones. You could always spend tons of money on getting custom ones made.
I always end up taking my earplugs out after a little because my amps sounds so much better without them in and I just make sure to keep my distance from the drummers cymbals.
I always end up taking my earplugs out after a little because my amps sounds so much better without them in and I just make sure to keep my distance from the drummers cymbals.
I use Etymotic Research ones, I got a re-usable pair for about $30, they work great. You're right, the SPL reduction is not as great as they could be, but I prefer even attenuation.
I might look into getting some custom ones though.
I might look into getting some custom ones though.
I'll also echo jhguitar1: Don't **** around with your hearing. I was born with a severe hearing loss in both ears. If people tell you you're not cool or whatever for wearing earplugs then invite them to stand next to your Mesa as you turn the output volume up to 100% and start smashing out some E chords. Maybe not. But either way, protect what you have! Save loud playing for shows and jamming. You will find that the human ears are very good at "amplifying" quiet sounds over a short period of time, once the brain realizes it's OK to do so (IE: there won't be any sudden loud bursts of sound.)
Mungo Zen
Well-known member
I have something similar to the Hearos listed here and have found them worthwhile, although they are a bit long for my ear. I have developed Tinnitus starting as a teenager from going to all ages shows and made it worse over time from being lazy regarding ear safety.
Ultimately, going and getting custom earplugs made is my goal, it will run 200 bucks but they will be built for my ear and will last for a long time. My roommate has a set with interchangeable cores for different dB reductions.
Something is better then nothing, and the Hearos style is pretty solid while not compromising the range as much as foam.
Ultimately, going and getting custom earplugs made is my goal, it will run 200 bucks but they will be built for my ear and will last for a long time. My roommate has a set with interchangeable cores for different dB reductions.
Something is better then nothing, and the Hearos style is pretty solid while not compromising the range as much as foam.
we use in ear monitors. Is that an option for you?
I have a set of Etymotic in ear monitors and they work great !! The problem I have with them is you lose all you interaction with the band and the crowd !! I quit using them . But I am considering starting again because of the ringing in my ears. I may try to use an overhead mic for band interaction and maybe one for the crowd as well .
Dead Moon Rising
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Herbvis said:I have found that in a band setting earplugs are great once you get used to them. They do cut out a lot of the high end, but you can usually hear yourself and what everyone else is doing much more clearly. Give em a chance.
+1
just get used to the foam ones, they're cheap and the difference in sound is better than losing you're hearing. i hurt my right ear in high school, and that was some of the worst pain i've ever felt in my life. NOT worth it IMO.
djw
Well-known member
If we all claim to be able to afford these $1000+ amps that can blow our eardrums to shreds, we can afford to get custom earplugs. Custom earplugs are WORTH EVERY BLOODY PENNY.
They reduce sound very evenly and consistently, so you don't get the muffled response that you get with the sponges. You can still hear everything. Very easy to get used to, and you don't feel like you're missing anything.
It's a bummer if you lose them, like I did... and I need to get mine replaced. But you get religious about bringing them everywhere. I got in the habit of wearing them onstage from start to finish. No problem.
Worth. Every. Penny.
Custom ear plugs. Don't **** around.
They reduce sound very evenly and consistently, so you don't get the muffled response that you get with the sponges. You can still hear everything. Very easy to get used to, and you don't feel like you're missing anything.
It's a bummer if you lose them, like I did... and I need to get mine replaced. But you get religious about bringing them everywhere. I got in the habit of wearing them onstage from start to finish. No problem.
Worth. Every. Penny.
Custom ear plugs. Don't **** around.
212Mavguy
Well-known member
All right, now here is the real question:
Sources for the mentioned brands AND custom earplugs? We all need help here on this one... 8)
Sources for the mentioned brands AND custom earplugs? We all need help here on this one... 8)
djw
Well-known member
The H.E.A.R. Project has a partner affiliate page for folks outside the bay area; otherwise these days it's pretty easy to find ear specialists, who will either provide these services or can point you in the right direction.
It has to be local. You can't just order custom earplugs, obviously; you have to go in and get a fitting. Which is actually kind of fun and trippy, it gets you familiar with the sensation of sticking something really tightly in your ear.
It has to be local. You can't just order custom earplugs, obviously; you have to go in and get a fitting. Which is actually kind of fun and trippy, it gets you familiar with the sensation of sticking something really tightly in your ear.
Turumbar82
Well-known member
here is the link for Etymotic Research. They have cheaper earplugs but they also have really nice ones that cost near $200. These kind are custom molded to your ear.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx
jdurso
Well-known member
guys i dont want to thread jack but the title of this thread reminds me of an incident i had on a plane last week..... i think you guys might get a kick out of this story at my own expense... my co worker emailed this to about 4 people in our company and by Monday morning half the company (3000+ employees) knew about it... so at the expense of my pride here is why not to use Shure Earbuds on a plane(author is my co-worker):
The events that took place on Sunday 6/16/08 ….enjoy
12:30pm:
So I am sitting on the plane reading my book while the plane waits on the tarmac for a thunder storm to pass. All of a sudden the flight attendant gets on the intercom and ask “Is there a medical doctor or nurse on board? Please come to the front of the plane” I start think “wow someone up front must be sick or something.” I try to look but can not see. The doctor starts walking to the front of the plane and we all wait patiently. I did not know at the time but the person who was “sick” was Jonathan. Jonathan was listening to his Zune when the rubber piece of his ear bud got stuck in his ear. The doctor walks to the front of the plane and inspects Jonathan’s ear. In Jonathan’s efforts to remove the ear bud himself he actually lodged it in there. The doctor told him he would not be able to fly due to the high pressure building up in his ear which will cause a terrible amount of pain and may make his head explode. During all this I continue reading my book unknowing to what was actually going on; all of a sudden Jonathan comes to my seat. “Hey Joel, I’m going to have to meet you there tomorrow I have to get off the plane” said Jonathan, I took me a second to realize what he was saying. He continued, “ I got my ear bud stuck in my ear” At this point the comedy hadn’t settled in. I was still trying to figure out what just happen. All I could say is ok and continue to stare at my book. I wasn’t really reading it, just staring at the pages thinking, “how did he get that stuck, doesn’t anyone have something sharp to get it out (oh yea we are on a plane), is this really happening. At this point the captain gets on the intercom a little annoyed by the sound of his voice, “Folks, ahhhh…we seem to have a medical emergency on the plane….ahh…. we are going to have to head back to the gate….ahhh…. we will also refuel there since we burnt some on the tarmac…..ahhh… I apologize for the inconvenience.”
1:00pm:
At this point the plane starts making its way back to the gate. The lady sitting next to me finally builds up the courage to ask, “ so what did your friend get stuck in his ear.” At this point the comedy began setting in. I said, “a power ranger” she looked at me in shock, “no the ear bud of his headphone.” I could immediately see that she was holding in a laugh. I also noticed that all the seats around me were leaning into the conversation.
1:30pm:
We arrive at the gate, “ WILL JONATHAN D’URSO PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE PLANE” In all my years of living in a Frat house I have never seen a walk of shame more embarrassing then that. All eyes were on Jon. As soon as he got of the plane cell phone started up and people were spreading the word. I myself called at least 3 people.
2:30pm
we were finally ready to fly. 2 hours delayed because of Jonathan
Meanwhile, Jon gets picked up by an ambulance gets taken to the hospital. Now Jon is sitting in the waiting room and the doctor walks in, doctor says “opps im sorry I am in the wrong room” he looks at the 26 year old man sitting there and says “wait are you Jon?” Jon nods yes, doctor says “ oh sorry I was expecting a little kid.”
Moral of the story.... either dont fly with co-workers or use over the ear headphones when you fly because that was the most embaressing day of my life.
The events that took place on Sunday 6/16/08 ….enjoy
12:30pm:
So I am sitting on the plane reading my book while the plane waits on the tarmac for a thunder storm to pass. All of a sudden the flight attendant gets on the intercom and ask “Is there a medical doctor or nurse on board? Please come to the front of the plane” I start think “wow someone up front must be sick or something.” I try to look but can not see. The doctor starts walking to the front of the plane and we all wait patiently. I did not know at the time but the person who was “sick” was Jonathan. Jonathan was listening to his Zune when the rubber piece of his ear bud got stuck in his ear. The doctor walks to the front of the plane and inspects Jonathan’s ear. In Jonathan’s efforts to remove the ear bud himself he actually lodged it in there. The doctor told him he would not be able to fly due to the high pressure building up in his ear which will cause a terrible amount of pain and may make his head explode. During all this I continue reading my book unknowing to what was actually going on; all of a sudden Jonathan comes to my seat. “Hey Joel, I’m going to have to meet you there tomorrow I have to get off the plane” said Jonathan, I took me a second to realize what he was saying. He continued, “ I got my ear bud stuck in my ear” At this point the comedy hadn’t settled in. I was still trying to figure out what just happen. All I could say is ok and continue to stare at my book. I wasn’t really reading it, just staring at the pages thinking, “how did he get that stuck, doesn’t anyone have something sharp to get it out (oh yea we are on a plane), is this really happening. At this point the captain gets on the intercom a little annoyed by the sound of his voice, “Folks, ahhhh…we seem to have a medical emergency on the plane….ahh…. we are going to have to head back to the gate….ahhh…. we will also refuel there since we burnt some on the tarmac…..ahhh… I apologize for the inconvenience.”
1:00pm:
At this point the plane starts making its way back to the gate. The lady sitting next to me finally builds up the courage to ask, “ so what did your friend get stuck in his ear.” At this point the comedy began setting in. I said, “a power ranger” she looked at me in shock, “no the ear bud of his headphone.” I could immediately see that she was holding in a laugh. I also noticed that all the seats around me were leaning into the conversation.
1:30pm:
We arrive at the gate, “ WILL JONATHAN D’URSO PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE PLANE” In all my years of living in a Frat house I have never seen a walk of shame more embarrassing then that. All eyes were on Jon. As soon as he got of the plane cell phone started up and people were spreading the word. I myself called at least 3 people.
2:30pm
we were finally ready to fly. 2 hours delayed because of Jonathan
Meanwhile, Jon gets picked up by an ambulance gets taken to the hospital. Now Jon is sitting in the waiting room and the doctor walks in, doctor says “opps im sorry I am in the wrong room” he looks at the 26 year old man sitting there and says “wait are you Jon?” Jon nods yes, doctor says “ oh sorry I was expecting a little kid.”
Moral of the story.... either dont fly with co-workers or use over the ear headphones when you fly because that was the most embaressing day of my life.
richt
Well-known member
Wow what a story Jonathan, I hope that you are okay??
My recommendation is definitely get the custom ear-plugs. My old bandmates and I had ours made 10 years ago, and they are absolutely worth it!! They were about $200, if I remember correctly, and required a visit that included a hearing test and then a molding for the plugs. They have a replaceable filter that can be be used for various levels of sound reduction. We got the -15dB filters, which provide a comfortable level of protection without making you feel disconnected from the music. The best part of course, is that they provide a flat reduction across the frequency range, so no muffled sound with booming bass, like the foam plugs!
If you are gigging regularly, just do it. I got mine in my mid-twenties, and now in my mid-thirties I still have respectable freq response (up to 16kHz) and my sensitivity is still intact.
I agree that perhaps they are not the sexiest thing to invest in, but they are so worth it! I take mine everywhere there is going to be loud music or noise.
I hope this helps!
Cheers,
Richt
My recommendation is definitely get the custom ear-plugs. My old bandmates and I had ours made 10 years ago, and they are absolutely worth it!! They were about $200, if I remember correctly, and required a visit that included a hearing test and then a molding for the plugs. They have a replaceable filter that can be be used for various levels of sound reduction. We got the -15dB filters, which provide a comfortable level of protection without making you feel disconnected from the music. The best part of course, is that they provide a flat reduction across the frequency range, so no muffled sound with booming bass, like the foam plugs!
If you are gigging regularly, just do it. I got mine in my mid-twenties, and now in my mid-thirties I still have respectable freq response (up to 16kHz) and my sensitivity is still intact.
I agree that perhaps they are not the sexiest thing to invest in, but they are so worth it! I take mine everywhere there is going to be loud music or noise.
I hope this helps!
Cheers,
Richt
