Earplugs - Save my ears!

[rclangelan]

I've been 100% deaf in my right ear since the 5th grade (sledding accident) and I'm bigtime concerned about losing hearing in my left. I gig 1-3 times a week, and we are loud! My ears are still ringing from last night.

Whats a good earplug for protecting my ear, but not distorting the sound? I sing a lot of harmonies, and if I can't hear the right pitch, it'll get ugly quick.

Please help!

Thanks,

Ryan

[Ddjembe Mutombo]

These are good for the price.

http://www.westone.com/catalog/etymotic-ety-plugs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are a little murky sounding, but way better than any plugs in their price range.



I personally have custom molded westone ear plugs with -15dB filters. I love them and I can't use over-the-counter plugs anymore because I am so used to how perfect mine are. You have to go to an audiologist to get the custom ones. They cost me $200.

[irish_admiral]

At the moment, we don't play loud enough at church to need ear plugs really, but it's something i'm keeping a close eye on and I use IEMs now...

At home, on the rare occasions I crank the amp, I use a pair of ear plugs like the ones linked above.

I agree though... the very best ones you can get are the custom moulded ear plugs... you can also get interchangeable filters. I'm also probably going to get some custom moulded IEMs in future.

To maintain your pitch, you might want to think about getting IEMs then. Basically, your monitor mix is your way of hearing what's in the band, but the IEM blocks out most of the external noise, so you can keep it fairly quiet. Certainly much better for your ears than floor wedges.

The world is full of old rockers who forgot to use earplugs, and either have tinnitis or are just plain deaf as a result!

[Ddjembe Mutombo]

haha. I have tinnitus in my right ear. That is because i popped my ear drum in high school... probably not the best thing to have when you engineer and mix recordings, but it hasn't seem to have an effect on the product yet.

[Secondhand Dan]

I use these http://www.amazon.com/Hearos-High-Fidel ... B000V9PKZA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Similar to the other ones posted. These pretty much just cut decibels, I hear no real tonal difference.

[zoink]

just like these guys ^^ I use the Hearos ear plugs..got mine at Guitar http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hearos-High ... 1134130.gc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OU818]

+1 for Hearos.

I have no trouble from them, even hearing foldback while standing behind the drum kit.

[misterMagoo]

I use the Etymotic Research plugs. They work very well and cost me like $15 with shipping from sweetwater.

They do cut highs more than anything but its bearable, and I find that I don't need them all the time, just when my ears are getting a little exhausted.

[mattTHERIPPERsanchez]

I've never used earplugs live cause I have yet to have a stage environment loud enough to warrant them. We're loud as hell in practice, though, so that's where they are absolutely necessary. I've used various over the counter foam plugs until I got my hands on the Etymotic Research plugs. Those things are perfect. They fit extremely well, cut out all the high frequencies that damage the ear, and I can still hear my backup vocals. Granted, there are no harmonies in the music I play haha, but I think you'll be just fine with these. Go for it!

[Ddjembe Mutombo]

all frequencies can damage the ear, highs just seem to have a more noticeable effect.

[hooty]

I use these:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/elacin_gehoerschutz.htm

and can say that these earplugs are the best!

Cheers,
hooty

[blackcloud45]

I use the etymotics too, wish I would have started earlier! They kind of muffle it, but you get used to it. It used to really bother me till I started notice that I was saying, "huh? what's that you say?" all the time.

[danbond]

Oddly, I just reviewed all the ear plugs I have used on our band blog:

http://apologiesihavenone.blogspot.com/ ... nitus.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Le Chat Noir]

Wish I'd started earlier too - permanent tinnitus in both ears affects my sleeping and really makes me feel low sometimes. Have tried quite a few different brands in the mid-price bracket, and personally find the Alpine ones which come with 3 different attenuation levels to be the most comfortable and the best sound-wise. As with Dan above, I prefer them over the ER20s.



http://www.sensorcom.com/product.asp?P_ID=975&PT_ID=271

[danbond]

The alpine ones are really good - the best bit is that fit right inside the ear, so theres no threat of getting them banged into your ears at lively shows, or losing cool points for having really obvious huge ear plugs in. Guitars sound fine with them but you have to get used to using plugs over 10 or so gigs and at all practices.

I only use the strongest attenuation filters because I only go to/play loud shows.

Sorry to hear about your tinntus teddy, is there any chance it will ease over time? or will it likely get worse?

I sometimes worry that the short periods where i check my guitar sounds good BEFORE putting ear plugs in puts me at risk, my amp is pretty loud and trebly. Eek.