Ear/hearing protection

[Flametop]

What's that ya say sonny? Do you use ear plugs or other types of protection when watching or playing a concert?

[buzzsaww]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

hearing protection is so cheap it's stupid not to.

[rjohnstone]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I already have a 20% hearing loss in my right ear and 5% in my left. Not worth risking any more given the fact that you can buy ear plugs for less than a buck.
Hell, if you're in a pinch, cigarette butts (unused) work pretty darn good too.

[Anders]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

Unless I forget to bring my Alpine plugs, I ALWAYS use them!

But whatever works for ya, some people claim "Nothing has happened to my hearing this far, so why should I use plugs?!" Yeah sure, your choice... but to me that's about as stupid as it gets! If they wanna ruin their hearing, fine... go ahead and do so! Just don't come whining about it afterwards!

[micha]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I hear pretty bad actually. I got problems to understand people, when many are talking at once, in a pub for example.
I always have to ask "what ya said?" and it really sucks once in a while.

after a hammerfall-concert (gloooryyy, steeeel!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ) I once had a beep in my ear for three days. that made me think a little, and today there's almoust nothing that's not been in my ear already..

I normally use paper towels (?) in rehearsal too, but this stuff cuts the highs mostly and is not really neutral to the sound.

is there anything special you guys can recommend for ear protection?

[Chrisb]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I go to maybe 4 concerts a year at most so no I don't use plugs. If I was gigging on a semi regular basis or going to more shows per year I'd use plugs. If you go to a metal concert look at the guys on stage and their crew, every single one of them pretty much has plugs, as do most of the people who work at the venue. Its just common sense. For concert goers I think its less of an issue unless you go to like one concert a month. But 4 shows a year or less isn't likely to kill your hearing (though it most definitely could).

Actually I should revise that statement. I did use plugs once. I always bring a pair with me in case I happen to be near a speaker or something. When I went to see Blind Guardian a year or so ago they played two days at the local venue, I went the second day and while the first day was a sellout, the second day was only about 1/2 full. So I got a nice spot right in front of the stage by the lead guitarist. Consequently I was right next to the wall of speakers. After one song without the plugs in I decided it was too much of a risk, my entire body was literally vibrating from the force of the sound. So I did use plugs for that show.

[pagemalicious]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I always wear them if i remember to take them.

[L]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I am lucky enough to have a 24/7 ringing in both ears. It only took a year or so to get used to.

[horns666]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I'm deaf as a door nail..so I have built in ear protection anywhoo..

I have to hear my amp..and that amps needs to be loud to hear it.

I also want to hear the "tone" of my amps and plugs in my ears is going to impede that..IMO

[Wayniac]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

ALWAYS since I was about 22 ..... before that I thought they were a waste of time
My doctor is surprised that I have as much hearing left as I do, since I have been playing for 23 yrs now (since I was 13). Just a small notch (about 5dB) at 1-2K in my left ear
Best thing I ever did was get custom plugs made...

[Jason1212]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I went to so many shows in the 80's with out hearing protection that I now have the constant ring in my ears. Now I use basic ear plugs for any show I go to. I know it is too late to save my hearing, but I know it keeps it from getting worse. That and with hearing protection the shows actually sound better.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

Working at a big music store, I naturally have a lot of hearing loss. But I've had problems with my ears since I was a little kid. I usually don't wear them when I'm playing a show, unless my band is in extremely close quarters, I sometimes wear them while watching other bands, and I always wear them at practice. I wish I could wear them at work, but it kind of impedes talking on the phone, etc.

[elrrek]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I use these and I very seriously recommend them:

http://www.proplugs.com/

I wear them at gigs, in clubs, in rehearsals and on stage. They are not neutral but they are very, very good and much better than foam plugs or tissue paper and when you are comparing 12 bucks fro these against 120 bucks for custom made neutral defenders, I think you know which ones I'd be happier losing. I am 31 and go to upwards of 50 concerts a year, and that's a very conservative estimate, especially when you count rehearsals which are 2 a week, sometimes 3 hours each session.

And yes, you can say that wearing plugs sacrifices tone but I'd rather be able to hear my amp later in life than think to myself "damn, I'm so glad I'm getting ALL the tone from my amp because I'm not wearing those damned plugs" today.

[hippietim]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

What?

[guitarsjb]

Re: Ear/hearing protection

I wear my earplugs at every band practice and every show I go to. I go to a lot of concerts, and do have some minimal hearing loss from not wearing them when I was younger..so I always wear them now.