Guitar Gear Forum

How many of you wear earplugs to band practice?

we use IEMs so sort of

spawnofthesith wrote:we use IEMs so sort of

Fancy

i like playing loud but if i need ear plugs at practice its too loud

I used IEM on the electronic duo I had. But never actual earplugs. We don't play at deafening volumes but I don't like things to be super quiet either.

Every time, if even just one so I can hear my own vocals better.

I don't wear them but I should.

Every single time. I used to not, but I am glad I do now. I don't wear them at shows, though. Always a bigger space, so doesn't feel necessary.

I don’t. I tried, I hated them.

IEMs work good and I’m always surprised how loud it is when I pull them out, but those aren’t always an option.

I got used to using them and for auditory longevity I think it’s smart.

Always even at clubs when just hanging out. Since day one way back in the 80’s. I went to a music seminar when I was just starting out and they had an audiologist give a lecture and from that moment on. That knowledge has preserved my hearing all these years. Btw it’s never too late to start so get on that.

Yeah, I know as musicians there is a huge amount that we put into hearing what we want to hear at these volumes, but it's seriously damaging. Eric had been telling me about these Westone ear plugs that are made by a hearing aid company. Between that and how many people I know that haven't used any ear protection for 20-30 years and now have hearing damage. I also don't really like things TOO loud...feels uncomfortable to me, so the ear plugs really help with that, and I am confident that I will not have hearing damage in 20 years, at least not from band practice LOLOL

I played in very loud doom and sludge bands for years. I got tinnitus from Covid

Always. I have severe tinnitus, and it triggers my anxiety, and vice versa. I don't want more of any of those.

I put Earasers in as soon as I tune up and things sound good. Practice, rehearsal, gigs, all of it. I also wear hearing aids because I didn't get into this habit until it was too late.

Thinking about it. We use electronic drums to control the volume but the volume keeps creeping up anyway because it’s fun.

I've tried wearing them, I really have. I just can't do it. They just take all the enjoyment out of playing guitar. It's like having sex with a really thick condom on. Unfortunately, our drummer plays very loud and refuses to play quieter to the point where I went out and bought an electronic drum kit to control his volume, and he refuses to play it. Once I coerced him into trying it out and the snare mysteriously stopped working.

ZEEGLER wrote:I've tried wearing them, I really have. I just can't do it. They just take all the enjoyment out of playing guitar. It's like having sex with a really thick condom on. Unfortunately, our drummer plays very loud and refuses to play quieter to the point where I went out and bought an electronic drum kit to control his volume, and he refuses to play it. Once I coerced him into trying it out and the snare mysteriously stopped working.

The main problem with drums are the cymbals. My drummer has a set of low volume cymbals she uses at practice and it's great. Maybe try to get a set of those and see how that goes.

ZEEGLER wrote:I've tried wearing them, I really have. I just can't do it. They just take all the enjoyment out of playing guitar. It's like having sex with a really thick condom on. Unfortunately, our drummer plays very loud and refuses to play quieter to the point where I went out and bought an electronic drum kit to control his volume, and he refuses to play it. Once I coerced him into trying it out and the snare mysteriously stopped working.

He feels the same way about edrums as you feel about ear plugs lol.

NinjaRaf wrote:

ZEEGLER wrote:I've tried wearing them, I really have. I just can't do it. They just take all the enjoyment out of playing guitar. It's like having sex with a really thick condom on. Unfortunately, our drummer plays very loud and refuses to play quieter to the point where I went out and bought an electronic drum kit to control his volume, and he refuses to play it. Once I coerced him into trying it out and the snare mysteriously stopped working.

He feels the same way about edrums as you feel about ear plugs lol.

So he needs to learn how to play quietly. A good drummer doesn't have to play loud all the time.

I fucking hate them. I've tried many times but it throws me off too much

GuitarBilly wrote:

ZEEGLER wrote:I've tried wearing them, I really have. I just can't do it. They just take all the enjoyment out of playing guitar. It's like having sex with a really thick condom on. Unfortunately, our drummer plays very loud and refuses to play quieter to the point where I went out and bought an electronic drum kit to control his volume, and he refuses to play it. Once I coerced him into trying it out and the snare mysteriously stopped working.

The main problem with drums are the cymbals. My drummer has a set of low volume cymbals she uses at practice and it's great. Maybe try to get a set of those and see how that goes.

He's very resistant to anything like that. We've all been complaining about it for years. You're right that the cymbals are the worst, especially when you're standing right next to them.

ZEEGLER wrote:

NinjaRaf wrote:

ZEEGLER wrote:I've tried wearing them, I really have. I just can't do it. They just take all the enjoyment out of playing guitar. It's like having sex with a really thick condom on. Unfortunately, our drummer plays very loud and refuses to play quieter to the point where I went out and bought an electronic drum kit to control his volume, and he refuses to play it. Once I coerced him into trying it out and the snare mysteriously stopped working.

He feels the same way about edrums as you feel about ear plugs lol.

So he needs to learn how to play quietly. A good drummer doesn't have to play loud all the time.

You're joking right? In what world has any drummer ever played "quieter" lol. This is dreamland you are thinking of lolol

Not arguing with the concept but we all know this is never going to happen lol.

I don’t. I do have some and I’ll throw em in when my ears are really messing with me, but… yeah. I just don’t do it very often. Even the ones I got which are pretty nice, it feels like I have a plugged up nose… But, in my ears. Hahah.

I do suffer from tinnitus. I also have Eustachian tube dysfunction. That’s prolly from music and from work. Which is funny I almost always wear ear protection at work. But obviously it’s loud machines vs loud guitars. So one I enjoy the other I don’t. But during installs where we use air nailers, they are basically like a little 22 going off. 1000s of times a day. So while I always wore ear protection while using the big sanders, it took me awhile before I wore em while installing. And there were times where maybe I was by a corner or closet and that sound of the gun would ricochet right into my ear and cause that immediate tinnitus. So that’s why I mention this nailers as being part of the culprit for the Eustachian tube issue. Cause now a days, snare drums are the main culprit. And what happens is my ears basically “close” up every time a loud snare hits wrong. It can be real disorienting.

But.. and I’ve tested em numerous times to be sure, despite these issues my hearing is still well above average for my age. When mixing or whatver, I still hear everything in pretty critical detail. I still hear the highest frequencies better than most… So, you think id be smart about protecting it, but also, I haven’t done any protection and while I have issues I still hear great… So.. I stick with what got me here. Lol

ever single time. i used foamies for years because they were all there was, but about 2005 i went to etymotics and wear em every time.

hows that old saying go? 'engineers who burn their ears find themselves with short careers...'