Insanely loud practices?

Actually, my current band are quite good at keeping on-stage volume down, which is why I don't need anything more powerful than my Ashdown combo.

Drums... snares... cymbals... are a killer though... and I'm usually standing right next to them!
 
We were never horrifically loud, and things were good, until our guitarist got a Frickin Fender Champ 12. Sometimes SPL aint the problem, I've stuck my head inside a double Martin at volume with no problem. That Champ was so shrill, even at 12 watts, stuck right beside me, it did damage. After 1 gig I couldn't hear out of my left ear at all for 3 days.

Now I just have the whistling, thankfully the morse code has gone, if I ever need ear protection I'll quit.
 
I have a constant ringing in my ears. Its only slight but its there. Luckily my band, tho loud, practice in a large room now which is no way near as bad as practicing in a small room. Years ago I did and I think this is where my tinnitus comes from.
I might enquire about ear plugs. Might stop it getting worse when we start gigging again.
 
Yeah...tinnitus is a bitch! Ive always been super-careful with volume (had an obsessively protective (though very cool) mom), so I've never really had a run in with it before, but apparently its the most annoying thing in the world. (maybe second to any movie that stars Eddie Murphy as everyone? ;))

I've been using molded earplugs made for me by a local specialist for about 2 years now, and they're just plain wonderful; reduced volume, clearer sound....and I get to hear when I'm 80! ;)
 
Drexil said:
Yeah...tinnitus is a bitch! Ive always been super-careful with volume (had an obsessively protective (though very cool) mom), so I've never really had a run in with it before, but apparently its the most annoying thing in the world. (maybe second to any movie that stars Eddie Murphy as everyone? ;))

I've been using molded earplugs made for me by a local specialist for about 2 years now, and they're just plain wonderful; reduced volume, clearer sound....and I get to hear when I'm 80! ;)
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+1 8)
 
'Sounds to me like you need to find another band, not just a pair of earplugs.
 
kevcooke said:
Hurrah for ER-20s!
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+1

They work pretty darn well. There is still some general muting, but they're a hell of a lot better than standard earplugs which muffle everything. You'll get better at playing by feel, which can be a good thing.

And stand on the opposite side of your drummer's china cymbal!!!
 
So I went out and bought some of those silicon hearos earplugs again... They worked great with my previous band... Although this one plays ALOT louder... So I'll see how things go tonight.

I'm up again 2 marshall full stacks... And my Ampeg BA115-T still can keep up :P

I'll problaby stick with this band though... I'm really digging the music... Fast, loud, heavy... Everything I'm into :P

Just have to use the earplugs now :P
 
Good move on the earlplugs.

Seriously, I don't know how long you have been playing (I'm 48 and I've been at this for about 30 years) but one of the most valuable things you have as a musician is your hearing, and the sad part is that many musicians don't relaize this until they have done some damage to it.
I'm pretty sure I've lost a little top end, and I occasionally have trouble hearing the person across the table from me if we are having a conversation in a room full of people. I guess many of us do.

Occasionaly, when our band plays smaller venues, the guitar player's amp gets aimed in my direction, so as not to blast the listeners who are too close to the stage. As a result, I get an earful of Gibson ES335/Fender VibroKing, and once or twice a year I might get an earache.

Call me an old geezer if you want to, but be careful! If you don't have to practice at wall cracking volume, then by all means don't. Otherwise the only thing you will be hearing will be the ringing in your ears.

In the meantime, keep those plugs in.

Oil Can
 
i use proplugs all the time, gigs, rehearsals, some parties. I like hearing stuff and these seems to do the job but i think they may struggle for loader music.
 
EvilSmile said:
i use proplugs all the time, gigs, rehearsals, some parties. I like hearing stuff and these seems to do the job but i think they may struggle for loader music.
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I've used Proplugs for 4 years and they 'may' struggle for louder music but it is better than you struggling to hear ever again!
 
When I started playing gigs,nobody dreamt of using earplugs.Now some 20 odd years later & I have Tinnitus pretty bad.You get used to it but it's healthier to not do the damage in the first place,if you can avoid it.C'mon kids,stuff them ears with plugs or wind up like me.Constantly saying,"EH"?
 
So I got some Hearos - the blue/clear silicon plugs... Spit on em... Popped em in my ears and rocked out with the band... Works GREAT! no ringing in the ears after the practice and can still hear everything fairly clearly.

Hearos get my vote :)

And yes... I did spit on my ear plugs...
 
warwickhunt said:
EvilSmile said:
i use proplugs all the time, gigs, rehearsals, some parties. I like hearing stuff and these seems to do the job but i think they may struggle for loader music.
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I've used Proplugs for 4 years and they 'may' struggle for louder music but it is better than you struggling to hear ever again!
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haha yes i was mearly trying to say that you may need more protection for earthquakingly loud stuff, i've not tried the no vented ones they do..might get some to try.
 
Evilsmile... I use the non-vented pro-plugs for rehearsals, where the sound seems to build up more. sometimes I have to loosen them (to sort of "break the seal") because I can't hear enough! So they definitely work! The downside, they only come in coloured plastic, which is more visible (for gigs) and are a bit stiffer and less comfortable than the clear silicone (vented) ones!
 
thumperton said:
When I started playing gigs,nobody dreamt of using earplugs.Now some 20 odd years later & I have Tinnitus pretty bad.You get used to it but it's healthier to not do the damage in the first place,if you can avoid it.C'mon kids,stuff them ears with plugs or wind up like me.Constantly saying,"EH"?
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Ah, that would explain the constant jet engine sound I live with. I can live with that, the dee-dee-dee morse code sound has thankfully vanished. I was gigging prolly 17 or so years ago, no protection. But we can blame the guitarists. They always want to be so loud.
 
I got a pair of moulded ones that suits perfectley into my ear. Doesn`t affect the sound, just cuts off feedback and lower the volume.
 
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