earplugs...

Vick

Soooo,come on fess up,who uses them...?
I have started using,about 2months ago,earplugs for band practice and unmicked situations...
The ones I use are actually meant for guys that blow stuff up...like miners...
Has these things on the side that allow you to set the volume levels you want cancelled out...
Like,I'll be able to hear you talk,but not hear my drummer...but yea,you guys can see
What the problem is with those...so I'd like to get ones that just dampen the volumes,
And not eliminate them entirely...

Any suggestions?
Thanx alot

aja

I know of a company in PTA that specializes in this stuff. I have their business card at home, will have to get back to you!

EDIT:

Had the card in my wallet:

NoiseClipper (pty) ltd
2 hotel st Persequor Park
PTA

www.noiseclipper.co.za
012 349 0700
083 652 6606

...wide range of custom made hearing protectors, in-ear monitors and communication systems...

Warren

On Stratisfear's recommendations, I am having a set made for me by the ear institute. High quality, adjustable and properly fitted stuff. Should have them in another couple weeks.

http://www.earinstitute.co.za

They have branches all over the place.

21Fretter

I always used just those cheap-o foam plugs from the pharmacy. Done well for me for the time being (no ringing i can remember of after practice) but if i did get more serious and we played with a drum kit that actually has some punch I'll probably also organize myself a solid pair ?

Mr-M

I've been using these for a couple of years wherever I can't use in-ear monitors(pretty much every gig):
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx
And these:
http://alpineearplugs.com/prod_musicsafe.htm

Both have fairly even attenuation of volume across all frequencies, so everything is quieter but you can still hear perfectly. I do notice they attenuate the highs just a little more than the other frequencies (very, very slightly) so I always make sure I dial in my tone before putting them in. I find the Etymotics ER20 Baby Blues (also called Elacin instead of Etymotic) the most comfortable, but the Alpines are slightly more natural sounding.

I value my hearing and - as it is I've already damaged my left ear (it's highly sensitive to volume and actually hurts/ buzzes) to the point that playing at anything above bedroom volume is uncomfortable, so these days I never play without them at practices or gigs. I also use them in every environment with loud noise levels like rugby games, concerts, some movies, clubs etc. You can't really put a price on keeping your hearing. It actually surprises me how little attention musicians pay to ear protection (I was one of them). Once you've lost it it's gone - there is no getting it back.

I buy from these guys on eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/SAY-Radio-Solutions-Ltd?_rdc=1

nick

Also started using since I now practice in the same room as Reinhard ? At first used the foam ones which worked to protect my ears but cut mostly the wrong frequencys so what I thought sounded great was horrible when I removed them. Now have a more expensive set but cant recall the brand ? Paid about R250

Vick

Wow,thanx for all the response guys...yea,I love muisic and sound in general,so I'd like to be able to exercise it in my old days to...

Will check them out... ?

Charlie4

Your ears and hands are what make music. As the above guys said, it's irreplaceable and invaluable so it makes good sense to look after it. ETY earplugs, +1.

FatBoy

I also had a set of Noiseban Elite's made up by The Ear Institute on Stratisfear's recommendation.

They basically make a mould of your ear canal and the outside bit and then make an acrylic ear plug out of that. It fits perfectly ?

Then they put in a filter that you can have tuned to the level of attenuation you require, you can't set them yourself but they do a tuneup for free after fitting. Mine is currently set to 27db if I recall correctly.

The two main points I like about them is firstly the fit, really makes it easier to wear them for longer periods if they fit properly. Secondly is the filter, it still allows in all frequencies, just takes them down quite a bit, so it doesn't feel like your head is in a air filled bucket underwater like you get with foam ones.

Really dig them!!

Jack-Flash-Jr

Sinusitis works but not very pleasant ☹

nick

Mine are Westones, paid around R200 for them I think.

tonerider

Mr M wrote: I buy from these guys on eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/SAY-Radio-Solutions-Ltd?_rdc=1

Thanks a lot! Ordered a couple of sets this morning!

Mr-M

AndreM wrote: Thanks a lot! Ordered a couple of sets this morning!

No problem. I've bought from them often, not just for myself but for friends and family as well. Always got great service and pretty quick shipping, usually around 2 - 3 weeks.

Which ones did you order?

DrGonzo

nick wrote: Mine are Westones, paid around R200 for them I think.

I bought very similar ones for R180 at that Noise Clipper institute in Pretoria, I would recommend you check them out.

They also have more "professional" imported musician specific earplugs - very expensive (like R1200) or something but they are cool in the fact is you can change the filter from 10dB, 15 and 20 something attenuation.

I spoke the guy there and he agrees that they are overpriced, but apparently the patent on them is expiring soon and they have developed and built there own ones which will be available for about R400 as soon as the patent expires!

Ja hearing is an important physiological function. I really freaked out when i went for an eartest about a year ago to find out I had already done some minor damage in the 8 - 10khz freq response of my ears! THis really freaked me out as I am a aspiring musician, producer and sound engineer and my ears are potentially my main source of income in years to come!! now I NEVER not have earplugs in - even sometimes when i go to watch bands I put them in ???

tonerider

Mr M wrote:
AndreM wrote: Thanks a lot! Ordered a couple of sets this morning!
No problem. I've bought from them often, not just for myself but for friends and family as well. Always got great service and pretty quick shipping, usually around 2 - 3 weeks.

Which ones did you order?

2 sets Elacin er20 musicians high-fi earplugs
2 sets Etymotic er20 musicians high-fi earplugs

Looks good from the pictures!

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/SAY-Radio-Solutions-Ltd

Mr-M

I use the Elacins. Work great IMO!

Garth-S

I have the etymotic er20's. They do a great job. Got mine from Take2 in the more usa section for 110 bucks, they have gone up quite a bit since then.

21Fretter

Anyone got a spare pair of ER-20s lying around (unused obviously ?) or planning an order i can get in on? Can't seem to find any locally so looks like I'll have to go the Ebay route if i want to get a pair but I'm a bit of fish out of water when it comes to PayPal and all this and that so just thought i would give this a shot before i went through the process.

guidothepimmp

like yngwie says..

earplugs are faf..

lol.. just kidding man. dont know but i found a set in a pharmscy once with a kind of tube in it meant to act like a sound filter. worked great.. but then it sounded weird to me so i carried on au natural

?

Tonedef

As a long timer biker I can attest to the necessity of protecting your hearing. You can always tell the bikers who scoffed at ear protection from the one who don't - they're the ones who constantly "Eh?" you in conversation. >☹

I've sat in on a couple of studio practice sessions with some old mates of mine, and damn I wish I had some earplugs. Sat with my ears gefingerpoken the whole time. And I kept on preaching to them how important it is for them to get something to protect their hearing, to no avail.

It's a goddamned tragedy.