For those that use earplugs at shows

deadendp

Lost In Ohio said:

I just bought some real "cheap" ones...they claim to lower sound by about 30 decibels, but ten of them for like $4?? I'll take my chances. With my luck, they'll probably fall out by the third song!

We packed a few extra pair in case anyone is in need. They are the cheap, squishy ones but certainly better than nothing.

chime

I have had permanent tinnitus for 15 years. I always use these at shows to try and stop it getting any worse. They have different levels of filter you can swap in and out.

http://www.amazon.com/Alpine-Hearing-Protection-MusicSafe-Musicians/dp/B000VO8PR0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1412166534&sr=8-2&keywords=musicsafe

ldent42

I've got a question for those of you with tinnitus that might sound stupid, so please, cut me some slack. How did you get diagnosed? I've had this maddening issue with my right ear and I went to an ENT who told me there was nothing wrong & to see a regular doctor. The regular doctor didn't seem to know what it was and told me to stop using ear buds. It's only my right ear and it's pretty random in occurrence. Is there a different type of doctor I should be seeing?

I bought those Ety earplugs from Amazon but I never use them

callen

ldent42 said:

I've got a question for those of you with tinnitus that might sound stupid, so please, cut me some slack. How did you get diagnosed? I've had this maddening issue with my right ear and I went to an ENT who told me there was nothing wrong & to see a regular doctor. The regular doctor didn't seem to know what it was and told me to stop using ear buds. It's only my right ear and it's pretty random in occurrence. Is there a different type of doctor I should be seeing?

I bought those Ety earplugs from Amazon but I never use them

If you have constant ringing in ears you have it.

Left ear shot. Wear the plugs.

Suziemay

Lost In Ohio said:

I just bought some real "cheap" ones...they claim to lower sound by about 30 decibels, but ten of them for like $4?? I'll take my chances. With my luck, they'll probably fall out by the third song!

I'm not fond of the foam earplugs but will use them if I have to. I think the Etymotic ones are worth the "investment", they aren't that expensive and I've never had them fall out of my years.

I've never been given shit for wearing earplugs but have been for other things, my response is always, how are my actions affecting your enjoyment in any way? What's that? Not at all? OK, carry on then and mind your own beeswax

oftenreading

So, after this discussion earlier in October, I'm curious about people's experience with ear plugs at the recent run of concerts. I bought the Etymotic ear plugs from Amazon and used then on and off throughout the Milwaukee show. I noticed a difference but it was not as marked as I had expected. They seemed to cut off a bit of the highest sounds, particularly "clashing" noises like cymbals, etc. It seemed to leave a bit of a warmer sound. I'm not sure if they made the talking bits any more understandable, though, as some had noted. I mostly avoided those post-concert ringing ears, which was a plus.

I saw a few people in GA wearing those orange foamy plugs. I didn't notice anyone wearing any other types, but I'm not sure I would have noticed the Etymotic ones as they have clear posts.

badbrains

I tried wearing plugs, can't do it. Tried a few of them and they just make the show sound like a shitty bootleg from the 90's. Not KTS boots! )

lolobugg

badbrains said:

I tried wearing plugs, can't do it. Tried a few of them and they just make the show sound like a shitty bootleg from the 90's. Not KTS boots! )

KTS, hahahahaha
that's awesome!!!!!
I remember playing like 40 bucks for one that sounded like the microphone was under the taper's nads.....I was so pissed.
KTS- you knew you were getting only quality soundboards

badbrains

lolobugg said:

badbrains said:

I tried wearing plugs, can't do it. Tried a few of them and they just make the show sound like a shitty bootleg from the 90's. Not KTS boots! )

KTS, hahahahaha
that's awesome!!!!!
I remember playing like 40 bucks for one that sounded like the microphone was under the taper's nads.....I was so pissed.
KTS- you knew you were getting only quality soundboards

Place in Fullerton California where I used to get my boots in 93 was sick! The guy had like over 25 boots and it was ONLY 93!!! Figured out REAL fast about KTS and their awesome soundboard quality! Even bought that 10C blue thermal with the bomb on it from that place. God I wish I still had that thermal! Wore it to bridge school in 94 for the cold mountain view night!

lolobugg

badbrains said:

lolobugg said:

badbrains said:

I tried wearing plugs, can't do it. Tried a few of them and they just make the show sound like a shitty bootleg from the 90's. Not KTS boots! )

KTS, hahahahaha
that's awesome!!!!!
I remember playing like 40 bucks for one that sounded like the microphone was under the taper's nads.....I was so pissed.
KTS- you knew you were getting only quality soundboards

Place in Fullerton California where I used to get my boots in 93 was sick! The guy had like over 25 boots and it was ONLY 93!!! Figured out REAL fast about KTS and their awesome soundboard quality! Even bought that 10C blue thermal with the bomb on it from that place. God I wish I still had that thermal! Wore it to bridge school in 94 for the cold mountain view night!

I have my brown thermal somewhere in storage. at least i hope so.
those were fucking awesome. used to wear them under all my t-shirts....
so grunge brother!!!!!

badbrains

lolobugg said:

badbrains said:

lolobugg said:

badbrains said:

I tried wearing plugs, can't do it. Tried a few of them and they just make the show sound like a shitty bootleg from the 90's. Not KTS boots! )

KTS, hahahahaha
that's awesome!!!!!
I remember playing like 40 bucks for one that sounded like the microphone was under the taper's nads.....I was so pissed.
KTS- you knew you were getting only quality soundboards

Place in Fullerton California where I used to get my boots in 93 was sick! The guy had like over 25 boots and it was ONLY 93!!! Figured out REAL fast about KTS and their awesome soundboard quality! Even bought that 10C blue thermal with the bomb on it from that place. God I wish I still had that thermal! Wore it to bridge school in 94 for the cold mountain view night!

I have my brown thermal somewhere in storage. at least i hope so.
those were fucking awesome. used to wear them under all my t-shirts....
so grunge brother!!!!!

My partner in crime!

PJ_Soul

I keep trying to use earplugs, going into shows with the best intentions for my ears, but I find that, unless it is a REALLY fucking loud show, like Judas Priest or Mudhoney type loud, it just doesn't sound anywhere near as good.... I always end up taking them out. This is very irresponsible of me, but when I'm in the moment it seems that the best sound is all that matters. :-S I try to justify this by telling myself that I'm ahead of the game, since I have never been one to blast music otherwise, i.e. super loud volume with headphones or at home on in cars, etc. Hopefully that will make up for all the concerts where I can't keep my earplugs in, but probably not. My final comfort is that I assume medical advances in fixing hearing will progress far enough by the time my hearing actually starts to go that I don't have to worry about it, lol. So far so good though. My hearing is still just fine.

Zod

I use those red large (or is it extra large) size foam plugs. I tried a set of harder plastic ones in the late 90s that were meant to be better for music as they were better at filtering better frequencies, but they really bugged my ears. Music is so loud at concerts I can hear everything pretty good through foam plugs. Before I started wearing plugs, some places were so loud I couldn't understand what the lead singer was trying to say between songs. I've never had that problem since.

With the amount of concerts I've been too I'm sure my hearing damage would be worse if I hadn't worn plugs for the last 18 years (I already had a bit if tinitus from a Soundgarden show in Vancouver in '96 and it got worse when I forgot to pack plugs to a Metallica show in Toronto in '98). I'd already been going to shows for 4 years before my dad (who is a drummer) sat me down and told me if I keep going to that many concerts I need to wear plugs or I'll have hearing issues by the time I hit retirement age.

JJ42005

i use these
Dubs

makes concerts sound better for me...

jjflash

2-feign-reluctance said:

Little pink ones at Walgreens work well!

+1. Not only are they cheap but they're easy to replace if you loose em, get ear wax on em, etc.

strummers

We use these and buy them in bulk as we go to around 50 gigs a year.

http://www.macksearplugs.com/details/noise-ear-plugs/safe-sound-ultra-soft-foam-earplugs

I usually use them a couple of times each. They more than do the job.

strummers

Definitely makes the sound better.

Can take a little getting used to with regards to not hearing the crowd as much at some gigs though.

Would be lost without them.

ldent42

I brought my Amazon Ety... to STL trying to be good cuz I had that pulsing thing in my ear acting up really bad before the trip. I remembered to put them in, but then I could hear myself singing? So I took them out. It was too weird.

SVRDhand13

Thanks for making this thread OP and thanks for the responses. I think I'm going to have to go the earplug route after seeing many shows and at the age of 28 I'm starting to get worried about a rumbling in my right ear. It started during PJ's set at ACL 2 and while its gone down, its not completely better.

strummers

ldent42 said:

I brought my Amazon Ety... to STL trying to be good cuz I had that pulsing thing in my ear acting up really bad before the trip. I remembered to put them in, but then I could hear myself singing? So I took them out. It was too weird.

You do get used to it, just persevere!

pearlgirl52

I had earplugs in my pocket in Moline and I was fully prepared to use them, but the quality of sound was so good I ended up not needing them. I only had slight ringing in my ears immediately afterwards and I was in the pit! I still think it's really important to protect your hearing, kids!

Alpine Bound

My Wife uses earplugs to sleep on occasion, are those the same type that people use at shows?

yellowwho

So, is tinnitus usually a slow progression ? Can you notice it and it progressively starts getting worse with high volume exposure, or does it usually come on all at once ? I've been kind of paranoid about this after a few really loud concerts. I have some good plugs that I wear, but not as often as I should

strummers

yellowwho said:

So, is tinnitus usually a slow progression ? Can you notice it and it progressively starts getting worse with high volume exposure, or does it usually come on all at once ? I've been kind of paranoid about this after a few really loud concerts. I have some good plugs that I wear, but not as often as I should

It can be either or.

I get it from time to time, sometimes it's more noticeable - especially after a loud gig where I've either forgotten the plugs or they haven't been in as much as they should have. A friend had it from as young as he could remember. My Dad got it suddenly after exposure to a loud working environment.

I always prefer to wear them now I'm used to the muffled sound of the crowd and the loudness/isolation of your own voice. The sound quality of the music can be so much clearer and nuanced with them.

yellowwho

strummers said:

yellowwho said:

So, is tinnitus usually a slow progression ? Can you notice it and it progressively starts getting worse with high volume exposure, or does it usually come on all at once ? I've been kind of paranoid about this after a few really loud concerts. I have some good plugs that I wear, but not as often as I should

It can be either or.

I get it from time to time, sometimes it's more noticeable - especially after a loud gig where I've either forgotten the plugs or they haven't been in as much as they should have. A friend had it from as young as he could remember. My Dad got it suddenly after exposure to a loud working environment.

I always prefer to wear them now I'm used to the muffled sound of the crowd and the loudness/isolation of your own voice. The sound quality of the music can be so much clearer and nuanced with them.

Cool, good to know. So the best advice is to do what is obviously best for your ears and wear them at every show. I'm definitely gonna have to start taking myself into doing it all the time. I listen to headphones a lot as well, so I guess that's just about doubling my chances. I know I had some ringing for a few days after my shows last week.

Suziemay

Was at St. Louis, ACL 1, Detroit, Moline and St. Paul. Only show I didn't use them at was Moline, I couldn't hear the band very well when I had them on there. The sound wasn't very good where I was (all the way side stage Mike's side). Sound was fantastic at all the other shows wearing the plugs, band was much clearer and blocked out the sound of people around me

CH139159

I never go to a show without the plugs anymore. Started about 5-6 years ago. I use the Ety ones from Amazon too. Some shows aren't that loud, but with the way they're shaped, you can take the edge off or insert them further to get more noise reduction. If you go to a lot of shows, your hearing will be gone when you get older if you don't start wearing them.

deadendp

Alpine Bound said:

My Wife uses earplugs to sleep on occasion, are those the same type that people use at shows?

Yup. The purple "Quiet Time" are the ones we used.

oftenreading

I use different ear plugs to sleep - actually had custom ones made by an audiologist, since I sleep with a big-time snorer. I had never considered wearing them to a concert as they are designed to deaden sound. I'm sure I'd still hear the concert, but probably in an unpleasantly muffled way. I was pretty pleased with the sound quality of the Etymotic ones, just quieter (not really quiet, mind you). I had to take them out to talk to my ticket buddy, though - or just smile and nod!

JaneNY

Alpine Bound said:

My Wife uses earplugs to sleep on occasion, are those the same type that people use at shows?

They can be. But for shows, I use the Etymotic ones - I've used them for years - bought them straight from the company. What I like about them is you can kind of adjust how much sound they're blocking. You can push them way in to block more sound, or pull them out a bit to get more volume. They're fine for a Pearl Jam show. However for NIne Inch Nails I go with hardcore decibel reduction (the squishy ones you wear around power tools and jet engines) - the Etymotic ones aren't necessarily enough if you're close.

Always made my kids wear them too when I took them with me to shows. Now they're grown and they're idiots, and don't always wear earplugs, but they'll learn.