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LaTrompeta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 867 Location: West Side, USA
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 1:56 pm Post subject: Earplugs |
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I'm trying to protect my hearing. Sometimes, in a small practice room, it gets really loud. I hate playing with earplugs though, because they alter the way it sounds. Are there any good ear plugs that protect my hearing without that underwater sound? |
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trombahonker Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 1480 Location: Atlanta
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Etymotic Music-PRO electronic earplugs. Good investment, tax write-off too.
http://www.etymotic.com/mp915.html
Last edited by trombahonker on Sat Jan 30, 2016 8:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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EBjazz Heavyweight Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2001 Posts: 2368 Location: SF Bay Area
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nsednew New Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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I use Sensaphonics plugs with custom molded sleeves on loud gigs. The occlusion affect is unavoidable but you can learn to deal with it and play by feel. It actually helps prevent over-playing in loud situations. |
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pedroconde236 New Member
Joined: 29 Jan 2016 Posts: 5 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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I was at Namm show and I got a buch of cool earplugs they were cheap 40 $ |
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Dieter Z Veteran Member
Joined: 21 Jun 2013 Posts: 449 Location: Mountains of North Carolina
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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I like the Etymotic Research ER20 ETY-Plugs Hearing Protection Earplugs
http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETY-Plugs-Protection-Earplugs/dp/B0044DEESS
Very affordable and work fine for me. _________________ B & H Sovereign 928
Conn 80A
F. Besson Brevette Kanstul made
B&S Challenger II 3137 rl
Buescher 400 - 225 (WWII)
Benge 90C
Eastman 540 D/Eb
ACB Fluegelhorn
Selmer Picc
ACB mouthpieces for most of my playing |
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Trumpetmannj Regular Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2014 Posts: 80
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 12:26 am Post subject: |
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I love these plugs |
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homebilly Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 2192 Location: Venice, CA & Paris, France
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 12:50 am Post subject: |
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I've got the Etymotics too and love them
but I tend to forget them at home and have the
tried and true E•A•R brand squishy yellow ones in all
of my cases with my valve oil. I get them at the hardware
store along with my lamp oil. _________________ ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com |
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StupidBrassObsession Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 1014
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 2:25 am Post subject: Re: Earplugs |
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LaTrompeta wrote: | I'm trying to protect my hearing. Sometimes, in a small practice room, it gets really loud. I hate playing with earplugs though, because they alter the way it sounds. Are there any good ear plugs that protect my hearing without that underwater sound? |
You get used to it after a while. I have and use 20 or 30dB ones a lot. It doesn't affect my practicing much because I'm used to what it should feel like. I actually have come to really like playing with them. Obviously hearing your sound is nice, but sometimes, playing in very ringy or very dead rooms, using plugs can stop you from doing weird things.
Something to consider is that at 90dB+ most people get about 2 hours of sound time before damage occurs. However, in a small room, I would say no more than 1 hour of trumpet exposure to be safe.
What that means, however, is that if you want to hear yourself, and to practice for two hours, just alternate between which ear is plugged, leaving one free to monitor the sound. That way you get an hour for each ear.
And if you're playing anything particularly loud, I would plug both for that, and instead record and listen back so that you can evaluate without risking hearing damage.
That's what I do anyway...
A friend has Etymotics and they're apparently awesome. I've been meaning to buy some, but they are expensive and the foam ones are cheap and do the job in the practice room so I haven't bothered with Etys.
But getting used to playing with ordinary plugs is probably useful, because there's always going to be that one time when you *should* wear them (and fancy ones aren't avaialbe) but you don't because you're not used to playing with them, so you don't. And then regret it when you cause damage.... |
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Seymor B Fudd Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2015 Posts: 1459 Location: Sweden
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 4:55 am Post subject: Re: Earplugs |
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LaTrompeta wrote: | I'm trying to protect my hearing. Sometimes, in a small practice room, it gets really loud. I hate playing with earplugs though, because they alter the way it sounds. Are there any good ear plugs that protect my hearing without that underwater sound? |
The downside of regular earplugs is that they change the way it sounds, cutting certain frequencies, as you write. Having myself some hereditary tendency to hearingimpairment, since long been experiencing tinnitus, been trying to protect my ears (you know, over 90 dB for extended periods is harmful to the average ear):
I have often measured 95-100 on gigs, record 117( ) at a church concert. I finally found earplugs made by a swedish company (Bellman&Symphon) in Gothenburg. You can read about the concept on http://bellman.com/en/about-us/. Called "the muscicianplug". Bit expensive but the alternative ending up almost deaf with tinnitus...
They are made individually after a moulding of one�s ears (this must be done by a professional) whereupon an "electronic" plug is inserted; variable damping, 9, 15, 25 dB, interchangeable. They do not change the sound at all although it certainly will take some time to get used to them. I have used these many years, do not affect (my) ability to stay in tune (but I sure miss many jokes in the bands.... ).
Bellman&Symfon are represented in the US, don�t know where. _________________ Cornets:
Getzen Custom Series Schilke 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)
Last edited by Seymor B Fudd on Wed Dec 25, 2019 5:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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zaferis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Posts: 2310 Location: Beavercreek, OH
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 4:56 am Post subject: |
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http://www.etymotic.com/erme.html
Etymotic are excellent, with a few different baffles that allow you to adjust the dB reduction. They can be a bit pricey and I believe these have to be fit by a technician/doctor. But they are fit to you so, fit perfectly.
http://earinc.com/shop/markets/music/chameleon-ears-musicians-earplugs/
These are also excellent - similar idea.
It does take time to get used to playing with earplugs in - I find I heard everything going on inside my mouth, which can be a bit distracting. Musically, IMO, the biggest challenge is balance with your fellow musicians - how loud are you playing - it becomes much more of a feel _________________ Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman |
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stanton Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 726 Location: Skokie, Illinois
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:36 am Post subject: |
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I guess ear plugs are personal. I've had a couple sets of those and always deferred to the plain foam kind. However I was recently given a set of pro ear plugs as a birthday gift.
http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection/erme.html
I have the -25db filters but for legit work I think it cuts too many db's. I'm going to get a set of -15 filters. _________________ Schilke B1, Bach 37, 1969 Getzen Severinsen Eterna
Bach C 229 w Charlie Melk custom work
Getzen Eterna Cornet, Crappy old Yamaha 3valve Eb
Stanton Kramer "Signature" Mouthpiece |
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Geodude Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 588 Location: Chicago 'burbs
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:22 am Post subject: |
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Folks can complain about the cost of the custom molded ones, but stop for a second and put a price tag on your hearing. I am sure there might be exceptions but at least in many cases, once it is gone you are not getting it back. IT SUCKS! My misspent youth around 2-cycle engines, race cars, firearms and concerts (one ear blistering Hot Tuna concert in particular) have left me with high frequency loss. Protect what you have while you can. |
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L.G.R44 New Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2015 Posts: 5 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 11:37 am Post subject: |
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costco has ear clinics now and do custom molded earplugs for $180.00 Pretty good product as far as keeping sound clarity audible. _________________ Professional trumpet player / composer from London, England.Based in Canada. |
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oxleyk Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 4178
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Geodude wrote: | Folks can complain about the cost of the custom molded ones, but stop for a second and put a price tag on your hearing. |
Even modestly priced hearing aids cost $3000/pair and few insurance plans cover them. My hearing loss is due primarily to heredity but I sure wish I had used earplugs while mowing grass as a kid.
Kent |
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Nonsense Eliminator Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 5212 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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I have custom ER-15s. For me, they behave pretty much as advertised for sounds around me -- it's just like somebody turned down the volume. But my own sound ends up sounding pretty strange. I've been using them in the practice room more lately, and I have mostly gotten used to it in that context, but I haven't used them on a gig. Definitely the one plug idea has merit in those situations.
I'd be inclined to suggest trying the ER-20s (linked above) as a first step before you go for the molded plugs. _________________ Richard Sandals
NBO |
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Don Herman rev2 'Chicago School' Forum Moderator
Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 8951 Location: Monument, CO
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:17 am Post subject: |
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One comment on the one-plug idea: Shure sponsored a study years ago and found that a single plug could actually increase hearing damage. It was later verified by a second independent study. The problem is that people end up playing louder and/or turning up the "outside" stuff to compensate for the single earplug, or with active in-ears (the focus of the Shure study) would turn up the in-ear monitor to compensate for the loud sounds coming in the other ear.
Be careful... _________________ "After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley |
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Nonsense Eliminator Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 5212 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 10:39 am Post subject: |
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Another halfway solution on gigs (which obviously may or may not be workable depending on what you're playing) is to put the plugs in when you're not playing, in which case the cheap foam jobs are just fine. What we're trying to do is reduce our total sound exposure, so even though this probably means your ears are wide open for the loudest moments, you're reducing the total without any effect on your playing (and little effect on your wallet). _________________ Richard Sandals
NBO |
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Bsully Regular Member
Joined: 06 Jan 2015 Posts: 11
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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Can anyone with the 15db type pugs comment on the sound? Is it similar to using regular plugs partially inserted? I get the point that these are likely safer than a foam plug not properly worn, just wondering if there is another benefit to the overall quality of the sound. My guess is that this is wishful thinking! |
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trombahonker Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 1480 Location: Atlanta
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Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Nonsense Eliminator wrote: | ... is to put the plugs in when you're not playing... |
Richard - this is what I used to do, but I have learned that this is a very dangerous practice. The short-story version is that, depending on the types of sounds (drum or cymbal shock vs FFF orchestra), you may actually induce more damage than leaving earplugs out for the duration. This is because the small muscle that tighten's the ear's sound-dampening diaphragm works very slowly (sort of like your eye's adjustment to darkness). So pulling earplugs out leaves your ears in a state of relatively low protection for those high-volume situation. It's similar to sitting in an extremely dark room, then turning on a bright light for a few seconds - we all know how uncomfortable that can be, and if it were exposure to sunlight, it can be damaging.
Those brief periods of exposure in which the stereocilia (sound-sensing hairs in your ear) receive direct, uninhibited exposure to high-decibel sound can leave them at greater risk than when the ear has had time to tighten the diaphragm on the ear drum that reduces sound entering the inner ear.
Some great general info:
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/noise.aspx
So again, especially for anyone for whom this is a career, I highly recommend considering the earplugs below. I have a set of the molded earplugs (the Etymotic ones), but I prefer these electronic earplugs. They become more transparent when its quiet (ie, when the conductor is speaking), making it very feasible to leave them in place for entire rehearsals and concerts. I don't use them for all concerts because there is still an occlusive effect (of course, any time something is in your ear canal, the perception of sound will change), but choosing a well-suited tip for your ear greatly reduces this feeling. However, if we've got percussion behind us, or horns in front, or have to be in a box with trombones behind, or there's amplification, etc... these earplugs are indispensable to me:
Etymotic MusicPRO - http://www.etymotic.com/mp915.html
Regards,
Aaron |
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