New loud-band thinking?

Mark Hepler · From: Virginia, USA

Hey all,

Wondered if there's any new loudness-thinking. Also, misery loves company.

Next gig I'll plug my Sure E215 in-ears straight into my Nashville 112, which kills the speaker but at least I can hear intonation. The sound man will take my XLR-out and pump it through the mains.

You think my Sure buds will block enough stage noise to let me hear myself & not go deaf? Anyone tried this?

I quit a loud bro-country band, joined a pleasant girl-singer's outfit. Figured how loud can she be, right? Well the guitar guy likes to “feel” his Matchless amp, the acoustic drummer mics his whole kit. You know . . . .

(Beware: Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood started a loud-chick trend . . . it ain't just the bros anymore.)

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

It's how loud the sound is that your ears are hearing that determines how much damage is done. Whether the loud noise is from the whole band, your speaker, or just what's coming through your ear buds, is immaterial. Ear buds and ear phones can do just as much damage...if they're too loud.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Loud??? Get out now, or stop doing WHATEVER you are doing thats too loud.. You DO NOT want tinnitus.. Its life altering, in a very very bad, often catastrophic way... ask me how I know.
There will be others along any time to back me up in that opinion. If the volumes you are playing at are that severe, do something now to stop it for good, or you will soon wake up some morning with shrieking sounds inside you head that never go away even for a second, for the rest of your life... it is NOT worth it.... bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

I agree with Bob Carlucci, If you wake up some morning with ringing in your ears, Its to late, Damage has been done.

George Biner · From: Los Angeles, CA

The plan you describe would leave you with a very bad mix.

I would get a set of custom fitted molded earplugs (not in-ear-monitors) with selectable attenuation filters -- you put the ear plugs in, you get the proper dB attenuation filter (20dB, say), and you are set -- and you are back playing with your amp and hearing the various instruments of the band

Oh yeah, and I would find another band that knows how to control the volume.
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Guacamole Mafia - acoustic harmony duo
Electrical engineer / amp tech in West Los Angeles -- I fix Peaveys
"Now there is a snappy sounding instrument. That f****r really sings." - Jerry Garcia

Steve Mueller · From: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

That's great advice George. Whose product do you use?
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2016 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2015 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2023 Williams S12 4 x 5, Milkman Amps, 1974 Gibson Byrdland

George Biner · From: Los Angeles, CA

I have earplugs like this made by Etymotic Research:

https://www.etymotic.com/product/custom-musicians-earplugs-with-attenuator/

Many years ago I was at an Audio Engineering Society convention and they were doing fittings so I got involved with them through that. But per the above website, you can create the mold at home and send it to them. I think I paid about $80 but that was 20 years ago.

I carry these with me and when someone starts cranking it up, I put them in (haven't needed them lately, fortunately). Regular earplugs will work also, but these allow highs to come through so you can hear full-range. You can also pick the amount of attenuation to some degree.

PS: At the AES conventions they also had free hearing tests -- I recommend one just to see what the state of your hearing is -- 1 in 3 people will get age induced hearing loss and their high frequencies go away -- it's nice to know what you have as you get older.
_________________
Guacamole Mafia - acoustic harmony duo
Electrical engineer / amp tech in West Los Angeles -- I fix Peaveys
"Now there is a snappy sounding instrument. That f****r really sings." - Jerry Garcia

ajm · From: Los Angeles

Have you tried changing the angle of your amp?
Tilting it or not tilting?
Angling/pointing it to one side or the other?
Even turning it around so that the speaker is facing to the rear and away from you? (If I was mean I'd say to point it directly at the drummer's head, but......)

This might be a better alternative than to have a sound source pumping directly into your ears, a fraction of an inch away from your eardrum.

And, I'll add one more comment: Always make sure that you take a spare/back up set of ear plugs to the gig or concert.

Steve Mueller · From: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

George,
Thanks! I've contacted them. They're now $200, but well worth it if you save your hearing!!
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2016 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2015 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2023 Williams S12 4 x 5, Milkman Amps, 1974 Gibson Byrdland

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Jim Kennedy · From: Brentwood California, USA

If you can't hear yourself sitting in front of your amp, the entire band is to loud. I quit playing combo's because most people, myself included, don't get it until it is too late. The ringing never stops, and hearing aids are a poor 2nd to your ears. Loud does not make the music better, it only damages the hearing of everyone at the venue, band members and patrons.
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ShoBud Pro 1, 75 Tele, 85 Yamaha SA 2000, Fender Cybertwin,

Ricky Davis · From: Bertram, Texas USA

I've been playing Pedal Steel Guitar for 40 years(35 years with bands) and my hearing is almost NO damage and almost Perfect; hardly any loss and here's WHY!!!!
Probably now in my lifetime; there has been half a dozen bands after even 1 gig; I had to say:
" I CAN'T GET LOUD ENOUGH OR DRUNK ENOUGH TO PLAY WITH Y'ALL; see ya later".
As soon as your ear distorts; Move on, Not worth it.
Ricky
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Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com

Bud Angelotti · From: Larryville, NJ, USA

What Ricky said. I've been fortunate enough that I can still hear like a bat, and still smell like a dog. Cool

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Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

I wish I'd have thought of Ricky's line. That's just priceless, and I can think of way too many times I coulda used it! Winking

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Mini mixer with in ear monitors that have custom ear molds (for a good seal to block out outside noise) you can run your amp into the mixer as well as a line or two from sound board and adjust the volumes of each
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Pre RP Mullen D10 8/7, Zum 3/4, Carter S-10 3/4, previous Cougar SD-10 3/4 & GFI S-10 3/4, Fender Steel King, 2 Peavey Session 500's, Peavey Nashville 400, Boss DD-3, Profex-II, Hilton Digital Sustain, '88 Les Paul Custom,Epiphone MBIBG J-45, Fender Strat & Tele's, Takamine acoustics, Marshall amps, Boss effects, Ibanez Tube Screamer, and it all started with an old cranky worn out Kay acoustic you could slide a Mack truck between the strings and fretboard on!!

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

Like George Biner, I have custom-fitted plugs with 2 choices of filters. Mine are Westone, I’ve been using them since just past a little too late, but at least I’ve managed to keep the ringing in my ear somewhat in check since then.

Other suggestions:
-set up as far away as possible from the drummer’s snare and crash cymbal
-avoid construction work

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

I have worn custom fit Etymotics for years--I've always been very careful with my hearing. Playing, mowing the yard, working in the shop, riding a motorcycle. My hearing remained nearly perfect into my 50's But, a side curtain airbag going off in my left ear at point blank range and Meniere's disease in my left ear has left me with fairly crippling tinnitus in both ears. As Bob said earlier, you don't want this. I really can't enjoy a concert any more, or even a trip to a restaurant. Too loud and noisy. Can't hear anything comfortably. I now avoid live music venues, though that was what I did myself for years. It's just not fun listening through the tinnitus and distortion.

In my case, all of my precautions went down the drain due to a person talking on a cell phone cruising through a red light and into the side of my car (and some medical bad luck on the right side). At least it was a car and not a bike. But I still wear custom hearing protectors to protect what's still left. Beware loud sounds!

Dave

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