New loud-band thinking?

Mark Hepler · Post by **Mark Hepler** » 11 May 2022 7:35 am

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 · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 11 May 2022 7:43 pm

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 · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 11 May 2022 7:57 pm

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

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 11 May 2022 9:12 pm

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 · Post by **George Biner** » 11 May 2022 9:48 pm

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.

Steve Mueller · Post by **Steve Mueller** » 12 May 2022 5:10 am

That's great advice George. Whose product do you use?

George Biner · Post by **George Biner** » 12 May 2022 7:36 am

I have earplugs like this made by Etymotic Research:

https://www.etymotic.com/product/custom ... ttenuator/

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.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 12 May 2022 9:05 am

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 · Post by **Steve Mueller** » 12 May 2022 10:07 am

George,
Thanks! I've contacted them. They're now $200, but well worth it if you save your hearing!!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 12 May 2022 2:04 pm

George Biner wrote:
...and I would find another band that knows how to control the volume.

That, by far, is the best suggestion offered here. (Or anywhere else, for that matter.)

Jim Kennedy · Post by **Jim Kennedy** » 12 May 2022 3:11 pm

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.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 12 May 2022 5:47 pm

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

Bud Angelotti · Post by **Bud Angelotti** » 12 May 2022 7:19 pm

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

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 12 May 2022 8:16 pm

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!

Patrick Huey · Post by **Patrick Huey** » 13 May 2022 3:40 am

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

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 17 May 2022 6:59 am

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 · Post by **David Ball** » 17 May 2022 4:36 pm

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