Ear plugs

[freeze]

Hi

I have a question concerning ear plugs. Do a lot of u guys use 'em during rehearsals/gigs?

with the cheap ones like these I can hear the drums allright but guitars sound really crap, I can't distinguish different notes...

Now I was think of buying some of those more expensive plugs, custom made for MY OWN ears. I've heard they make certain plugs that pass the right frequencies to your ears and kills others. Has anyone got some experience with this?

Thanks a lot!

 

[sumairetsu]

Hearos makes a set of earplugs called "Hi-Fidelity." These earplugs reduce the sound levels by 12 decbels, yet they keep the frequencies level so everything sounds natural. And, yes, I wear them at every rehearsal and gig. Sometimes, it's the only way to be able to hear the other members of my band when the monitors are crap.

 

[freeze]

Thanks sumairetsu!
I've checked out their site, will consider buying those...
Have U tryed the cheap yellow ones? Is it a really big difference?

(ow yeah, did u buy em somewhere in Europe? cause all the companies who are on the site are located in America...trying to get a better price by closer delivery )

other replies still welcome...

 

[Hexer]

havent tried the "Hi-Fidelity" ones, but I know the ceap yellow ones you use, they're a real pain in the ass! block out all highs, so only drums and bass could sound good....

I bought a pair of "Ohropax Multiplux" some time ago, and it's a huge difference (though they cost only about 5€)

 

[sumairetsu]

The cheap yellow plugs do a good job of really reducing the sound levels, but they do cause a reduction of many of the mid and high frequencies that you normally get with guitars and vocals. With the Hi-Fi Hearos, they reduce the levels of the frequencies evenly, though you don't get the hearing protection that you would get with the regular earplugs.

I don't know if these earplugs are available in Europe. I get them at the local music store near me.

 

[NAD]

I'll second the recommendation for Hearos. They are nothing like those shitty foam ones. Foam ones are to block out lots of volume like for shooting guns or something. The Hearos don't block out as much volume, but they also retain a lot of the sound quality.

When I'm in a band that practices regularly I wear them to each rehearsal, but if it's a once a month situation like I'm in right now, I don't.

 

[genocide roach]

i dont use em. typically im playing and doing vocals, and the earplugs aplify my vocals, drowning out everything else. but typically we keep the monitors relativly quiet so we dont blast our ears

i say we like im in a band, but its been a very long while hehe
~gR~

 

[Hexer]

I do guitar AND vocals, too. my earplugs don't block out too much of the volume, so I can still hear the instruments pretty good.

 

[chris-o-fer]

I use them at every practice, but never at a show. I've always used the construction grade plugs, with the string connecting them together. The sound isn't totally pristine through them, but they tend to hold up a little longer then the hearos IMO.

 

[Yelgath]

12 decibels of reduction is not sufficient for playing on stage in front a PA blasting out 120+ dB of sound. Bite the bullet and spend a couple hundred on custom fitted in ear ear MONITORS, not just custom earplugs. These things dramatically reduce outside noise, but they're in-ear monitors too so they're the best fidelity you can possibly have. In fact, they're better than just hearing the sound without plugs because they reduce the sound thus making it more clear AND you can make your own mix. So for example if you're a guitarist and want to hear guitar louder than the others, that's easily doable with in-ear monitors.