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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: airbladder on February 22, 2004, 10:33:17 PM

Title: Earplugs
Post by: airbladder on February 22, 2004, 10:33:17 PM
I attend from 1-4 shows a week and want to keep my ears safe.  Currently I use foam earplugs when the music seems too loud.  These earplugs are good for shooting a gun or running a table saw; what would be good for music?  The problem is best addressed in the following hikoo.

music with earplugs
is like sex with a condom
it's safe but feels dull

How can I lower the sound entering my head rather than turning it off?  I feel like I have seen earplugs with holes in them that would allow some sound to enter.  Any help would be great.
Ed ;)
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: nickgregory on February 22, 2004, 10:35:18 PM
get a pair of the etymotics...the best earplugs out there, and they dont dull the music like most I have used.

www.etymotic.com
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: jpschust on February 22, 2004, 10:39:27 PM
yah nick is on the ball with this- i have a set for myself.  wonderful
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: airbladder on February 22, 2004, 10:42:59 PM
two minuets and one second that is kind of slow for a reply.  I may need to find a new forum.   ;D
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Swampy on February 22, 2004, 10:47:56 PM
I just got my etymotics the other day, testin them out at NMAS on friday.
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Brian on February 23, 2004, 01:46:16 AM
are these etymotic earplugs everyone is getting the model numbers "ER20xxC" where the "xx" stands for the color you want? just curious cause i definitely want a pair of these.

Thanks,
Brian
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: John Kelly on February 23, 2004, 03:02:30 AM
Yup, that's them.  Here's their page for 'em:
http://www.etymotic.com/musicians/more20.asp

Also, anyone have any recommendations for cleaning these bad boys? ;)
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: John R on February 23, 2004, 07:48:07 AM
the way i do it is to take them out, put them in their case, and clean them off before the next show after things have dried a bit, using a bit of napkin or tp.

jr
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: nickgregory on February 23, 2004, 09:02:28 AM
that works and I also run them under warm water, and give them a full day to air dry...
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: cleantone on February 23, 2004, 10:23:50 AM
I use "Westone". I had to get a mold made for my ear canal and they are over $100 but very worth it to me. These form fit you ear only and have interchangable caps for how much DB you need. I love em, and there very comfy since they are molded to your ear. You will have to go to an ear doctor but I think they may be a big step up from the other ons noted here.

I did use a simular product made by "hearos" as this ER-20. Worked well but I'm not sure how much they reduce spl's by.

good luck

Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Brian Skalinder on February 23, 2004, 10:34:23 AM
I did use a simular product made by "hearos" as this ER-20. Worked well but I'm not sure how much they reduce spl's by.

20dB, hence the "20" in ER-20.  I have some custom molded earplugs for riding my motorcycle and have thought about getting a separate set of custom molded plugs for concerts, too - hmmmmm...got me thinking about that again...
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Lee on February 23, 2004, 12:41:47 PM
get a pair of the etymotics...the best earplugs out there, and they dont dull the music like most I have used.

www.etymotic.com

what he said... I love mine!
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: cleantone on February 23, 2004, 04:07:52 PM
Quote
Quote from: cleantone on Today at 10:23:50am
I did use a simular product made by "hearos" as this ER-20. Worked well but I'm not sure how much they reduce spl's by.
20dB, hence the "20" in ER-20.  I have some custom molded earplugs for riding my motorcycle and have thought about getting a separate set of custom molded plugs for concerts, too - hmmmmm...got me thinking about that again...

Thanks but I meant the "hearos" brand, I'm not sure the SPL's on those. You may be able to have your ear doctor use the old mold from your ear canal to make new earplugs for you. I would recomend customs highly... If not only for comfort ;)
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Brian Skalinder on February 23, 2004, 04:10:06 PM
Thanks but I meant the "hearos" brand, I'm not sure the SPL's on those.[/url]

Duh.  I read often, honestly!!

You may be able to have your ear doctor use the old mold from your ear canal to make new earplugs for you. I would recomend customs highly... If not only for comfort ;)

Yeah, I don't find the ER20s the most comfortable in the world, that's kinda what got me leaning towards the custom jobbies again.  Thanks, CT.
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: John Kelly on February 23, 2004, 08:19:01 PM
I see you quote often, too. ;D
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Nick's Picks on February 24, 2004, 09:59:57 AM
I have the standard Ety's, but fwiw, I find the blue plastic ones you can get at any drugstore/shopping center work just as well, and are 1/2 the pirce ($8-9 bucks).  Plus, you can get them localaly.  they are sold as ones to use on planes for pressure changes.  they work very well for concerts too, and are 15db atten.  i find 20db too much.
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Brian Skalinder on February 24, 2004, 10:01:56 AM
but fwiw, I find the blue plastic ones you can get at any drugstore/shopping center work just as well, and are 1/2 the pirce ($8-9 bucks).

FWIW, the Etys can be found online for $10/pr.  'Course, if the 15dB suits your ears, the Ety price doesn't matter!
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: Karl on February 24, 2004, 11:29:19 AM
Another cheapie option is to use the Quiet-Downs--they are made with down.  They probably don't quiet as much as others, but the sound is quite natural, and they are cheap.  I use them when I play drumset and they work out for me.

But the other suggestions are probably better still.
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: mhibbs on February 24, 2004, 02:42:21 PM
I have some of those Nick is referring too...bought them at the grocery store for like $5.  They appear very similar to the Ety.  I took them with me to the DBT shows this past weekend thinking I might need them, but as usual, ended up not wearing them.  


mitch
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: cleantone on February 24, 2004, 07:00:13 PM
http://www.westone.com/music/elite.html#es49 (http://www.westone.com/)

This is where mine are from. Check it out...

(http://www.westone.com/music/image_es49new.jpg)
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: phishn on February 24, 2004, 07:09:34 PM
^^ hey clinton...is that you?
Title: Re:Earplugs
Post by: cleantone on February 25, 2004, 11:14:24 AM
Quote
^^ hey clinton...is that you?

yep