Terje ...

[SQUAREHEAD]

Ok...

I will NOT go crazy here like Terje used to, but I just had my hearing tested and it's not great. I have lost about 9% in the upper midrange and the Specialist says it's definitely the damage from loud music etc...
There are ear plugs that totally let all frequencies thru but they lower ALL 15db or 25db depending on which ones you buy.
They are $165.00 here and my health plan covered it!
They work very well!!
Just thought I'd share. My ear damage is done, never will come back.

Keith

 

[duesentrieb]

Sorry to hear that, Keith. edit: "its done" - so it is reverseable? Great !

btw: I have the chance to try the amps we've talked about yesterday on friday (Frankfurt Fair).
Do you want me to report about that?

 

[kannibul]

Ok...

I will NOT go crazy here like Terje used to, but I just had my hearing tested and it's not great. I have lost about 9% in the upper midrange and the Specialist says it's definitely the damage from loud music etc...
There are ear plugs that totally let all frequencies thru but they lower ALL 15db or 25db depending on which ones you buy.
They are $165.00 here and my health plan covered it!
They work very well!!
Just thought I'd share. My ear damage is done, never will come back.

Keith

I've got somewhere between 30-50% loss in my left ear - but that's from surgery and stuff. My right ear, so far, is fine.

My options for my left ear are:

1) Leave it alone and let him continue cleaning it out (since I have another cholesteatoma, except he can, so far, keep cleaning it out, if not then surgery will be required to correct it)

2) Hearing aid - they have models now that have something like a 25 band EQ to them, so only the frequencies you can't hear get boosted...

3) Surgery - he's said he can "tweak" the artificial bones I have in my ear now and improve my hearing.


I should be wearing earplugs...

 

[Gainfreak]

Sorry to hear that Keith (n pun intended lol!)

Im a firm believer in using ear plugs and now that I joined another band I will be going to get the molds done ASAP! I haven't had my hearing tested but Im sure that there will find some damage/loss. Another thing to keep away from is headphones or in ears monitors. They are more harmfull to your hearing then you would think.

 

[Odin]

I never understood wearing earplugs to play music. Earplugs make the stage sound like crap IMO. If your ears are ringing when you come off stage then you turn down the music next time. When you reach a volume that doesn't cause your ears to ring then you're probably safe. Why would you knowingly and willingly play at a volume that causes you discomfort?

 

[Gainfreak]

I never understood wearing earplugs to play music. Earplugs make the stage sound like crap IMO. If your ears are ringing when you come off stage then you turn down the music next time. When you reach a volume that doesn't cause your ears to ring then you're probably safe. Why would you knowingly and willingly play at a volume that causes you discomfort?

Most of the people I know who suffered hearing damage from playing live had it come from the drums, not from the amps blaring.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I never understood wearing earplugs to play music. Earplugs make the stage sound like crap IMO. If your ears are ringing when you come off stage then you turn down the music next time. When you reach a volume that doesn't cause your ears to ring then you're probably safe. Why would you knowingly and willingly play at a volume that causes you discomfort?

How is this done with a drummer in a rock band?
Tell me...

The molded plugs work VERY well and the sound is perfect!
Just lower db!

Keith

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

That's EXACTLY how I knew I had problems, Chris!
I was at a party and could not hear this guy talking from all the background noise!

Keith

I never understood wearing earplugs to play music. Earplugs make the stage sound like crap IMO. If your ears are ringing when you come off stage then you turn down the music next time. When you reach a volume that doesn't cause your ears to ring then you're probably safe. Why would you knowingly and willingly play at a volume that causes you discomfort?

Yeah, what everyone else said. You can't turn the drums down and on small stages, the cymbals are right in your ear.

With that said, I can guarantee you that I have hearing damage, but I don't care. I don't even want to know. lol... I was checked a few times years ago and all was fine, but I've done alot of loud gigging since then. I have a hard time understanding people talking if there is a bunch of background noise like in a loud restaurant. I never noticed that before, so I assume it's some damage.

But like I said, screw it. I honestly don't care.

 

[Odin]

A drummer who is a musician is capable of playing with dynamics, he can play less loudly when required to do so. If he cannot, he is not a musician but a neanderthal, and must be replaced. Of course rock drums are loud, but a good drummer can play at a volume that does not cause hearing damage to the people on stage. My solution is to not play with people that don't understand dynamics. I wouldn't play with a guitar player or bass player who always kept their amp dimed, why would I play with a drummer who always plays at full volume? Not only is it bad for my ears, it just doesn't help the music when the drummer is incapable of dynamics. Life is too short to play with mediocre drummers.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

A drummer who is a musician is capable of playing with dynamics, he can play less loudly when required to do so. If he cannot, he is not a musician but a neanderthal, and must be replaced. Of course rock drums are loud, but a good drummer can play at a volume that does not cause hearing damage to the people on stage. My solution is to not play with people that don't understand dynamics. I wouldn't play with a guitar player or bass player who always kept their amp dimed, why would I play with a drummer who always plays at full volume? Not only is it bad for my ears, it just doesn't help the music when the drummer is incapable of dynamics. Life is too short to play with mediocre drummers.

You are wrong... period.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

If I'm playing at home I generally don't wear earplugs, but if I'm playing with my drummer at loud volumes I always wear them

I actually think I can hear things more clearly with the plugs in regarding the instrument mix

The snare and cymbals KILL me if I'm not wearing earplugs, I just can't take it.....

 

[Odin]

A drummer who is a musician is capable of playing with dynamics, he can play less loudly when required to do so. If he cannot, he is not a musician but a neanderthal, and must be replaced. Of course rock drums are loud, but a good drummer can play at a volume that does not cause hearing damage to the people on stage. My solution is to not play with people that don't understand dynamics. I wouldn't play with a guitar player or bass player who always kept their amp dimed, why would I play with a drummer who always plays at full volume? Not only is it bad for my ears, it just doesn't help the music when the drummer is incapable of dynamics. Life is too short to play with mediocre drummers.

None of the stuff you've said on here has gotten on my nerves yet, until this post. A loud drummer is ZERO indication of their talent. I've played with a few drummers I'd consider "pro-level" and been around several more and believe me, pro rock drummers play loud. That's how it goes and has nothing to do with dynamics.

Besides, do you think the drum dynamics show through aloud PA anyway? No, they don't. The drums are usually compressed in rock music anyway, which means it doesn't matter how loud or soft they're played.

I disagree. A good drummer can play his instrument in a manner that is suitable for the job. If that means not bashing the cymbals into oblivion because he's on a 16x24 stage in a small room then that's what he should do. That's called using the right tool for the job. If the drummer's only tool is a sledgehammer then he's not equipped to do the job. It's no different that lugging a 100 watt head and 4x12 into a coffeehouse and cranking it up to 10 - it's inappropriate.

Dynamics doesn't mean "playing quiet". A rock drummer can play solid and loud without damaging the ears of the people on stage, and he can do it with dynamics if the song calls for dynamics. Contrary to many drummers' belief, routinely breaking cymbals and drum heads is a sign of poor technique (hitting too hard).

As far as dynamics cutting through the PA, that depends on the band. Assuming that you have a halfway decent PA and everything is running through the PA, if the entire band understands dynamics then the drummers' dynamics should come through just fine. If the band is a bunch of mouth breathers who like to bash their instruments at full volume then dynamics will probably be lost.

AC/DC is one of the loudest rock bands of all time. Listen to songs like "Ride On" and you'll hear that the band plays with dynamics. There are parts where you can hear Angus' fingers slide on the strings it's so quiet, then it gets loud, cranked Marshalls and all. If you're playing in a Slayer-style band there is probably little to no dynamics, but even then the drummer should be able to play at a level that doesn't damage your hearing.

Are you suggesting that drums should ever be played at a level that damages the hearing of those on stage?

 

[Odin]

A drummer who is a musician is capable of playing with dynamics, he can play less loudly when required to do so. If he cannot, he is not a musician but a neanderthal, and must be replaced. Of course rock drums are loud, but a good drummer can play at a volume that does not cause hearing damage to the people on stage.[/ My solution is to not play with people that don't understand dynamics. I wouldn't play with a guitar player or bass player who always kept their amp dimed, why would I play with a drummer who always plays at full volume? Not only is it bad for my ears, it just doesn't help the music when the drummer is incapable of dynamics. Life is too short to play with mediocre drummers.

You are wrong... period.

Why is that wrong? Are drums designed to cause hearing damage or are they designed to play music?

 

[Shiny_Surface]

This is only my opinion, but low volumes suck the life out of playing music. I cannot stand to play in quiet bands or with earplugs. It's just not fun to me. I like my pant legs flapping.

When I wear plugs at louder volumes I can still feel the volume and power, the plugs just take the edge off

 

[Shiny_Surface]

A drummer who is a musician is capable of playing with dynamics, he can play less loudly when required to do so. If he cannot, he is not a musician but a neanderthal, and must be replaced. Of course rock drums are loud, but a good drummer can play at a volume that does not cause hearing damage to the people on stage. My solution is to not play with people that don't understand dynamics. I wouldn't play with a guitar player or bass player who always kept their amp dimed, why would I play with a drummer who always plays at full volume? Not only is it bad for my ears, it just doesn't help the music when the drummer is incapable of dynamics. Life is too short to play with mediocre drummers.

None of the stuff you've said on here has gotten on my nerves yet, until this post. A loud drummer is ZERO indication of their talent. I've played with a few drummers I'd consider "pro-level" and been around several more and believe me, pro rock drummers play loud. That's how it goes and has nothing to do with dynamics.

Besides, do you think the drum dynamics show through aloud PA anyway? No, they don't. The drums are usually compressed in rock music anyway, which means it doesn't matter how loud or soft they're played.

I disagree. A good drummer can play his instrument in a manner that is suitable for the job. If that means not bashing the cymbals into oblivion because he's on a 16x24 stage in a small room then that's what he should do. That's called using the right tool for the job. If the drummer's only tool is a sledgehammer then he's not equipped to do the job. It's no different that lugging a 100 watt head and 4x12 into a coffeehouse and cranking it up to 10 - it's inappropriate.

Dynamics doesn't mean "playing quiet". A rock drummer can play solid and loud without damaging the ears of the people on stage, and he can do it with dynamics if the song calls for dynamics. Contrary to many drummers' belief, routinely breaking cymbals and drum heads is a sign of poor technique (hitting too hard).

As far as dynamics cutting through the PA, that depends on the band. Assuming that you have a halfway decent PA and everything is running through the PA, if the entire band understands dynamics then the drummers' dynamics should come through just fine. If the band is a bunch of mouth breathers who like to bash their instruments at full volume then dynamics will probably be lost.

AC/DC is one of the loudest rock bands of all time. Listen to songs like "Ride On" and you'll hear that the band plays with dynamics. There are parts where you can hear Angus' fingers slide on the strings it's so quiet, then it gets loud, cranked Marshalls and all. If you're playing in a Slayer-style band there is probably little to no dynamics, but even then the drummer should be able to play at a level that doesn't damage your hearing.

Are you suggesting that drums should ever be played at a level that damages the hearing of those on stage?

Not all the drummers out there are like your idealized version (would be nice if that were reality), so you have to protect yourself IMO.

Maybe if they were using jazz brushes

 

[duesentrieb]

LOL

I don't use ear condoms (yet). I insist to have a lots of breaks during rehearsals (not just to have a smoke) and try to get thru gigs healthy . . . we have a super loud drummer (the best one I ever had the pleasure to play with) - and me thinks that my son (2.5) when he's crying is giving me more damage (when I pick him up after he has hurt himself) than any drummer could ever do - he's louder than a Motörhead gig

 

[duesentrieb]

I'll try to ask my son to cry more dynamic next time

 

[defpearlpilot]

I have a pair of the molded earplugs and I'm sorry but they are not the same. And Odin is full of it as usual.

 

[duesentrieb]

 

[bunghole]

Dynamics doesn't mean "playing quiet". A rock drummer can play solid and loud without damaging the ears of the people on stage, and he can do it with dynamics if the song calls for dynamics. Contrary to many drummers' belief, routinely breaking cymbals and drum heads is a sign of poor technique (hitting too hard).

are you a drummer? I hope not, since I actually like taking advice on playing an instrument from someone who doesn't actually play said instrument.

If a drummer told me (a guitarist) my business like he was some kind of authority, I'd very politely tell him to shut the fuck up