Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've asked this on TGP but figured ask here too.... Will add responses to both...


Help please, I'm struggling with hearing protection. I have custom fit Westones and my results by filter are:
ER-9 = perfect reduction but it sounds muddy
ER-15 = too quiet and hard to hear the quieter instruments

I know the ER-9s do a 9db cut to the midrange than 15db cut.


Is there anything out there for hearing protection that does a true flat attenuation at 10db or under?

BTW, I'm find with investing over what the Westones cost.

Thank you

I have the 15s but never wear 'em ... I hate feeling isolated from what's happening onstage. If the offender is on one particular side of me, as is usually the case, I will use a conventional foam plug in the relevant ear pulled out just a little bit to avoid a total seal and leave the other ear open.

It's not so much whether the response is flat or not but the overall experience of being sealed off from the world while I'm wearing them that I dislike.

The Westones are pretty damned uncomfortable to wear for the whole night, in my experience, and yes, I had the custom molds made for them.

SS---I bought a pair of earplugs in the late 80s that have a little metal "funnel" or a baffle of sorts that sits inside a rubber-type holder. They can be removed for cleaning. They're 6db reduction but at the time they also came in 12 and 18 I believe. They're not supposed to mute the highs (supposedly "even" reduction across the tonal spectrum) but of course they do somewhat. They were under 20 bucks or something like that back then. I googled to see if they're still available and, apparently they are.

http://weldwarehouse.securesites.com/cg ... ber=281503

I like these a lot and would reccomend them over basic foam/rubber ear plugs.

I am not aware of pefectly flat response at any db cut, but I haven't searched it out in a couple years.
I mainly use the 9's, but have 9, 15, and 25's.
Concerning sound and fit, ime...
The 9's are like what it used to be like when I didn't wear earplugs. It's like I don't even know they're in after a few minutes.
I've used mine for 3-4 days in a row, pretty much in and out all day long as needed at Pedal Steel Conventions... As long as I keep 'em lubed up with a little Neosporin I have little to no discomfort.
I have had bad molds made and they were very uncomfortable for even a few seconds... One custom mold actually causing immediate pain in my left ear.
I had new ones remolded and also kept the bad ones, which I later re-shaped with a dremel tool, and can now use.
They are requiered to fit, so if they don't fit, take them back and have them done over untill you get a good set.

I'm fine with the fit (mine are custom molds) and feel they are not uncomfortable. Like TS suggested, I opened my mouth to half open and use noesporin if not comfy.

MT- thanks for the tip. I've gotten a few <$20 tips that I may do a shoot-out of

Pete- maybe you said neosporin? I know none are truly flat but with the 9s i loose most of my guitar.

It sounds like what you really need is an IEM... In Ear Monitor.
This would block the harmful stage noise as well as let you hear your axe real well.
I've never used them, but will probably go for it one of these years.
For me the 9's block all the ear-darts and I usually feel like I can hear fine.
Obviously, I would rather gig without earplugs... It's usually the snare that makes me wince at the rate of 120bpm.

I just replaced a 10 yr old pair of Westones with a new set of Sensaphonics http://www.sensaphonics.com/prod_erseries_customs.html
(They also do the in-ear monitors for Bobby, DSO and a bunch of others)

I haven't had a ton of loud gigs to test them out, but they seem to sound/feel a lot better than the old ones.
I'm local to Chicago, so I could have the molds made right there, but I think they can work with your local audiologist.

When I'm on the subway or a loud bar, I go with a $15 set of Etymotics http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.html

Hope this helps. Good luck finding something that works out.

PK

Yes, I've considered IEMs but we don't have everything going thru the PA.

paulkogut wrote:I just replaced a 10 yr old pair of Westones with a new set of Sensaphonics http://www.sensaphonics.com/prod_erseries_customs.html
(They also do the in-ear monitors for Bobby, DSO and a bunch of others)

I haven't had a ton of loud gigs to test them out, but they seem to sound/feel a lot better than the old ones.
I'm local to Chicago, so I could have the molds made right there, but I think they can work with your local audiologist.

PK, they use the same filters as the Westones. It's the filters that bug me.
And, btw, I'm in the NW burbs of Chicago!

paulkogut wrote: When I'm on the subway or a loud bar, I go with a $15 set of Etymotics http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.html

I have a pair of these as well. 'Tried them before I went with the custom molded.
The problem for me was, they stick out of the ear too far... little issues like putting your guitar on and the strap would brush across the side of my head and hit the post that sticks out, and bam, major ear-dart... or just some involuntary touch or itch of my ear or side of my head (they were itch-ee for me) would result in touching the post that sticks out and cause an uncomfortable spike upside m'head.
I have to rate a simple foam plug, rolled up in your fingers untill it looks like a golf tee, put a little spit on it and slide it all the way in... after it expands pull it out to the right volume reduction, as better than the generic er20's, but that's just my expierience with them.
See how that end-cap sticks out?... show stopper for me (also, the eartip material was very hard to keep clean, ime).

paulkogut wrote:I just replaced a 10 yr old pair of Westones with a new set of Sensaphonics http://www.sensaphonics.com/prod_erseries_customs.html
(They also do the in-ear monitors for Bobby, DSO and a bunch of others)

Thanks, Paul!

Here is what I wrote on TGP:
Thanks again, all! I went to Etymotic last Friday and they did a "button" (filter) test and all 4 (pair of both 9s and 15s) test to spec. Then they tested the molds then gave all 4 a physical exam and found that the molds are the problem. From what I was told they should replicate the ear canal but thinner and each of mine had some oddities.

They showed me charts and examples and all sorts of information was shared with me. They were awesome!!!

I'm going to Sensaphonic next week to have me fitted! Thanks again for all who helped!

strumminsix wrote: I opened my mouth to half open and use noesporin if not comfy.

How can you tell if the stage is level?

Drool will be coming out of both sides of the rhythm guitarist mouth.

ZIIIIIING!

You can try cotton too. I don't want huge reduction in sound, but I want to get the volume down some. The cotton seems to do well and like Pete mentioned you can vary the density of the wedge to get the reduction you want. Coating them with lube or getting them wet will make them more dense too. Not very scientific but it works for me.