You are right on with that one. Ear protection should be as essential as a drummer's sticks! I am going to have to rethink my strategy and practice what I am preaching here. I don't think the IPOD ear buds are technically hearing protection, and I am sure I am at risk with the decibel level of both the IPOD and my drums, especially since my garage is like an echo-chamber. I am going to check out some higher end ear phones that block noise or something, but still will play music from the IPOD.

Here's a link to Westone's page ...

http://westone.com/hhc/index.php/earpieces-and-the-ear/earpiece-materials-colors

drumhack, these are the best phones...

http://www.gk-music.com/ultraphones.htm

And for those inclined, in ear monitors...

http://ultimateears.logitech.com/index.cfm

I guess their is something to be said about dynamics while playing, unfortunately when I joined this hard rock band, I had to give up any hope for playing with dynamics for just plain balls to the floor rock n roll. Maybe when I'm 70 I'll think about playing some lighter music. LOL.

seriously though, since I only do a couple gigs a month, I would think its not nearly as bad as those guys playing every weekend. One thing is for sure, if I dont wear plugs during our set, I for sure will be wearing them while the other bands are on stage. guitar2

Hi, first of all, let me say that this is my first post here. I've been playing for 50 years and I have a severe hearing loss. Wish I would have known about hearing protection a long time ago.

Before you spend alot of money and get dissappointed with wearing them let me suggest the high fedelity hearing protection from ETYMOTIC. These are great hearing protection and only cost $12.00. These are made for musicians and they also have other in ear earphones etc. see www.Etyomic.com

But by all means find something you will use and then use it. Good luck. John

Tinnitus is not a nice thing to have...Trust me...

Cheers

One more tidbit of advice, as an avid ear plug user: put them in AS SOON AS YOU CAN when the sound system has been turned on. Especially when you're on the road, and you don't know what caliber of sound guy you have, this is vitally important. Sometimes while I'm still setting up my gear, there will be a deafening, venue-shaking blast of feedback which brings all of the people on stage to their knees. It's not necessarily the fault of the sound guy, as the previous night's sound tech might have switched something around, but it would definitely be my fault if I didn't protect my ears...

What??????

Will someone please answer that darn phone.....

Caddy is right on this. Should that happen, we refer that as "a career opportunity" for the audio crew! If nothing else, foam ear plugs will help. I prefer the custom or semi custom ear buds as they generally provide about 15dB of external noise reduction.

It is not at all unusual to have decibel levels in excess of 105 in front of many club PA's. Sitting on top of a snare drum will render similar readings. Hearing protection is important and I wish I would have heeded that as a young man. Tinnitus is rather disconcerting.

Caddywumpus, OMG I have that happen so many times over the years in clubs. I've experienced some real howlers that have set my ears off ringing far worse than the show itself. Yeah soundcheck can be deadly.

The other one I've found in the past is going on a fast changeover after a drummer who has a million db of snare coming thru the side fill. Its like Im nailing my own head to the wall on each backbeat! You can never be too careful.

Nowadays I use Ultimate Ears that are moulded to my ear canal. Expensive, but I tour with a band with a monitor system that I hook into. I still have a wedge though for a bit of air movement.