Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi guys. First off, let me apologize. I know this isn't a Rickenbacker question, so to speak, but I am always amazed at the wealth of wisdom and information the musicians here possess. I just wanted you all's opinion on this. When I am not gigging I run sound at a local club. There really is no way around it, as you all know. The music is loud. I need to get something to protect my hearing, but I hate using the earplugs I have tried. I am mixing these bands and have to set EQ and all this, and the foam earplugs affect the sound you hear. They kill all the high end, affecting the way I hear the mix. What do you all use? Is there anything available that allows the full spectrum of frequencies to be heard while bringing down only the loudness? I really need to get something, but I haven't found anything I am happy with.

have the band switch to in-ear monitors ... then you will have ear protection with a volume control ... then you can reduce to sound hitting your ears and reduce the stage volume and let the PA do the work ...

That works when I am dealing with my band, but I am talking about when I work with others. To make it worse, some bands are complete d icks when it comes to stage levels. I had one band playing a Mesa half stack and a B-52 half stack in a 300 seat club. They were so loud that it was physically painful. I felt like I got hit by a truck. The guys were bitching that they couldn't hear the monitors. I told them I was giving them everything the system was capable of giving them and they needed to pull back their backline. Then the ***** went on a hot mic and told the audience he couldn't hear himself and the sound guy probably didn't know what he was doing. Of course this is an EXTREME example of prickdom, most aren't such asses, but they sometimes are too loud anyway. Those are the ones I worry about.

You can get prescription ear plugs that supposedly cut down all frequencies equally, you can even order the amount of db's you want cut, I don't think they are real expensive either. I'm sure you already know this being a musician yourself but most bands have a volume that they are comfortable playing at and it's difficult to get them to change it, especially by the enemy, haha!

Yeah, but you have to keep in mind that when the engineer is telling you "I'm giving you all I got." Honestly, the band I was talking about was so loud, comfortable isn't a word I'd ever consider using to describe them.

Javier, to follow-up on what Bob was noting, I use the "Etymotic Research" plugs. You need to go to an audiologist who deals in them. The plugs are custom fit for your ear canal, and including the visit will run you around $150 total. They come with 15 dB "flat" response (still hear the cymbals) inserts and they can be changed out to lower and higher level attenuation.
They are worth their weight in gold! I play bass trombone in a couple of jazz bands (in addition to owning two Ric basses) and I would both go insane *and* loose my hearing as I sit right in front of 5 trumpets. Need I say more?
Check out this link:
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx

I have quit several just because of volume problems ... or sometimes if the band is too loud then I just quit playing and plug my ears ... there is no band that is good enough to make it worth my while to blow out my ears ...

I used to play in a very large blues band, up to 11 members when the entire horn section could make it, (think Blues Brothers). We were able to keep our stage volume down enough to where you could talk and carry on conversation between band members on stage quite comfortably.

This was due largely to the fact that our drummer was using Roland electronic drums, and had a volume control like everyone else.

Very convienient when you dont have to try to keep up with the drummer...It was actually kind of funny because he took the roll of "volume cop", and used to get on anyone if they got to loud..

Thanks for the information, David. I ned to see if there is someone in my area who deals in those.

Thanks for the information, David. I need to see if there is someone in my area who deals in those.

Get ready with the master mute....! 'Oh dear, there seems to be a problem...'Of course you 'might not know what you're doing 'so it might take a while ..but 'wow' you've fixed it...oh, it's gone again,maybe it's the amps overdriving;oh it's come back...'maybe you should turn down a bit'etc, etc( I've done this!)....of course, you may feel you have a responsibility to the punters,which nailing your own problem won't help and in these days of litigation leaves you open to action...Will your boss stand with you on this if he has left you in charge of all 'sound' in the room.?.notwithstanding the bar staff not being able to hear drinks being ordered etc...Good Luck!

For future reference, threads such as this that are not Rickenbacker-related should be posted under The Others section. Peter will sometimes move them, too.

sorry...

Ahh no worries Javier, thread drift could take it anywhere !!!

No harm done.