Good hearing protection?

[beergoggles]

A little background. I've played in about 7+ bands in my lifetime. This includes gigging quite a few times, along with guitarists who insist on cranking their amps up during practice, and drummers who love rim shots (lol).

Needless to say, I think my hearing is starting to go. One of the main reasons I never wore earplugs is because of the way my ear canal in my left ear is shaped. I can't fit an earplug in there! Also, since I play bass, I notice I have a hard time hearing bass frequencies when I am wearing hearing protection.

So my question is, what's a good form of hearing protection? I was thinking about those muffs that cover the ears, but I'm not sure if that's going to allow me to hear some of the bass frequencies while keeping my ears safe.

Any suggestions?

[MunkeyQ]

I do a lot of PA and speaker stuff so I'm in a similar situation...needing to hear all frequencies clearly but attenuated.

I have a pair of these: http://www.earplugshop.com/shopping/categories/musician-earplugs/0/etymotic-research/er-20-high-fidelity-earplugs/

which attenuate by 20dB. They're surprisingly good at letting most frequencies pass, although above 10-12khz or so it starts to roll off. Better than having no eardrums though...

[Aragami]

I use EAR Classic Platinum's (http://www.panossafety.com.au/d126/classic-platinum). They work alright for reducing noise, frequencies however, I couldn't tell you about.

They're about $1 AUD (=$0.8 USD, something like that) at any pharmacy though, so give them a try?

[beergoggles]

Like I said, I have a problem getting earplugs to fit in my left ear canal. It's not shaped correctly, and they just fall out.

You guys have any idea for something that fits over the ears??

[Aragami]

I don't think anything that goes over the ears will allow a good frequency responce through.

You've tried the squishy up ear plugs, like the platinums?

[negz]

Get some silicone ear plugs. They mold into shape. Available at your local Wal-Mart's pharmacy section.

[Bobweirsucks]

you can get custom made ear plugs the attenuate all frequencies, i just cant remember the name of the company that makes them and they are pretty expensive.

[ArmsMerchant]

I use shooters plugs that compress and then expand inside the ear canal.

My sweety uses these wax-like things that cover the ear canal and extend part-way in.

[12Ax7]

i play bass an i usually use an dime a dozen earplug in one ear an in the other i use an ear bud monitor system so i can hear my playing an singing

[reggie_love]

Custom prescription earplugs, covered by a lot of insurance policies. Ask your doctor.

They'll mold them to your ear canal and pretty soon you've got hearing protection that doesn't suck.

[EssJay]

Custom prescription earplugs, covered by a lot of insurance policies. Ask your doctor.

They'll mold them to your ear canal and pretty soon you've got hearing protection that doesn't suck.

This.
Otherwise your best bet if you insist on something that covers the ear would probably be to buy a set of DJ headphones that cuts out most of the outside noise and run them directly from the mixer.

[FON]

I usually just shove some tissue in my ear. Works for me.

[beergoggles]

I dont think you all understand. My left ear canal is not shaped properly. Those foam expanding earbuds fit fine in my right ear, but they fall out, or don't properly cover my left.

Something over-ear is my best bet, but I'm not sure what I should go for.

[FON]

I believe ear muffs are the solution.

http://flypaper.bluefly.com/images/hot_pink_ear_muffs_bluefly_blog_flypaper.jpg

[ChinaCat]

I dont think you all understand. My left ear canal is not shaped properly. Those foam expanding earbuds fit fine in my right ear, but they fall out, or don't properly cover my left.

Something over-ear is my best bet, but I'm not sure what I should go for.

Dude. Listen everything they said. I know at least one person said it.

Go to your local audiologist (like where you get your hearing checked). Preferably a reputable one that knows what they are doing. Tell them you play music blah blah and want those special ear plugs for musicians. They will (if they are any good at what they do) know exactly what you are talking about. They take custom molds of your ears, and then you get these ear plugs that are specifically made to "preserve the blah blah of the sound". In laymans terms, they reduce the loudness of the sound, while still preserving the quality. So it doesnt just sound muffled and shitty, it sounds good and still protects your hearing.

If you dont want to do that, then your best bet, from my knowledge, would be to get DJ heaphones and mix a monitor through it like the one dude said, which I think is a good idea.

Unless they make special over the ear ones for music, i wouldnt go with that, because if you got say the ear muff type ear protectors for shooting guns or whatever, it muffles the sound alot and makes it sound real shitty.

[porqueno los dos?]

It's already been said, but I don't think you listened. You can get custom ear plugs molded to your individual ear shape. They can reduce amplitude at a uniform attenuation. You can even pick how powerful you want them depending on your instrument and surroundings.