[Trombone-l] earplugs

[Bill Dinwiddie]

Hi Neil,

I use the RE-20 plugs and have for several years. I am kind of obsessive 
about high volume situations and I unfortunately encounter such situations 
almost every week. I find the RE-20s block enough sound and they are 
adjustable to the extent that you can put more or less of the plug into your 
ear canal. Sometimes when the band is loud but not overwhelmingly so, I just 
use a little of the plug on one or the other side. When things are way too 
loud, I shove them both in as far as they will go. Sometimes even that is 
not far enough. At this point, I am way past worrying about what I sound 
like to myself. I know that I am playing in tune and with an acceptable 
sound and so I accept the "head sound" as being fairly accurate. I have lost 
some amount of hearing over the years due to loud PAs, loud drums, loud 
guitars, etc. and I am determined not to lose any more.

Custom made earplugs are fine, of course, but I found that one of the big 
problems with those is loss. It's kind of like cuff links. If you buy a nice 
expensive pair, you are just about guaranteed to lose ONE of them. With as 
much insertion and removal that I do in the course of a night, it's really 
easy to lose one on a dark band stand, and if you lose one of the ER-20s you 
are only out maybe $20.00. Cheap ones seem to last forever. The ER-20s seem 
a good compromise. Good luck and protect yourself first!!

Bill Dinwiddie
billdin at comcast.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Neil DeBoni" <ncdeboni at alumni.uwaterloo.ca>
To: <trombone-l at server5.samford.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:38 AM
Subject: [Trombone-l] earplugs


> hi everyone,
>
> I just got some Etymotic ER20 earplugs and tried them out in rehearsal.
> They're fantastic for the rest of the band, but I'm not so impressed at 
> the
> change in what I sound like -- I might as well be plugging my ears with my
> fingers.  Very muffled, strange sound.
>
> Has anyone tried the ER20 *and* custom-fit plugs?  Are the custom-fit 
> plugs
> any different, in terms of your own sound?
>
> I was planning on getting some custom-fit plugs anyway if I liked the
> ER20's, but I'm not so sure I want to spend the big bucks on custom-fit if
> they have the same "problem".
>
>
> Thanks,
> Neil
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