[Trombone-l] New: Personal Blast Shield Needed

[Eric & Candice Swanson]

On Oct 1, 2008, at 1:04 PM, bonemstr at america.net wrote:

> Seeking input for protecting hearing.
> I play in a big band where the lead trpt stands right behind  
> me.........


Bob,

I agree with Steve Gamble.  One thing that will probably work best is  
the Etymotic Research ER20 ear plugs.  Most of the plugs you buy will  
cut out 28-33 dB of the sound, making you practically deaf for all  
musical purposes.  The ER20 is designed for musicians and to only cut  
out 20dB making you far less deaf.  I think the literature that comes  
with the plugs actually says they are cutting more like 13dB if I  
remember what I read.  I hate using them, but when I have to, I do and  
I feel like I can still play my horn.  So I would definitely get a  
pair as soon as possible.  I got mine from Brasswind for about $12-14,  
but I found them on Amazon.com for $7.99.  As he says, you can get  
used to playing with them in.  I know a sax player that always plays  
with plugs in...he even practices at home with them in so he stays  
used to the way it sounds and feels.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

That said, there is a guy in Dallas that makes plexiglass shields that  
are the same size and shape as the desk part of a Manhassett music  
stand.  You take off the desk and replace it with the plexi part and  
then you have a self-standing shield that you can raise and lower as  
needed to the correct height.  Something like this will probably work  
for trombone better than something that attaches to the chair because  
of the tuning slide problem.  Another option, which we use at the  
church I play at every sunday, is one of the trumpet players made some  
small plexi shields that actually attach to the tops of the trumpet  
players' music stands with spring clamps.  They are fairly thin plexi  
and not too big or heavy, and he even cut out space for the stand  
lights.  I was skeptical when I saw how small they were, but they do  
actually help a lot.

Another option I have used it to just put a music stand behind your  
head for a shield.  It works, but might not look the best for dance  
gigs etc.  In the pit for musicals they are OK and do the job.  I once  
had to sit next to the drummer for a week of shows and made a "wall"  
of two stands , one above the other, which worked just fine.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.  We've all been there.

Eric Swanson