follow on from TINNITUS thread - the which earplugs thread

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  • Nice one @Cirrus good review. I work on the same industiral estate as ACS in Banbury which was dead handy when I got mine done.

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  • thomasw88thomasw88 Frets: 2316
    Do with the pro acs you don't lose the guitar in the mix? Problem I've found with all the offshelf ones is that the bass and drums are really loud and i cant hear the guitar.
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  • Si_Si_ Frets: 384
    Thinking of getting some myself. 

    Do you guys not loose a bit of the "feeling" when using plugs? I bought a pair a few years about but hated them so they are sitting in a draw somewhere.  I prefer the feel of a loud guitar amp right behind me.. using plugs I'm worried i will just sound like I'm sitting at home with headphones on.
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  • vasselmeyervasselmeyer Frets: 3664
    edited February 2014
    Si_ said:
    Thinking of getting some myself. 

    Do you guys not loose a bit of the "feeling" when using plugs? I bought a pair a few years about but hated them so they are sitting in a draw somewhere.  I prefer the feel of a loud guitar amp right behind me.. using plugs I'm worried i will just sound like I'm sitting at home with headphones on.
    If you get the proper fitted ones with the right filters then it's just like normal but with the volume turned down. You can still "feel" the volume and I think that's because of the SPL from the amp. I can still feel the hairs on my arms moving them I stand in front of the amp, it's just that it's at an acceptable volume (for me). I use ER-25 which is the maximum attenuation. At first it feels muffled, but that's because you're got something blocking your ears. Once you start playing it's almost exactly the same  levels all round. One benefit I have found is that it helps my pitch my vocals better as I can hear my "head voice" much better Personally I would prefer to play more quietly but you have to get the levels right to match the drums. Now I have them I would never play a gig or go to one without them.
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  • CirrusCirrus Frets: 8481
    Si_;170610" said:
    Thinking of getting some myself. 

    Do you guys not loose a bit of the "feeling" when using plugs? I bought a pair a few years about but hated them so they are sitting in a draw somewhere.  I prefer the feel of a loud guitar amp right behind me.. using plugs I'm worried i will just sound like I'm sitting at home with headphones on.

    When I started using earplugs for practices and gigs five years ago yes I did, to the point where to begin with I didn't wear them at gigs, only practices. But volume is relative - if you're used to LOUD and the plugs make it quiet it can dampen the excitement a bit. But after a few months I acclimatised and the volume with plugs in became normal - I just stopped noticing it and enjoyed playing.
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  • CirrusCirrus Frets: 8481
    thomasw88;170386" said:
    Do with the pro acs you don't lose the guitar in the mix? Problem I've found with all the offshelf ones is that the bass and drums are really loud and i cant hear the guitar.
    No, the mix stays very clear - I found it much easier so far to hear my playing with the custom molded ones.
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  • The mix cleared up so much for me I barely needed monitors any more. I did the first half of a gig without vocal fold back and didn't notice, because my own voice was that bit louder and clearer inside my head.

    And you still feel bass in your chest and guitars still make your trousers flap,so it's all good!
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • Great thread - been fairly happy with the ACS 20's but may look into the custom ones after reading your thoughts on here
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  • tbmtbm Frets: 578
    edited February 2014
    Have had the moulded ER15s for about 5 years. Put off getting moulded ones for ages as they are a bit more expensive in Dublin then the UK and only a few place do em. They're €220 upwards. Anyway, I was an idiot. They should be standard issue. The ER20s are fine but they don't offer the same level of protection. The damage is already done to my right ear, loads of the high end definition is gone, so I'm in damage control mode now. I occasionally forget them going to practice, and I either won't rehease or insist we play much quieter. I've had to do one or two gigs without them and while it's great to get the unfiltered sound if the onstage mix is good, if it's harsh it's hell and my ears ring for days.

    My advice is if you think you might need the pro moulded ones, you probably do.  And if you're a singer they're great. Between the earplugs and tilting my amp back on a stand I pretty much don't need monitors any more.

    Noise, randomness, ballistic uncertainty.
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  • tbmtbm Frets: 578
    edited February 2014
    Tip for anyone with the moulded ones - keep them in a case when there not in your ears, and write your phone number on said case.

    Noise, randomness, ballistic uncertainty.
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  • Si_Si_ Frets: 384
    Appointment made at Boots for the moulds.. shame it's 4 weeks away :(
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  • nickpnickp Frets: 182
    used mine for the first half of rehearsal last night.

    could hear everything clearly.  it lacks some oomph however but without all that noise bouncing around I think it was easier to play more accurately and certainly identify stuff that others were doing that I'd never heard before.

    I was using a new pedalboard so took my plugs out for the second half as it seemed difficult to identify nuances in my own sound - as in this pedal better than that pedal.

    so overall great - they reduce some of the excitement of playing but make it easier to deliver a really good gig as everything is clearer.

    i've the ACS pro17 which cost about £150 from the hearing specialist in our high street

    recommended.
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  • I do wear cheapish attenuated earplugs when we play even small gigs...I don't really like what I hear when I wear them although I can't pinpoint why. I am definitely going to invest in some ACS pro 17 based on comments here. I like how we sound I just need it a bit quieter, had a few frights with ears ringing for a bit longer than they should after gigs
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  • SpikeedogSpikeedog Frets: 43
    I blame the drummer.....
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  • Moe_ZambeekMoe_Zambeek Frets: 3419
    edited March 2014
    I had some custom Etymotic ER15s which worked flawlessly for about 5 years, when the silicon started to crack I got a new set made by ACS, although allegedly still with ER15 filters (didn't look like the old ones though). However, one of those filters (not the silicon part) has just split in half after around 2 years of fairly light use. Not quite as impressive as the first set.

    Regardless of that, they're still unquestionably the best musical investment I've ever made...and they are considerably cheaper now than they were when I bought my first set.
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  • not_the_djnot_the_dj Frets: 7306
    edited March 2014
    I had some custom Etymotic ER15s which worked flawlessly for about 5 years, when the silicon started to crack I got a new set made by ACS, although allegedly still with ER15 filters (didn't look like the old ones though). However, one of those filters (not the silicon part) has just split in half after around 2 years of fairly light use. Not quite as impressive as the first set.

    Regardless of that, they're still unquestionably the best musical investment I've ever made...and they are considerably cheaper now than they were when I bought my first set.
    Contact them about the filter splitting. I had that with one and they replaced it then and there, even though it was outside the stated warranty period. IIRC the ER ones were bought in, but the newer Pro series are their own version. They hinted that there was a bad batch of ER filters once, you may have one of those
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  • Moe_ZambeekMoe_Zambeek Frets: 3419
    Great - thanks i'll try that.
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  • thomasw88thomasw88 Frets: 2316
    Just ordered a set I'd etymotic er20s. But going to get an appointment with boots to get the acs pro17's. Drummer in one of my bands is a bit of a monster so got be worth it if they don't block out the guitar.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    I don't like playing with ear plugs because of the way it affects the sound. My current band puts everything through the PA, which allows a low on-stage volume. However I have been using ER15s for the other noisy things in life: flying, chainsawing, and other people's gigs. At last weekend's guitar show I got ACS to take moulds for some PRO 17s. It will be interesting to find out whether I like playing with them in.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • Moe_ZambeekMoe_Zambeek Frets: 3419
    edited March 2014
    Moe_Zambeek;179789" said:
    Great - thanks i'll try that.
    Got nowhere with ACS on the faulty Er15. Out of warranty so tough luck was the gist of it. I need to replace these but now marginally less keen on ACS.
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