How do the deal with the loudness?

[paisleywookiee]

I got worse permanent hearing damage from people screaming around me at a concern

I got permanent tinnitus in my right ear from some bitch screaming bloody murder at a Bon Jovi concert. Wasn’t the show. Just her.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I got permanent tinnitus in my right ear from some bitch screaming bloody murder at a Bon Jovi concert. Wasn’t the show. Just her.

Sometimes I think the period where our little children where screaming in my ears where more damaging than me playing through my JBL305s

 

[FuzzyAce]

That's why I always enjoyed outdoor gigs (besides the heat and humidity), you could crank up those amps to the happy spot and not get pummeled.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Sometimes I think the period where our little children where screaming in my ears where more damaging than me playing through my JBL305s

I have those same monitors! And yes, two of my three were louder

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

I have those same monitors! And yes, two of my three were louder

I love them :) I won’t name the person who advised me on these because he shall not be named on this forum ;-)

Our youngest … he could get angry and just start yelling in the bathroom, closed room.

I think he would beat a Rolling Stones concert ;-)

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Listening to headphones way too loudly as a kid (mowing lawn while listening to walkman?!); for short periods in my early 30s; attending small club shows 1-3 times a week that were pretty darn loud for a few years in my mid-late 20s; and woodworking in small woodshop without ear protection have done more damage to my ears than playing amps, honestly. But all of that has added up to me...not being interested in pushing amps past 80dB and even that pretty rarely, these days.

 

[FuzzyAce]

My tinnitus came from a child named Jay C. Emm

 

[EOengineer]

 

[Genghis]

I have a recording and rehearsal space that allows me to crank pretty loud through 2 4x12 cabs, and play an acoustic drum set. When I’m getting loud, I use in-ears that drop the level almost 30db and put industrial strength ear muffs over that. The ear muffs change the bass response a bit, but it helps keep my ears from bleeding and allows me to share my tones with the neighbors. In fact I ran into one of my neighbors last night and she said she really enjoyed hearing me play yesterday when I was recording like that. Lol

I had some custom molded ear plugs, but was carrying them in my pocket and they fell out. Custom molded in ears are on my wish list for this year, as I loved the fit and comfort. I have some standard music ear plugs that I keep on my key chain for when I am out watching bands.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Listening to headphones way too loudly as a kid (mowing lawn while listening to walkman?!); for short periods in my early 30s; attending small club shows 1-3 times a week that were pretty darn loud for a few years in my mid-late 20s; and woodworking in small woodshop without ear protection have done more damage to my ears than playing amps, honestly. But all of that has added up to me...not being interested in pushing amps past 80dB and even that pretty rarely, these days.

Yeah the idea of playing an amp at 100-110dB, so I then have to either wear earplugs that all sound varying grades of shit, or risk damaging my hearing just isn’t appealing to me anymore. That’s why I’ve been on the modeler kick for awhile.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Yeah the idea of playing an amp at 100-110dB, so I then have to either wear earplugs that all sound varying grades of shit, or risk damaging my hearing just isn’t appealing to me anymore. That’s why I’ve been on the modeler kick for awhile.

But should you then also avoid performing live and jamming with others?

 

[paisleywookiee]

But should you then also avoid performing live and jamming with others?

In those cases I accept earplugs is a thing. However, A. my drummer isn’t a ham fisted chimpanzee, and B. We’ve got an electronic drum kit now too.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

In those cases I accept earplugs is a thing. However, A. my drummer isn’t a , and B. We’ve got an electronic drum kit now too.

 

[sleewell]

Ear plugs. All the time.

 

[AutomationBias]

I am not sure what would be worse, having (serious) hearing loss or tinnitus. I assume there latter.

I've had regular tinnitus for decades and I've gotten used to it, but I've just recently started getting "typewriter tinnitus", which is fucking intolerable. It really does sound (and feel) like someone typing on a mechanical typewriter right on your eardrum. It's just this random percussive tapping. It's a huge relief when it goes away. I honestly don't think I could live with it all the time.

 

[Will Onyx]

I take Hearos earplugs with me anyplace it is going to get loud. Between playing in bands and working in the trades, I have constant tinnitus. Still love tube amps, but haven’t played live with one since around 2012, it’s been all modelers and more controlled stage volumes. Even then, I’ll pop in the earplugs if I need to. Just saw Zakk Sabbath a week ago and left the show because it was too loud even with earplugs!

Side note to others with tinnitus, be careful with noise canceling earbuds. Just got a pair of ANC AirPods and the noise cancelling makes the ringing worse. I think it is because there are no outside noises to mask it or blend in so the brain amplifies the ringing in the silence. Can’t freaking win.

 

[DrewJD82]

I've had tinnitus since I was a little kid, I thought loud ringing in the ears at random was something everyone had. I'm glad it started back then, as I've read people's descriptions of getting it later in life and it can cause some serious depression with people. During the divorce I developed pulsatile tinnitus, which I'm curious how similar it is to @AutomationBias's tinnitus. I could feel my heartbeat in my ear when I'd start getting stressed or anxious. It's generally a sign of high blood pressure and I know mine was through the roof then, but it's stopped entirely once it was all said and done. That shit drove me insane.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

This would be an example which on the one hand I go “Wow that’s awesome” and on the other “yikes”

And man, I dig Philip Saucy so in no way a stab at him.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I could feel my heartbeat in my ear when I'd start getting stressed or anxious. It's generally a sign of high blood pressure and I know mine was through the roof then, but it's stopped entirely once it was all said and done. That shit drove me insane.

I get that a bit especially with my head on the pillow at night. It does suck.
I was one that developed tinnitus about 10 yrs ago, and yes it was very depressing for a long while but you learn to live with it. The hardest part is trying to mix a song with ringing in one ear because it fools the brain into thinking something is off in a mix, and you start to doubt what you're hearing.

 

[laxu]

My tinnitus came from a child named Jay C. Emm

Little JayJay? You know his cousin, Steve Superlead? Now that's a loud fella!