Hard of Hearing Steelers

Bill C. Buntin · From: Cleburne TX

There is a thread about amp stands in Electronics that caused me to start this thread.

How many of you guys are suffering from hearing trouble due to playing in bars and such for so many years with too high of stage volume? Just curious because I was stupid and let my ears become damaged from this.

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Bill, add me to the list. I notice that I can't hear high frequencies with my left ear. When I used to play a lot, I stuffed a cigarette filter in that ear to drown out the loud amps from other musicians.
I warned one band leader/bass player about his high volume levels. He told me that the customers liked it that way. The next night, in the middle of a song, he stopped, grabbed his ear and ran to the restroom. I went back to check on him and found him in pain with blood running from his ear. Needless to say, he never played LOUD again.
Musicians should be aware of the danger of ear damage due to high sound levels.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I'm pretty sure it was the drummers' ride cymbals that did in my ears. Sure, playing fairly loud added to my severe loss, but, playin' on very small stages in clubs usually put those darn cymbals way too close to my head!
JB

Bob I. Williams · From: Sun City West, Arizona, USA

yes add me to your list.I wear hearing aids, but not when I play ,unless we are loud. then I put them in and turn them off, BOB

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

I have a 60% hearing loss and it is getting worse. Somewhat scary. I have digital hearing aids that have 85 db limiters built in. I refuse to play with a loud drummer any more.

They now make ear plugs that reduce noise over the whole spectrum. Use them. Believe me, losing one's hearing is not fun for a musician. Save thosr ears if it isn't too late.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

You guys with the hearing aids, how does that effect your natural sound pick up when playing?

I wear hearing aids and have a devilish time with proper bass and treble set up on my amp. My wife is always reminding me that I have the too much bass and about the same with the treble. It seems that my aids are not equipped to deal with natural bass tones.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Andy Greatrix · From: Edmonton Alberta

Not only is my hearing depleted, but I have severe tinnitus as well. My ears ring 24/7. I still love to play, but prefer playing at a lower volume.

[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 02 January 2005 at 02:09 PM.]

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

According to my doctor, the constant ringing in my ears is Meniere Disease. The doctor said it was a result of nerve damage, and nothing could be done about it. It is there all the time, although my brain has learned to ignore it -- so I don't hear it unless I think about it or the subject comes up. I don't really know if it is due to loud bandstands or not. The ringing sometime screws up my intonation, but it wouldn't be that bad -- if I could just get it to stay within a 440 scale (I'll accept JI or ET -- either one.)

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Bobby Bowman · From: Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.

Would somebody please tell me what they all said!
Huh? Would you repeat that real slow and let me look at your lips while you are speaking?
Add me to the list too.

BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

Bill cole · From: Cheektowaga, New York, USA

Hell I have been thinking about going into the hearing aid Buss. the way all these young folk play not only bad but loud man could get rich in a hurry

Pat Jenkins · From: Abingdon, VA, USA

I use heros when I play, but, I have a real problem with being able to hear the pitch of my own guitar when I use them. Any advice on how to hear yourself and still be able to block out some of the volume of the rest of the band?

Pat

Waltzing Through A Rock And Roll Life!!!

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Pat, with regard to keeping the overall band volume down, but being able to hear yourself, I have been concidering getting a set of these in ear monitors: http://www.westone.com/music/elite.html#es1
I was thinking I would just run the XLR line out of my Nash 112 to the in-ear monitors.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Yeah, y'all, help Bobby out. TRY TO TYPE A LITTLE LOUDER.

Bobby Bowman · From: Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.

Thanks Cal,,,I could hear you just fine.
Not only can I hear you, but I can read you better too! Thanks for the BIG PRINT.

BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

[This message was edited by Bobby Bowman on 02 January 2005 at 04:33 PM.]

Webb Kline · From: Orangeville, PA

I tried in-ears and I couldn't hack them. With my poor hearing, I couldn't get them to sound right. I hear there are better ones out there now, though. I might try some newer ones.

When I get new hearing aids, I have to go back about a dozen times to get them EQ'ed properly. The new ones I am getting have have programmable settings. A friend of mine got them and he has a setting for mixing down and a setting for playing among his settings.

Winnie Winston · From: Tawa, Wellington, NZ * R.I.P.

Add me to the list!
Lost my hearing in my right ear a few years ago after an inner ear infection. Just went overnight. Bugger!
Now I'm not operating in stereo.
I've had quite a bit of loss in my left ear in the last two years. Usually use a hearing aid. But when I'm playing, I usually take the aid out because I hear too much.
Of course, who knows what they are really hearing? I usually rely on my wife to tell me if the sound is OK. All my highs are gone-- anything above the high C on the 15th fret is just dog music.
And LISTENING to stuff is very hard for me. I can't hear a lot of stuff I used to, and I miss it.
But... still playing and enjoying what I do hear!
Getting old is a bitch.

Of course, the drums in the ear didn't help much, nor did the over loud guitar player I was with for a while.
The worst, however, was some joker at the range who let off a full load 45 when we all thought that the shooting was done. Didn't have my muffs on, and THAT shot did noticeable damage.

JW

[This message was edited by Winnie Winston on 02 January 2005 at 05:23 PM.]

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

High Frequencies go first. My wife says, "Do you hear those birds singing outside our window?". I say "What birds"?
She cant see good and I cant hear good. Makes a good combination.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

You can add me to your list !

I think its more from the day job than
from music but The sad part of this getting
old and deaf is having to quit because of it !
Our fiddle player had to quit because of
a hearing problem , and this was one good
fiddle player - we sure do miss her !
Bob

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Sad to say, my case is the old bandstand curse, starting in high school and continuing on til about ten years ago. Got tinnitus several years ago and the "phones" last summer. Interestingly enough, I find myself turning them down or off as much as adjusting volumes. Seems like so much I used to hear isn't worth hearing anymore!

Dyke Corson · From: Fairmount, IL USA

Yes, LOUD stage volumes back in the country rock heydays took it's toll on me. I can still hear, just usually can't understand the words!! (just ask my wife) When I get my guitar or steel EQ the way I like to hear it, you can bet it's usually way too "bight and glassy" for folks with normal ears!

Craig A Davidson · From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

Me too. Jody.

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Probably the wrong place for this.Two musicians who worked together were on break.One was hard of hearing and the other coulden't see very well.This good looking chick walked up and said hi guys.The one who coulden't see well asked who was that? His buddy said huh?

Emmett Roch · From: Texas Hill Country

Right there with ya, Winnie. Someone popped a .45 ACP too close to my right ear years ago and it's caused me problems ever since.

John Davis · From: Cambridge, U.K.

I`m in !
Peavey Bandit took my right ear many years ago! Very dangerous amp in the hands of an over zealous lead player, sound comes out like the choke barrel on a 12 bore!!!sooo directional..........they should carry a health warning!!

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