311 replies to this topic

[99ster]

Just found out that your local SpecSavers do the full service for the custom-fit Etymotic ER-15 attenuated ear plugs:
http://www.specsavershearcare.co.uk/
I was looking at travelling miles (taking a day off work) to get the moulds done until I found this out...rang my local branch & spoke to a very nice lady Audiologist - booked in for the test & fitting in Banbury.
Job done.

Edited by 99ster, 30 July 2007 - 01:42 PM.

[G-bitch]

The Birmingham specsavers lady is really rather tasty (New Street) - an added bonus

[99ster]

G-bitch, on Jul 30 2007, 06:34 PM, said:

The Birmingham specsavers lady is really rather tasty (New Street) - an added bonus

Nice one!

[warwickhunt]

Had my free 'Specsavers' test done yesterday and I passed with flying colours. They offer the moulded personalised earplug service £160, 6 week lead time and the ER20's @ £14 however a quick search on eBay found the identical same product for £6.99 (+2.99 P&P).
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ETYMOTIC-ER20-Musici...1QQcmdZViewItem

Oh I have to add that the test conditions were a bit cobbled together! The guy had a room set off to one side that had the air-con unit or something similar running in the cupboard and staff chatting on the other side of the standard door (not soundproofed). He did apologise at the beginning for this... and explained this was just a test to get a 'rough idea of the state of my hearing'.

Edited by warwickhunt, 01 August 2007 - 08:38 AM.

[Johnny Wishbone]

amj, on Jul 17 2007, 07:36 PM, said:

Another reccomendation for the ER20's! Band practice is so much more bearable now, loud noises make irritable let alone the already well known effect on hearing. If you haven't got any earplugs yet then for god sake shell out a tenner and grab some of these!

What he said. I find rehearsal much more enjoyable since purchasing some ER20's, plus I find where I've had trouble hearing myself at gigs I can now hear everything much more clearly. Probably the best tenner I've spent in a long time.

[99ster]

warwickhunt, on Aug 1 2007, 09:35 AM, said:

Had my free 'Specsavers' test done yesterday and I passed with flying colours. They offer the moulded personalised earplug service £160, 6 week lead time and the ER20's @ £14 however a quick search on eBay found the identical same product for £6.99 (+2.99 P&P).
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ETYMOTIC-ER20-Musici...1QQcmdZViewItem

Oh I have to add that the test conditions were a bit cobbled together! The guy had a room set off to one side that had the air-con unit or something similar running in the cupboard and staff chatting on the other side of the standard door (not soundproofed). He did apologise at the beginning for this... and explained this was just a test to get a 'rough idea of the state of my hearing'.

I had a very different experience today at the Banbury 'Specsavers' - the test was done in a professional soundproof booth. The booth itself was in a very quiet room (much like a GP's office). So I had a very accurate full-spectrum test which revealed the classic '4KHz dip' in my hearing. The damage being caused by over 25 years exposure to rock n roll. This was not unexpected. But still a bit sobering - just a shame that you couldn't buy anything like this in my youth...
I've ordered the £160 custom set (there's no way I'm skimping on ear protection!) & had the moulds made - & the (very professional & very attractive young lady!) Audiologist did tell me that the results were sent to the manufacturers of the custom sets to help produce the best set for me.
I may get some 'Ultimate Ear' monitors as well...for recording & live.

For any young folk reading this thread - for F**K's SAKE - get your self some hearing protection now. Sort it out today!
Instead of blowing some cash on another FX pedal that you don't really need - spend it on this instead. Now - while you still have the chance...
As I've already said - when I started playing 25 years ago there was nothing like these earplugs available - so we just got on with it & are paying the price now. There is no way you can reverse hearing damage. The damge to my hearing isn't severe - but when you see that dip on the test graph - it's not a pleasant sight.

[dood]

99ster, on Aug 2 2007, 02:19 PM, said:

For any young folk reading this thread - for F**K's SAKE - get your self some hearing protection now. Sort it out today!

Yes, big PLUS ONE with flashing blue lights and a 'fanfare' sound!

even if you start with a set of ER20's .. do it.. do it now! Treat yourself and get the moulded plugs though.. You lugs will thank you!

[warwickhunt]

The custom moulded plugs... anyone know who/where they are done at a cost of less than £160?

I know my hearing is worth that but I'm sure I've seen moulds being made at Game Fair trade stands (shooting type game fair NOT Warhammer, D&D etc) for £60-£70!

[alexclaber]

warwickhunt, on Aug 3 2007, 02:53 PM, said:

I know my hearing is worth that but I'm sure I've seen moulds being made at Game Fair trade stands (shooting type game fair NOT Warhammer, D&D etc) for £60-£70!

That £160 includes the price of the filters, which from what I recall of the spare filter prices is about half of the total cost. Shooting ear protection is much simpler, aiming to block as much sound as possible instead of evenly filtering it by a fixed amount.

One boutique effects pedal or good hearing for the rest of your life?

Alex

[chardbass]

warwickhunt, on Aug 3 2007, 02:53 PM, said:

The custom moulded plugs... anyone know who/where they are done at a cost of less than £160?

I know my hearing is worth that but I'm sure I've seen moulds being made at Game Fair trade stands (shooting type game fair NOT Warhammer, D&D etc) for £60-£70!

The £160 includes the filter as well- the moulds on their own come in at around £80 with the filters costing about the same again.

I had some ER-15s done a month or 2 ago.
I think these things are a bit like pensions or looking after your teeth when your young. You don't really see the point until it's usually too late.
The best £180 I've spent in a long time (I paid a bit more to get a quicker turn around time, and a tenner for the cord so I could look like Larry Grayson between sets)

[chardbass]

alexclaber, on Aug 3 2007, 03:00 PM, said:

That £160 includes the price of the filters, which from what I recall of the spare filter prices is about half of the total cost. Shooting ear protection is much simpler, aiming to block as much sound as possible instead of evenly filtering it by a fixed amount.

One boutique effects pedal or good hearing for the rest of your life?

Alex

Beat me to it by a minute!

[99ster]

alexclaber, on Aug 3 2007, 03:00 PM, said:

That £160 includes the price of the filters, which from what I recall of the spare filter prices is about half of the total cost. Shooting ear protection is much simpler, aiming to block as much sound as possible instead of evenly filtering it by a fixed amount.

One boutique effects pedal or good hearing for the rest of your life?

Alex

Yes - you can buy different interchangeable filters - so you can change from a '15' for rehearsals - to a 20 (or 25) when playing live. Which was what I've been advised to do - & these proper filters alone are around £70-ish.

Sorry - I just can't understand why anyone in their right mind would be looking for a 'budget' option for this!!!

[alexclaber]

chardbass, on Aug 3 2007, 03:01 PM, said:

...and a tenner for the cord so I could look like Larry Grayson between sets)

I put mine in before I go into the venue if the soundcheck has already started and certainly before anyone hits any snare drums or starts ringing out PAs and then don't take them out until I'm loading the car at the end of the night. Sometimes even drive home with them in, possibly disturbing the neighbours when I arrive and the subwoofer is going some!

Alex

[chris_b]

warwickhunt, on Aug 3 2007, 02:53 PM, said:

The custom moulded plugs... anyone know who/where they are done at a cost of less than £160?

I know my hearing is worth that but I'm sure I've seen moulds being made at Game Fair trade stands (shooting type game fair NOT Warhammer, D&D etc) for £60-£70!

Ear plugs for shooting are designed to stop sudden reports (shots), not long loud sounds, like loud music.

Chardbass, 99ster, Alex.... you are right. I have some ACS moulded plugs and they are the best investment I've made in the music business since I brought my first bass. OK, they cost £160 (only a couple of gigs!) and I know there are cheaper alternatives, but they are good and they work without destroying the sound they are protecting you from.

[warwickhunt]

99ster, on Aug 3 2007, 03:05 PM, said:

Yes - you can buy different interchangeable filters - so you can change from a '15' for rehearsals - to a 20 (or 25) when playing live. Which was what I've been advised to do - & these proper filters alone are around £70-ish.

Sorry - I just can't understand why anyone in their right mind would be looking for a 'budget' option for this!!!

Who said anything about budget option? I was simply asking the question to ascertain if this was the standard price, as I stated, I'd seen them being moulded for a lot less at Game Fairs. As has been pointed out, what I have obviously seen is an alternative form of ear protection that doesn't filter but simply blocks sound.

I've been an advocate of hearing protection for years and apart from band members and friends in bands I have advised mates with motorbikes about the benefit of protection.

I'm in the position where I can take a step up from budget hearing protection (from £10-£20 Docs ear plugs) and invest in custom protection, I was clarifying that £160 is the going rate. After all that is one of the major benefits of being a forum member... we share info.

[jase00]

Just looking at these:.. Sibob mentioned them. How did you go about getting the right size? Thought I'd try them I normally use ER20's but they're a little uncomfortable.

http://www.brdistrib...csProPlugs.html

[theosd]

After reading this thread I bought some ER20s or whatever they're called from audiorelief.co.uk

Wish I hadn't bothered, as they've backed up all the wax in my ears right up as far as possible so I can now barely hear a thing and I have a gig at 6pm this evening. Incredibly frustrating. I'll give them another try, but these things f***ing feel like they're gonna hurt pulling them out... Don't feel natural.

[bfirsh]

theosd, on Sep 15 2007, 12:03 PM, said:

After reading this thread I bought some ER20s or whatever they're called from audiorelief.co.uk

Wish I hadn't bothered, as they've backed up all the wax in my ears right up as far as possible so I can now barely hear a thing and I have a gig at 6pm this evening. Incredibly frustrating. I'll give them another try, but these things f***ing feel like they're gonna hurt pulling them out... Don't feel natural.

Sounds like it's time to get them syringed!

[theosd]

phatmonkey, on Sep 15 2007, 03:29 PM, said:

Sounds like it's time to get them syringed!

Seems to be the case, yeah!

[BassBunny]

I have been using Alpine Music Safe ear plugs for a while
http://www.enhancedlistening.co.uk/product...D=&P_ID=975
Came away from a gig one night and my ears were screaming. Borrowed some"Rhubarb and Custard" disposables from the drummer but couldn't get on with them.
I find the Alpines great as they are very soft rubber and fit very comfortably. You get 3 attenuators with them and I find they really do work. They particularly cut out the harmful freqs.
Stuart