ahpook

So, how are the Alpine ear defenders? First of all they did a great job of taming the volume in the quite small room (with not much sound conditioning ) that we practice in. No ringing or wincing. As for the sound I could hear (and bearing in mind that it takes a few sessions with a new set of ear protection to adjust to the sound) - very bassy. I could hear everything, but the guitar and the drummer's cymbals and hi hats were very quiet - not enough to trip me up, but still a big change from my in-ear (not custom) ACS plugs. I don't mind losing a lot of guitar 'in the mix' but it felt a bit OP. The singers' vocals came through OK though. My bass lacked a lot of top end, but the fundamentals came through great...which I think focused me on my playing a bit My singing was fine - there was enough coming through my head to do backing vocals, not sure I'd manage if I were doing the main vox. Not that I'm usually trusted with that job Comfort wise - they're OK, they're not gel pads so it's a little sticky after an hour or so, but they're ony £25 so that's where some money's been saved. Overall - I'll be trying them next practice, see how I get on when I know what to expect. However, if you want a 'world turned down' feel, these probrably aren't for you. My usual plugs have a flatter attenuation I feel, but these headphones might be a viable option if you don't like plugs or the whole earwax issue.

Ha, I was just thinking of Bill Werbeniuk when catching up on this thread !

Flush your cache...save your sanity....Dude

Interim report: Just popped into central London to try out a bass so I thought I'd see how the Alpines got on with the Victoria Line, which is very noisy especially when the carriages are empty in the afternoon. Also my run from Seven Sisters is particularly loud coming into Finsbury Park. Pretty impressive - good sound attenuation and not too hot on the ears even though the carriage had its usual sauna-like vibe. Even managed to mask the person opposite me who seemed to have missed the lesson about not chewing food with your mouth open, the sound of which I find quite nauseating, so that was a bonus. Anyhow...band practice update still to come after tomorrow evening.

I have a spreadsheet on Google Drive that I almost always update

Agreed, and depends on the drug as well. Sharing a jazz fag before performing is far, far removed IMHO from jacking up heroin or necking a handful of Mandrax, just like having a bottle of beer is different from a bottle of vodka Y(Medication)MV of course.

Agreed. I've got a list of current stuff with serial no.s, when I last restrung them, etc. but once it's sold it's deleted. Gone.

I suppose there comes a point when someone can't actually play their instrument, remember songs, have the energy to gig, and so on, so that playing in a band becomes impossible...when I'm there I hope realise it myself before someone has to tell me.

My Alpine ear defenders arrived, and they look pretty good - sturdy but possibly not bulletproof I'd say - and very comfortable over the relatively short time I've worn them. Difficult to say just how much defendering they do without using them at a practice, which will happen on Wednesday, but Mrs. Pook's loud clapping and shouting next to my head seemed to be nicely attenuated. One factor I'd not accounted for us that wearing glasses does allow a bit more sound in, so ear plugs have that as an advantage, but the proof of the pounding is in the beating, so I'll report back after Wednesday's rehearsal.

Always a good thing. I advocate strongly for my bandmates to wear some kind of hearing protection, but it falls on deaf ears* Looks like the shooting defenders might not be the answer then. Good to know 👍 *Couldn't help myself, sorry.

No experience here either...just what I've deduced from the couple of retailers websites I've looked at - you could be right.

It seems you can get shooting ear defenders that will allow lower volume sounds like speech to be sent to speakers inside the defenders. I wonder if that principle has been used for musicians ? They do seem to delay the incoming sounds slightly so the circuitry can decide loud vs quiet before letting the external noises through. Time for some pondering and research perhaps. Any shootists on BC who might know if they'd work ?

Nicely put, yes !

Aha ! Very good point, thanks.

Excuse my absolute lack of knowledge here, but can you get ear defenders with a built-in room mic and a volume control, so you can effectively turn down the outside world with a twist of a dial ? Feels like such a thing should exist...

I usually tuck one spare plectrum in the scratchplate or down the side of the pickup cavity and a few in my pocket.

I've just ordered a pair, I shall report back to The St-earing Committee in due course.

My bet would be Andy Bell (ex-Ride, not Erasure )

Me too. I'm quite happy with my ear plugs, but I do worry about jamming ear wax into my ears every time I use them. Also one of the folks at one of our gigs was wearing a pair of over-ears and it got me thinking about alternatives.

Have to agree, sadly. EDIT: 42mm nut as well. Hey ho

I wouldn't have bothered. Paying £1.50 just to see King Crimson ? Rip off !

Just got in from the second gig in a week with the prog/math-rockish band. Another jamboree bag of various acts at a bar in Farringdon. Dismal onstage sound, but we soldiered on...not the first time, not the last etc. I was pleased with my singing and playing, so overall not too bad.

"Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November." Seems like a grab for some free column inches.

Happy Memories of The Muppet Album. I played it to death as a young lad. 👍

Splitter !!