Johngh

[quote name='Stompbox' timestamp='1409401359' post='2539348'] Well I think you just maybe need a break. I'm in my early sixties & have played with all sorts of bands (Including dance bands). I've principally played bass but diverted into lead vocals & guitar for a while. Oh yes & quite a bit of rifle & clay pigeon shooting. Guess what? Tinnitus...... for years & years. Bummer. But never mind - I'm still keen on bass & playing - regardless ---- it's what I do. Just chill out & come back to it. [/quote] Never say never if the right band came up I suppose. Problem is, there are different levels of Tinnitus, some say they have it and can only hear it when its quiet at night. Mine is louder that road noise when I'm driving the car, or louder then the television for example. There is no way I'm doing anything that will make it even worst than it is. Many thanks to everyone for the replys to the thread though, its much appreciated

Thanks again for the support, I suppose I started this thread just to get it off my chest TBH. I bought a Hartke Kilo, I've had it about 14 months, and I've used it once. That, and the Ashdown cabs are just sat in the conservatory taking up space. I've held onto them, because you just know the minute you sell them, the right band would turn up. But behind it all there is the damage to my ears. I've learnt to cope with the Tinnitus, I don't accept it, as it's admitting defeat, but most of the time I just ignore it and get on with stuff. Really should wear the hearing aids more though.

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1409047726' post='2535707'] I got tinnitus several years ago after 30 years of gigging. When the doc told me there was nothing he could do to treat it, it was a real low point for me. I had to take a break from gigging to let things settle and have a think. I then went down the ACS custom earplug route and this helped me get back in the game and I continue to gig. I have my hearing checked every year and the audiologist tells me that the custom plugs are protecting whatever hearing levels I have left. I had been using the cheap generic plugs for years thinking I was protecting my hearing, but I paid the price. Custom plugs are the only way to go. However there is an approach to dealing with tinnitus that might be helpful for you that is known as mindfulness. Here is a link for more info [url="http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/mindfulness-for-tinnitus"]http://www.tinnitus....ss-for-tinnitus[/url] I completed a mindfulness based stress reduction programme some years ago, and found this approach effective in dealing with tinnitus and other issues. Nowadays I tend to react to my tinnitus with a kind curiosity, rather than treat it as the enemy within and have found this to be very effective. Yes, I still have tinnitus, but the mindfulness approach means the level of associated suffering is greatly reduced. However like you, I used to be into my Hi Fi, but find I do not enjoy listening to music as much as I used to. My linn sondek turntable needs a serious service, but I cannot justify the cost, given how little use it has been getting in recent times. I urge BC members to consider getting proper professional earplugs before hearing problems arise, as the risks attached to performing at loud volumes are really serious when it comes to your hearing. You will only miss the water when the well runs dry and I would not wish tinnitus on my worst enemy You have my total sympathy right now, but maybe the mindfulness approach might be worthy of consideration. [/quote] I'll have a look at mindfulness tonight now I'm back from work. thanks for the link

Thanks guys, it's a shame really, but the thought of my ears getting worse is the deciding factor. I have no idea how I manage to sleep at night with the ringing/buzzing. I searched the internet for examples of tinnitus sounds, and some of them are horrendous . Mines bad enough and it will be enough to drive some folk mad I'm going to look into setting up a simple recording studio and see where I go from there

So, I've more or less made my mind up to give up bands and gigging. I've not really picked up a bass now for about 11 months since my last band split. They were a great set of guys, we did our own stuff, which TBH was rather good, but 2 of the guys in the band had their own businesses which understandably had to come first. When they told me it was folding, I was gutted. I've also had really bad Tinnitus 24/7 for just over a year now, so rather than screw my ears up further, no more loud bands or gigging. I also now wear hearing aids in both ears, which is fine, but the Tinnitus is that bad I can't risk making it worst. Also thrown into the equation, is lack of decent bands to join, and most of the decent band venues closing. I used to really enjoy listening to music, you know, serious HiFi stuff picking out all the intricate bits the producer had put into tunes, now I have the confounded whistling in my ears, I don't enjoy it now. I'm now thinking of selling the rig, and using the money to set up a small home studio to noodle with. The only shame is at 58 tears old, I feel like even after all these years gigging, I've not accomplished half of what I really wanted to. I had a chance to play in a semi acoustic band, which would have played a reasonably low volumes, but its not me really. Bummer.