Re: [Harp-L] The Volume Game

[Moandabluz@xxxxxxx]

I'm now in my 60s and have been around too much loud music. I have lost   
high frequency hearing and have to wear hearing aids, or I'm supposed to. I use 
them when the need arises, but I don't like the artificial sound from hearing 
aids.
   Bands always play too loud. I have been   playing from time to time in a 
band that does Led Zeppelin covers and standing next to the lead guitar player. 
I wear musician earplugs that cut the decibel level by about 25 percent, but 
it's still loud. And it's hard to hear the harp amp, of course. We are micing 
my Blues Jr. and it works ok, but I'm dropping out of the situation, for 
various reasons and volume is one of them.
   I went to a music party a few days back, a friend lives out in the country 
and had a PA set up in his garage. When I arrived and stepped out of my car, 
the volume coming out of that garage was almost scary. We tried to get it 
under control, but the combination of acoustics and loud guitars won that battle.
   Anyway, unless you want constant ringing in your ears and having to choose 
between hearing certain frequencies or hearing them with an artificial sound, 
I would suggest everyone pay close attention to the volume issue. Good luck 
with it.

In a message dated 10/4/04 10:38:05 AM, Henderson@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> A word to the wise...I haven't seen any reference to hearing loss and
> stage volumes on this list - but if y'all want to have long musical
> careers I would suggest not playing The Volume Game. I worked in
> electric bands for 15+ years and now have tinitus in my left ear ( a
> constant ringing) and hearing loss in my right. It's just not worth it -
> let's face it, a bar gig is not worth it!
> I now will only take low volume electric gigs (I blow through a 1955
> Champ with a 6" speaker and a Beyer M69 mic - warm, smooth overdrive). I
> have custom ear plugs for anything louder but prefer to play mostly
> acoustic music
> 
Steve "Moandabluz" Webb
Still a fool for the harp