Hearing protection and tuning

[David Love]

Phil:

Do you know what the decibel reduction rating was?

David Love
davidlovepianos@earthlink.net


> [Original Message]
> From: Phil Bondi <phil@philbondi.com>
> To: Newtonville <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: 9/4/2003 2:58:19 PM
> Subject: Hearing protection and tuning
>
> Recently, I received a bunch of different sized samples from Diane
> Hofstetter.
> Diane, at my request, sent me a bunch of different sized samples of
pre-cut
> hearing protection. The size of your ear itself determines what size fits
> you best. The sizes I received ranged from medium to XXXL.
>
> I have been using disposable foam hearing protection for years with only
one
> concern: when I got to the top 2 octaves, I had a hard time hearing
nuances
> in regards to unisons, so I would remove one of them to do this
> section..kinda defeats the purpose, hu?
>
> Of the samples that Diane sent me and the instructions on how to measure
> your ear fro the proper fit, I decided on the XL's. I first wore them to a
> gig this past Saturday and Sunday nights. I was amazed of the clarity that
> was 'allowed', and also I could hear myself very well when it came to
> vocalizing (i can hear the collective barfing from here!). The harmful
> frequencies were, of course, being eliminated while this clarity was
allowed
> in. Stage Nirvana.
>
> I couldn't wait until Tuesday to start tuning with them. It's now Thursday
> afternoon and I have tuned 7 pianos using this type of hearing protection.
> I am _way_ impressed with these plugs. Interval beating seems a tad
> magnified without the higher frequencies getting in the way of what I need
> to listen to. The slow-beating 5th in the temperament octave is "RIGHT
> THERE" without having to strain to hear it. I wouldn't have believed it
if I
> didn't hear it for myself. Of course the 4th in the temperament octave is
> clear as a bell also. Both of these intervals seem just slightly
magnified,
> or, easy to hear with this type of plug. I can't explain it any other way
> other than that. You're gonna have to find out for yourself.
>
> The real test for this type of hearing protection and me involves unisons
in
> the top 2 octaves. I am glad to report that the high frequency junk that
we
> have to tune around is not there using these plugs. You can hear the
> out-of-tune unison beat clearly and without all the junk associated with
it.
> Tuning Nirvana.
>
> I have seen custom hearing protection from an audiologist and I have seen
> the price that they charge. These plugs, while form-fitted to the size of
> your ear, are the closest thing _I_ have come across without going custom,
> and at a fraction of the cost of custom plugs.
>
> If you're tuning with disposable hearing protection, I would strongly
> recommend trying these plugs. I'm sure glad I did.
>
> -Phil Bondi (Fl.)
> phil@philbondi.com
>
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