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I read that guitar is not loud enough to damage you ear, even according to the site I am pointing you to. But even if just at home, I play a lot of guitar and my guitar is loud, add to that the bounce back from the walls... so I decided to not take any chances. On top of that, sometimes, when I'm tired, I end up with my head bent forward so my right ear gets it even louder.
So I got a pair of these, I got them from ebay for $11 with shipping. and they cut the sound just enough. If I play soft, then I don't use them.
I went to a dance class a couple of times and man I couldn't believe how loud the footwork gets and nobody had ear protection. Wild. When you find out you're losing it, it's too late. I mention it because it happens. And for a musician, it's an even sadder thing.
Personally I wouldn't worry about hearing damage while playing flamenco guitar. The minimum decibels its takes to damage hearing is 90 decibels at which you have to be exposed to for about 6 hours to damage your hearing permanently. If that doesn't mean anything to you 90 decibels as about as loud as a passing motor cycle, a load yell, or screaming. And a sound levle of 100 decibels can damage hearing permanently in about one hour, which is as loud as an average jack hammer (in retrospect) In comparison a vacuum cleaner has a decibel level of about 70. I would understand if you are at a rock concert or playing a live gig with an electric guitar where the decibel level is usually at a minimum of 110. So there is really nothing to worry about unless you are amplifying your guitar
Personally I wouldn't worry about hearing damage while playing flamenco guitar. The minimum decibels its takes to damage hearing is 90 decibels at which you have to be exposed to for about 6 hours to damage your hearing permanently. If that doesn't mean anything to you 90 decibels as about as loud as a passing motor cycle, a load yell, or screaming. And a sound levle of 100 decibels can damage hearing permanently in about one hour, which is as loud as an average jack hammer (in retrospect) In comparison a vacuum cleaner has a decibel level of about 70. I would understand if you are at a rock concert or playing a live gig with an electric guitar where the decibel level is usually at a minimum of 110. So there is really nothing to worry about unless you are amplifying your guitar
You arent addressing the volume of the dancers' golpes. Ive accompanied a group of dancers as few as 4, and really was wishing I had earplugs.
Dance classes, in a reflective space will absolutely mess up your hearing eventually.
Earplugs are smart, all the way round. Better safe than sorry.
I have mild tinitis, and it doesnt take a whole lot to get them ringing. It certainly doesnt take 90db for 6 hours. Hell, just the vaccum cleaner will get my ears ringing.
I understand that, and even the stats of Etimotic explain this. But it's playing in front of the mirror that made me want a pair. It was too loud for me so putting these on is like turning down the volume. It just gets more comfortable. Plus I was telling myself that if I find it`s too loud, it can't be a good thing.
I wish I had a device to measure sound levels, maybe I can buy one at Canadian Tire and return it, I'd be curious to know just how loud I get.
But I found this which is not about danger to hearing but about questionning if a sound port affects front projection. Granted it's an acoustic guitar but with the percussive nature of flamenco I'm sure it gets up there.
Dance classes, in a reflective space will absolutely mess up your hearing eventually.
Not to mention castanets in a reflective space.. I have to leave the studio.
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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."