Playing acoustic guitar and hearing problems???

[bluzkat]

An 'unplugged' guitar should not hurt your ears... see an audiologist! Don't take any chances with your ears.

[deckard1]

Originally Posted by bluzkat

An 'unplugged' guitar should not hurt your ears... see an audiologist! Don't take any chances with your ears.

Thank you for responding Bluzkat. I remember you from the Reaper forum.

But, that doesn't explain why my previous acoustic guitar of only a few weeks did not bother my ears. Playing with the same intensity too.

[gehauser]

New, bright strings on a bright guitar can be ear-piercing.

But certain hearing conditions can give you abnormal loudness sensitivity:

Hyperacusis and Recruitment

Read up on them and see if it describes your condition.

[deckard1]

Originally Posted by gehauser

New, bright strings on a bright guitar can be ear-piercing.

But certain hearing conditions can give you abnormal loudness sensitivity:

Hyperacusis and Recruitment

Read up on them and see if it describes your condition.

Thanks. I'm guessing it's the type of strings on the acoustic...too bright like you suggested. Something is amiss...as I just went to a three and a half hour Bruce Springsteen concert two weeks ago and while it was very very loud, the noise did not bother me nearly as much as the acoustic. No joking.

[FFTT]

If you are even the least bit concerned about changes in your hearing, like loss of hearing
or unexplained sensitivity to certain sounds and frequencies, find an audiologist with good references, especially one who understands the needs of musicians and find out where you stand.
You may be perfectly fine, but you will also then have a reference to go by if things begin to change on subsequent tests.

It could be that with all these changing temperatures that you have a mild ear infection
making your ears particularly sensitive to high frequencies.

It's best not to guess.

[deckard1]

Thanks for all the input and advice.

Problem solved! It turns out the strings were in fact too bright. I switched over to some twelve gauge D'Addario acoustic elixir strings and have no more hearing problems!!

Hopefully, if someone else ever has this same problem they will read this thread.

[euphoria89]

Originally Posted by deckard1

Thanks for all the input and advice.

Problem solved! It turns out the strings were in fact too bright. I switched over to some twelve gauge D'Addario acoustic elixir strings and have no more hearing problems!!

Hopefully, if someone else ever has this same problem they will read this thread.

Which one was it? :-;

D'add or elixir? Guessing its the former..

[deckard1]

Originally Posted by euphoria89

Which one was it? :-;

D'add or elixir? Guessing its the former..

Pretty sure it was the Elixir:

Elixir Nanoweb Light Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings | GuitarCenter

They cost a fortune, btw.

[euphoria89]

Originally Posted by deckard1

Pretty sure it was the Elixir:

Elixir Nanoweb Light Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings | GuitarCenter

They cost a fortune, btw.

$13 is nothing compared to a pack over in England! ($20/pack)

But they are great strings. I really like them, but they are really bright, even after months of use, which is why im sure he changed to d'add's.