Ear Protection

My local Beltone in Detroit gives you a free hearing test, and charges around $150 for molded earplugs that are custom molded to your ears and remove 20db while still being pretty clear...

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.

You have to though otherwise you don't know what you sound like, the worst guitar tones I've seen are guys that aren't direct infront of their amp. If you have a clear sonic it doesn't really matter where you stand but an uncovered amp you really need to stand infront of.

Disagree. That way you tend to hear only yourself and won't listen to the rest of the band. Kills band dynamics. Position the amp at 45 (unmiked) or 90 degree (miked) angle so you can hear the rest of the band and they can hear you.
Ear protection is not necessary, if you use common sense. Play at a healthy volume with an amp that suits the venue. If you need ear protection, then you're definitely too loud. Simple as that. Not only for your ears but also for the audience. For small bar gigs leave your 100 watter at home and use a Tweed Deluxe (or any other 5 to 12 watter) with a good OD pedals and that's it.

The need for ear protection has little to do with your amp…it's pretty easy to walk away from it so that you aren't getting blasted. The aggregate noise from a band situation (particularly cymbals) is what can permanently damage your hearing. Additionally, what you think is comfortable/tolerable can STILL permanently damage your hearing if you are exposed to it for sustained periods.

"The noise exposure level (often referred to as the 'noise dose') takes account of both the sound pressure level and how long it lasts. Generally the potential for hearing to be damaged by noise is related to the noise 'dose' a person receives. Being exposed to a noise level of 105 dB (a not unusual sound level for a pub band, or that generated by a brass or woodwind instrument at full blast) for 5 minutes would be the same dose as being exposed to 94 dB (a nightclub bar) for 1 hour, or 88 dB (chamber music) for 4 hours.

Each 3 dB added doubles the sound energy (but this is only just noticeable to a listener). When 10 dB is added, the energy is increased ten-fold, while adding 20dB is a hundred-fold increase. Therefore:
If the sound intensity is doubled, the noise level increases by 3 dB.
Two instruments with the same noise level of 85 dB together produce 88 dB.
A noise level reduction of 3 dB halves the sound pressure level (and its propensity to damage).

Halving the noise dose can be achieved either by halving the exposure time, or by halving the noise level, which corresponds to a reduction of 3 dB." These noise exposures are identical:
80 dB for 8 hours
83 dB for 4 hours
86 dB for 2 hours
89 dB for 1 hour
92 dB for 30 minutes

Average Noise level    Time taken to receive a dose equivalent to the upper exposure action value (85 dB)
85 dB    8 hours
95 dB    45 minutes
100 dB    15 minutes
105 dB    5 minutes
110 dB    Under 2 minutes
115 dB    Under 30 seconds

He had nothing in his ears last night at Brighton.