I’m 72, and retired from playing several years ago. I’m a pedal steel guitarist, and you have to have very accurate hearing to play stringed instruments that don’t have frets. Steel guitars, violins etc.. My hearing is still good to about 3 cents, and when I hear someone singing flat, it drives me crazy! I attribute my loss and tinnitus to always sitting in front of the drummer on small stages. Those ride cymbals are killers even though we didn’t play that loud.
I understand but realize that it was worth it. It was all worth it.
Those rides are LOUD. In a 3000 seat theater in the round, listening to Steppenwolf, I could hear the ride cymble coming off the stage despite the PA.