Bruce Palmer tuning E,E,E,E??

[ThunderLizard]

Hello-
Was at a jam session yesterday and someone was talking about tuning a bass to E,E,E,E. Said that Bruce Palmer with the Buffalo Springfield did it. Granted, this conversation was taking place after several stout ales, so I could have misunderstood.
For the life of me, I can't think of how this would work and I sure don't hear it when I listen to Buffalo Springfield.
Anyone?

[funkmangriff]

you must have misunderstood, unless ive got it wrong, but i see no benefits of tuning all strings to E. perhaps maybe tone wise it would effect the note, but i still see no benefits of doing this.

not to say this guy doesnt do, he might do.

do you know if he tuned each E to the same octave, if each ones an octave higher id imagine his neck is under serious pressure!

[thombo]

Originally Posted by ThunderLizard

Granted, this conversation was taking place after several stout ales, so I could have misunderstood.

stouts and ales?
black and ales (sub ale for tan)?
a whacky microbrew concoction?
so many that you forgot what you were drinking?

no idea on the tuning, sorry.

[Febs]

Steven Stills used a guitar tuning called the "Bruce Palmer Modal Tuning," in which the guitar is tuned E E E E B E. I know that he used it on CSN songs including 4 + 20 and Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. I don't know if he ever used it while in Buffalo Springfield.

This tuning makes sense for guitar but I can't see any reason to use it on a bass.

[JTE]

Yeah, it's a guitar tuning Bruce came up with. No infromation on him ever tuning a bass that way however.

jte

[ThunderLizard]

Febs-
Thanks! The guy I was talking to is a guitar player, so he probably associated Palmer's guitar tuning for his bass tuning. He told me I should try the E tuning as it couldn't hurt my playing.
It was Oatmeal stout from a local brewer. The oatmeal goes to you head after the 3rd pint.

[thombo]

mmmm... oatmeal stout...

[Bassgrinder77]

OK, lets think about it ...
E string - ok.
A string - tune down 5 semitones (very floppy) or up 7 semitones (it would break).
D string - tune down 10 semitones (LOL) or up 2 semitones (tight).
G string - tune down 3 semitones or up 9 semitones (break).
So the only real possibility that leaves 4 unbroken strings is attempting to tune the E and A string to the same note and octave (leaving a VERY floppy A string) and tuning the D string up 2 semitones and G string down 3 semitones - these two tuned one octave up from the other two.
Try it man.
I always wondered how Buffalo Springfield got that radically weird bass sound.

Originally Posted by ThunderLizard

Hello-
Was at a jam session yesterday and someone was talking about tuning a bass to E,E,E,E. Said that Bruce Palmer with the Buffalo Springfield did it. Granted, this conversation was taking place after several stout ales, so I could have misunderstood.
For the life of me, I can't think of how this would work and I sure don't hear it when I listen to Buffalo Springfield.
Anyone?

[jerry]

I've never heard of his bass being tuned that way either, but when Buffalo Springfield first started everybody in the band looked up to him as the one with the talent.

[Mikio]

Originally Posted by Bassgrinder77

OK, lets think about it ...
E string - ok.
A string - tune down 5 semitones (very floppy) or up 7 semitones (it would break).
D string - tune down 10 semitones (LOL) or up 2 semitones (tight).
G string - tune down 3 semitones or up 9 semitones (break).
So the only real possibility that leaves 4 unbroken strings is attempting to tune the E and A string to the same note and octave (leaving a VERY floppy A string) and tuning the D string up 2 semitones and G string down 3 semitones - these two tuned one octave up from the other two.
Try it man.
I always wondered how Buffalo Springfield got that radically weird bass sound.

or get 4 E strings xD

[Bassgrinder77]

Kickass. Bar your fingers and flail. Viola! Buffalo Springfield.

Originally Posted by Mikio

or get 4 E strings xD

[dinghy]

Maybe a special set tuned in octaves? As in, 12th fret on the lowest string is the open note on the next highest string.

[Bassgrinder77]

SWEET! With 24 frets you'd have a SIX OCTAVE bass.

Originally Posted by dinghy

Maybe a special set tuned in octaves? As in, 12th fret on the lowest string is the open note on the next highest string.

[GregDunn]

Originally Posted by Bassgrinder77

Kickass. Bar your fingers and flail. Viola! Buffalo Springfield.

Now, if he played a Viola, that WOULD be an amazing sound.

[Bassgrinder77]

He could strum with a viola. After the (viola) bridge and strings break off, the sound would smooth out some.
Don't dismiss it, Jimmy Page played with a violin bow. This just takes it to the next level.

Originally Posted by GregDunn

Now, if he played a Viola, that WOULD be an amazing sound.

[Lazylion]

Somebody call Les Claypool, he'll try anything!