Getting More Rich Tone & Mid Range From Hartford

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From camlan on 2/6/2015 9:59:46 AM

Hi everyone, I want to get more rich tone and mid range sound quality out of my Hartford 22 with grenadillo ring. I am not after a flat, thumpy bass, but do still want some 4th string low growl. I play bluegrass and do like strong bass and some resonance/volume in the mdi range as well.

My current set up is Snuffy Smith II bridge, stock head tuned to A, Sonny Osbourne medium strings, and tailpiece set at just under 1/4 inch. Also, my action is 1/8 or a tad more at 22nd fret.

What else could I do to move away from thin and trebly sound, to make it richer with strong mid range?

Look forward to any advice, especially from you Hartford guys.

5 Comments
	JLB says: 2/6/2015 1:53:42 PM Play closer to the neck and mess around with head tension. Use strings that are on the heavier side. Good luck.
	RUSTYSTILL says: 2/7/2015 5:34:45 AM Tuned to A might be a tad high so you might experiment with just a tad less head tension. Different woods for bridges can give considerable tone difference, I use a Doc's cathedral bridge on my Calico that gives her a warmer tone.docsbanjos.com/accessories/bridges/ Lastly, although expensive, Thomastik banjo strings might also give the tone you are after. Have fun :)
	japus says: 2/20/2015 2:22:39 PM I've had a fibreskin head on my Hartford for years, now I am contemplating nylguts which I use on a Vega
	Garyflksngr says: 3/30/2015 10:12:55 AM You also might try something as simple as going to bronze wound strings. They give me a folkier sound since I use mine mostly to accompany my singing.
	camlan says: 3/30/2015 10:33:57 AM Thanks for all these ideas.
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