Slightly short 40 meter vertical, would you bother loading?

[W4HIJ]

It's an S-9 bought back before LDG acquired them and as most people know, it's slightly short at 31 feet and it's resonant up near the very top of the 40 meter band. Before S-9 was sold, the guy used to offer a  small 40 meter coil for the antenna for those that didn't have a tuner as well as an 80 meter coil. Now LDG only list the 80 meter coil. Would any of you even bother with putting a little coil at the base of the antenna to bring the resonant frequency down a bit? I have a MFJ-949E tuner and can tune the antenna anywhere I want on 40. It's just that I've always liked the idea of tuning a long antenna to a higher frequency rather than tuning a short antenna to a lower frequency. I mean it would probably amount to no more than a couple of turns of wire down at the base. Would you bother? BTW, this antenna is configured in an elevated ground plane setup with tuned radials and is used monoband.
Michael, W4HIJ

[KF6ABU]

instead of the wire going straight up the antenna, or tapped on the side or however it was.. If you wrapped the wire around it at a rate of 1 turn per 2 feet or something very slight like that it may end up having a foot longer of wire (don't know really). Maybe that would put it more in the middle of the band.

You could also try adding 6 inches or a foot to your radials and see if that brought the minimum SWR closer to the middle of the band.

Other than that, I'd use the tuner. The difference in loss between a coil at the food point and the tuner in the shack is so miniscule it’s not worth your effort. .001% maybe if you are using better then rg-58 coax..

[W4HIJ]

Dang! Second time in a week I've posted in one forum while meaning to do another. Please delete and ignore!

[W4HIJ]

instead of the wire going straight up the antenna, or tapped on the side or however it was.. If you wrapped the wire around it at a rate of 1 turn per 2 feet or something very slight like that it may end up having a foot longer of wire (don't know really). Maybe that would put it more in the middle of the band.

You could also try adding 6 inches or a foot to your radials and see if that brought the minimum SWR closer to the middle of the band.

Other than that, I'd use the tuner. The difference in loss between a coil at the food point and the tuner in the shack is so miniscule it’s not worth your effort. .001% maybe if you are using better then rg-58 coax..

Tnx, I actually meant to put this in the antenna forum but I appreciate the advice.
Michael