Need help fattening up my sound

Assuming the Hartke has a graphic, try cutting the lowest sliders slightly, then a small boost between 100Hz and 200Hz.

Also, does your Sterling have a 2 or 3-band EQ on board? How do you set it?

 

Perhaps using all eq knobs on full may cause the "thin" sound you describing. Did you try eq knobs are all flat (or each knob at 50%) ?

I also recommend boost on "Low mids" around 150Hertz. And adding more mids and high mids accordingly for articulation or "cutting through" when playing live.

(Also slight compression may also help to get an even and all around fat sound.)

 

Do you have adjustable pole pieces?

Are you using new strings?

 

This is quite the common complaint and the solutions suggested above are all valid. As I mentioned in another thread, over-EQing can suck the life out of your D & G strings. I, too, would start with all controls in their center-detent positions. This doesn't necessarily mean we're running a "flat" EQ but it does provide a point of reference while making adjustments. A slight boost in the 150-250 hz region should bring out the "body" you're missing. Personally, I like to pluck the A (D string, 7th fret) while setting the EQ balance as the resulting tone usually translates well to the remainder of the fingerboard. Can't say why it works for me but it does...maybe it has something to do the with the octave "bounce" I hear in so many pop songs (think Hall & Oates). Avoid boosting bass freq's as they all-too-often mask the sorely-needed definition provided by the mids.

Riis

 

+1 again. With an active 3 band eq on the bass, set them all to the detent, (flat), and make small incremental changes as needed. Blasting all 3 bands wide open is a recipe for disaster.

 

Adjust your pickup height. It shouldn't be your eq or amp. All your strings should sound pretty even right from the get go.

 

Putting all EQ sliders at max just means you are boosting ALL frequencies - just a volume boost and no EQ. There will also be some other undesirable effects. In gneral, EQ controls should never be anywhere near maximum - they are only for a slight flavor.

You may also need to adjust your pickup height as mentioned above to balance the output across all the strings. They don't have to be level!