Topband: Short receiving verticals question

[Jon Zaimes AA1K]

Recent success here with 23-foot-high W8JI-style short receiving 
verticals in a 4-element broadside/endfire array using variable phasing 
has led me to make plans for other sets to cover additional directions.

To maximize distance from existing and potential noise sources, and to 
allow for tighter endfire spacing, I chose to make these independent 
arrays rather than the classic 8-circle array.

Since these will all be in a wooded area, I am considering using 
different elements without top loading wires, to avoid constant 
maintenance as falling tree limbs would break the wires.

I've read of the 36-foot-high base-loaded elements ON4UN described in 
his book, and understand these would have a slightly narrower bandwidth 
than an element with top-hat wires.

But what about an element loaded with a coil at the center or at the 
top? Would there be advantages to that approach that would come close to 
the short verticals with top-hat wires, or any serious disadvantages?

73/Jon
AA1K