High tuning?

[Griffis]

Hello, All.

I tried the search function on this topic but didn't realy find what I was looking for.

I am interested to know if any of you use the high tuning or octave tuning on your mandolins--perhaps there is a different nomenclature I should be using--but I mean when you have the 'G' and 'D' strings tuned an octave apart.

From what I understand (which isn't much, as I'm still a newbie to the mandolin for the most part) a lot of the old blues players like Yank Rachel tuned this way.

I'd like to eventually have a mandolin to keep in this tuning all the time. Does anyone have any recommendations as far as gauges of strings or can anyone maybe comment on the merits or differences of this tuning? I think it would sound quite nice, but I'm concerned that if the instrument is made to take 'GG', 'DD', that 'Gg", 'Dd' might be problematic.

I appreciate any thoughts, suggestions or info. Thanks.

[PseudoCelt]

I had one of my mandolins tuned in octaves for a while. It sounded okay - I wasn't too keen on the octave D, but the octave G was more pleasant. I used it more for open tunings like GDAD or DDAD, rather than for standard tuning. I have my bouzouki tuned in octaves and it seems to suit the lower tones better, IMO.

I just used a spare E string for the octave D, and an A string for the G, so the total tension on the mandolin was less than with standard tuning. It's cheap and easy enough to try it and find out if you like it.

Patrick