Octave body depth

[aries753]

What is the usual body depth for octave mandolins? And why?
I have noticed that the TC and related OMs have deep bodies like a guitar. The Gypsy OM seems to be very close to their mandolin depth. Big Muddy/Mid-Mo is similar.

[Graham McDonald]

There are no rules. Average is probably around 3-3.5" at the tail tapering a little towards the neck. But they vary from 4" down to around 2.5". Depends on the maker and the sound they want to get out of them. I go for around the same visual proportion that a guitar has between top width and body depth, but others have different ideas.

cheers

graham