You guys see this?

[Greg Stec]

Classical guitar to mandocello conversion.
Using gut/nylon strings

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....y624417 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=50795;st=0;&#entry624417)

[steve V. johnson]

Yeah, I saw it. Pretty cool!

stv

[catmandu2]

Here's a custom Paul Doyle "festooned" cittern I just received in trade from another member. #I've got it tuned DADAD.

Sorry for the hijack--just thought it would relate to interesting builds.

[mandelect]

Good job on the classical to eight string conversion.

Very nice looking 5 course, catmandu2; is it a cittern? #Just the sort of instrument I need for my fingerpicking stuff. Who made it and what is the scale length?

[catmandu2]

It's signed by Paul Doyle, Galway, made in 2001, 26" scale. #It's strung in full unison with what seem like phosphor bronze strings and has great tone. #I think it's a bit of an awkward design, but I see on Paul's website that he utilizes this body style on other instruments, as well. #At any rate, it's a great sounding instrument--I'm thrilled to have it.

[arbarnhart]

I am iffier about it remaining a 'cello as opposed to OM than I was initially. I played with others last night and I had to tune the C strings at one point and it was very difficult to do unless everyone else was silent. I was using a clip on tuner pickup and all the other strings would overcome any outside noises, but for some reason the C strings won't, even though they are plenty loud.

[groveland]

The lower 4 strings of my cittern are tuned like a mandocello - For clip-on tuners, I have to tune the low C hitting a 12th fret harmonic. They don't seem to do so well down there.