double vs single courses?

[Sevelos]

By the way, it happened to me quite a few times during performance with a double-course mandolin, that I broke a string and simply continued playing.

[David Lewis]

Just one point: David Lewis - The double courses are not only for volume. The tremolo sounds much smoother with double courses than with single strings because while the pick touches one of the strings in a course, the other string continues to vibrate. With tremolo on a single string, the tremolo sound pauses (VERY shortly) each time the pick touches a string.

True enough. For me, it still makes a very harsh sound when you tremolo on an electric. So with volume the only option (if you don't like the tremolo sound), it's less vital. However I do understand that there are those who like the sound. And that is acceptable, fine and ok by me. In that case, you'd be happy with double courses.

[lenf12]

I prefer the sound and feel of double course (8 string) vs. single course in a mandolin. I owned a 5 string mandolin (C to E) but rarely played it because I could just as easily have played my Strat or Tele. I sold that mandolin and bought a much less expensive 8 string and now I hear the sound I'm looking for. BTW I also love the sound of a 12 string Rickenbacker guitar.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL