Need specs for F Style Octave Mandolin

[Gus & Sophie]

I want build my own F Style Octave Mandolin, with a oval sound hole. I cannot even find spec's let alone plans. Can anyone help me?

[Charles E.]

Graham Mcdonald wrote a book on the construction of the irish bouzouki.......

http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/bouzoukibook.html

Also the Guild of American Luthiers web site offers plans for a F style mandola by Lawerance Smart.....

http://www.luth.org/images/plans/pl67.jpg

You might be able to modify the outline to get the body size you want.

[vojtechkral]

Have you tried inquiring with some luthiers who produce these octaves?
From the top of my head these guys apparently make A- and F-style octaves, I suppose you could ask them. Presumably it shouldn't be that much of a trade secret, unless I'm wrong...

[foldedpath]

One idea might be to decide first on what scale length you're aiming for with the octave mandolin. Then figure out what percentage increase that is, over a standard mandolin scale (13 7/8"). That would give you a scaling factor to increase the body dimensions for an octave mandolin.

Don't go overboard in sizing up the headstock, because you'll want to use standard mandolin tuning gears, and that has to look right on the F-style headstock.