Re: Octave Mandolins
Joe's answer above is accurate, but much depends on the scale-length of the octave. Scale length (distance from the nut to the bridge) is pretty standard on mandolin, but on octave, it varies widely. In general, octaves range from around 19" scale to around 23" scale or so. I have a octave that I converted from a small guitar and it is a 23-3/4" scale. Let me tell you, the first time I strung it up and played it, I instantly recognized that I was not going to be able to play it in the same way I played mandolin. I have never played a 19" scale octave, but I would love to do that sometime to see how much different it feels. Part of what makes my conversion difficult to play is that the neck is much wider than most octaves. I've been able to get used to it and have adapted my playing on it to suit that instrument. I play very little on it that I play on mandolin but have worked other stuff that sounds great and would never play on mandolin.
Larry Hunsberger
2013 J Bovier A5 Special w/ToneGard
D'Addario FW-74 flatwound strings
1909 Weymann&Sons bowlback
1919 Weymann&Sons mandolute
Ibanez PF5
1993 Oriente HO-20 hybrid double bass
3/4 guitar converted to octave mandolin
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