18" scale mandola/tenor leads

[kurth83]

I have dreamed of an 18" scale acoustic mandola that can be restrung as a tenor (GDAE), or just a tenor of that scale, and thought it was probably a crazy idea or a lost cause.

But I found some old threads here that suggest in Europe this is a common thing, and that OM's built to that scale are common.

I don't need a lot of acoustic power with a pickup, so the smaller body is possible, but I don't want an unbalanced instrument that is all treble, which I am worried a smaller body would cause, meaning just restringing a mandola.

So far I have heard of Richard Beard and Paul Hathway (both UK AFAIK).
Any other possible sources or thoughts on this?

[Jill McAuley]

Fylde used to do an "octave mandola" -played one a shop a number of years ago and nearly bought it, but ended up going for a Fletcher Tenor Tone tenor guitar instead.

[Steve L]

Richard Beard is a US builder.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/categ...9431466155662/

[Chuck Leyda]

Davy Stuart makes an 18" scale mandola. I have one and highly recommend it. I have mine tuned CGDG and play it like a mini-bouzouki that I can pick a quick melody on as well.

I've never tried tuning to GDAE

[kurth83]

Paul Hathaway uses rosewood, and said he cannot export them to the USA right now, is planning alternate fingerboard options in the next 18 months.

Waiting for Davy Stuart to see his response.

Edit: also sent mail to red valley.

[kurth83]

Davy Stuart responded and said he can export to the US, Paul Hathway can't yet. The issue is the instrument must be below $1,000 or not use rosewood.

Davy Stuart also said he would build anything to spec for me, so I am sending him my wish-list, basically it is an 18" scale mandola version of a wide/deep body mandolin like what Red Valley makes:

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/c...G?format=2500w