Concur with the general drift of the responses. #Classical guitars are very lightly built compared to steel-strings -- thinner tops, lighter bracing. #Once you put the new 8-string neck on, which won't be all that easy to do since you probably don't have a dovetail joint to steam apart --
AND you build and install a new neck block and end block, since I imagine you're planning a tailpiece/floating bridge set-up --
THEN you'll probably have to re-brace the top to take the tension of eight steel strings. #Most of the mandocello or octave mandolin conversions that have been proposed, have been of inexpensive arch-top guitars, which are braced for steel strings, and already have the tailpiece/floating bridge configuration. #
I like M-handsome's suggestion of the nylon strung tenor. #You reduce rather than increase tension, you can use the existing bridge configuration, you don't need to make a new end block. #Basically you'll be making and installing a new neck, which is no trivial task, but you can be relatively confident the resulting hybrid won't tear itself apart under string tension.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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