With a scale of 58 cm., it is doubtful (to me, at least) that the liuti moderni of Musikalia would have much punch in the low C-course— a troublesome area for most instruments, anyhow. And just how thick should those strings have to be, in order to resonate fully? Navy-issue cabletows would hardly do the job...
Or, as Musikalia implicitly recommends, the instrument would work optimally with "octave mandolin" tuning; 58 cm. scale should work out just fine for that. I just doubt the practical, actual aural effect of stringing these creatures CGDAE.
Or, as I have mused on occasion, one could create a hybrid, ehm... let's call it mandolaccia? (The Italian ending signifies a cheapening effect, a degree of crassness, e.g. as barcaccia is something far less elegant than a real "boat" or "ship".) So, how about a moderately sized mando(lon)cello body, strung (with guitar strings) to EADG, double courses? It would, if nothing else, be easier to play in fourths, no?
It is not man that lives but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
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