Converting an Octave Mandolin to a Mandola
2nd November 2010
I put some mandolin strings (J74's) on my Octave Mandolin (GDAE an octave lower than mandolin), but tuned them to Mandola tuning (CGDA), and using an online string tension calculator, checked the tensions, and they are within acceptable parameters. Sounds good. So if you have an old octave mandolin lying around, and you want to convert it to a Mandola, just put some Mandolin strings on it. You shouldn't need to adjust the truss rod, but you might have some problems with the nut slots being a bit too wide or deep, but nothing a piece of paper jammed underneath wouldn't fix. I used this "Mandola" to record many of the Mandola parts on my Bach Album.
