J Reynolds Octave Mandolin - Electric Bouzouki - Strat Conversion

      Here's a light weight standard Stratocaster size guitar that has been converted to octave mandolin.

    I've put on new sealed tuners, added a tailpiece, modified the nut and installed a new bridge for eight strings. It plays with an easy action - string height at the 12th fret is just over 3/32" bass side - 1/16" treble side.

    Tuned to play in standard G-D-A-E, the string pairings are:

42-42 24-24 16-16 09-09

     The tuning is in fifths, like a violin. If you've played a tenor guitar then chording this is like cake to pick up. -- If you ever tried and gave up on a mandocello this one is a lot easier to handle - especially the bass pair.
   It has a guitar neck and typical spacing at the top but the lower end has close string pairings comparted to most modern conversions. I did it like this so that players could try their hand on an inexpensive electric model and actually play the instrument above the 15th fret. The bridge is fixed and tremolo has been removed. I've done a fret leveling and polish on the guitar too - has a few dings but no issues as to play - the neck is solid maple.

    I've posted a sample on Soundcloud under ClaytonAudio

soundcloud.com/claytonaudio/electric-octave-mandolin-test1

 Length        -                39"
Scale            -               25 1/2"

Nut            -             1 11/16"
Weight     -               5.5 lbs