Octave Mandolas

The octave mandola or sometimes referred to as the octave mandolin is a fretted string instrument with four pairs of strings tuned in fifths, usually GDAE (low to high), an octave below a mandolin. The most common body shape for this instrument type is the A style (or teardrop) shape. Popular brands include Eastman, Ozark, Gold Tone, Buchanan and Trinity College.

It’s a longer scaled instrument than the mandola, but shorter than the bouzouki and its construction is similar to other instruments in the mandolin family. Usually the courses are all unison pairs but the lower two (G and D) may sometimes be strung as octave pairs with the higher-pitched octave string on top so that it is hit before the thicker lower-pitched string (similar to a 12 string guitar).

Alternate tunings of GDAD and ADAD are often employed by Celtic musicians which this instrument is a popular choice for. Octave Mandolas are most commonly picked with a plectrum rather than fingerpicked like the guitar or banjo.

Important with any instrument is playability especially with the Octave Mandola with it having 8 strings in close pairs and a relatively long scale with a narrow neck and fingerboard. Fully setup in our workshop for the best playability and tone, each Octave mandola will be ready to play the day you receive it.

Some instruments can have pickups built in ready to plug and play whether for recording or live use and some are expertly handmade by some of the UK’s finest luthiers such as Buchanan.