I wanted to do something a little different, just for fun and a bit of a challenge. I like Irish/Celtic music which often features an octave mandolin (the Irish Bouzouki is an octave mandolin). An octave mandolin is tuned just like a standard mandolin, only a full octave lower.
The scale length and body size are not far off from a baritone ukulele so the basic parameters were in my wheel-house. It was also an opportunity to experiment with some new things like laminated sized and wood Picasso rosettes. It came out pretty well, loud and resonate.
Black walnut back and sides, Alaskan yellow cedar top, X braced top and back, each with a 15 foot radius, floating casuarina bridge.
