Re: 5 course questions
Either way, your instrument will contain an OM. The question is whether you want to expand it into the range of a mandocello —- making it a cittern —- or a mandola. Basically, your 5-course instrument will cover the guitar’s range, going slightly below or above it, depending on where you add that fifth course, so for playing tunes or accompanying vocals, I think that either will work, depending on your tonal preference.
That decision is going to drive the scale length decision. I agree with meow-n-dolin that even 22” could be a bit short for those low C strings to sound as rich as they should. I’m not even sure it would be long enough for a low D. If you decide to add the extra course on the high end, I’d look at 20”, or maybe 19”, scale length.
Fortunately, you’re dealing with an excellent builder with lots of experience building mando family instruments. So, after you decide which five courses you want, I’d ask Lawrence which scale length he thinks would work best for that range.
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