I notice there have been previous discussions on converting large body ukes to octave mandolins but all seem to strive for four-nylon-string OM configurations. I have acquired two well-built tenor/baritone uke bodies that were never finished. I turned one into a baritone uke and for the second I want to make an 8-steel-string octave mandolin. So I get to make the neck any way I like. I used an 18 1/2" scale on the uke and I intend to use the same on the OM. The two big problems I anticipate are 1) the neck joint and 2) the soundboard strength. It appears that the person who built the bodies intended to join the neck with a 1/8" biscuit type thing because he cut a dado of that size in the neck block. I used that technique on the uke and it works fine for four uke strings but 8 steel strings would pop it off pretty quickly. I have some ideas on how to solve this but I am looking for other thoughts. In this picture, the tape shows the line of the internal top bracing. I believe the top would sink under the pressure of eight mandolin strings. I am considering adding a bridge plate under the top approximately where the piece of graph paper is located. I don't want to take the back off the instrument and I believe I can clamp the plate in using magnets. I have never heard of a bridge plate on a mandolin. Any thoughts on this plan.
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