The first thing I noticed unboxing this octave mandolin was the quality build. I was not expecting such a quality instrument for the price. This is my first octave mandolin so I have nothing to compare it to, but the tone is excellent and the mandolin style chop gives this instrument character. Sounds a bit like a high end twelve string guitar, but with mandolin spark.

Coming from playing the mandolin for many years, I found playing this instrument fairly difficult to adjust to. The longer scale makes some mandolin chords unachievable - at least for the length of my fingers. Quick scales are more difficult to play, but that is not where this instrument shines. Yes, more difficult to play in my opinion, but the tone is rich and unique. The learning curve is minimal if one already plays the mandolin since it is tuned an octave lower - but expect to slow down a bit.

For a mandolin player looking to expand their tone options, you really cannot go wrong with this instrument. As I mentioned earlier, the quality is far better than I expected, however I did have to set it up with saddle and truss rod adjustments (probable due to climate). It does not come with a neck strap button which is really needed. The shape of the body needs a strap - even when played seated.

Once tuned up, it is a joy to play. Highly recommended.

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This is the first octave mando I've ever played, so I don't have anything to compare it to. But if you're interested in exploring this instrument, I don't think you can wrong by buying this axe.

The build quality is super-high. I have a Cordoba C9 classical guitar, which like this instrument is made in China, and think the build quality of the Gold Tone is the same as that of the Cordoba. Lots of really high-end CAD-CAM going on here.

This mando is an arch-top (solid spruce), with a very subtle & careful curve to the upper plate. I know about arching from working on violins, and am somewhat amazed that Gold Tone and their Chinese colleagues have been able to figure out how to offer such a sophisticated instrument at this price point. I was a little disappointed to see that the bridge wasn't perfectly fitted to the arching of the top, and thought about rating it at 4.5 stars, but decided that was too extreme for a very minor imperfection that can be easily fixed with some careful scraping.

If you buy one of these, you definitely want to buy a strap. The size and round shape of the body makes it hard to play without one, even if you're sitting down.

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