It's mandolin scale length, 13 7/8. I was going to use a small charango size box, but I got the idea to try a bigger box, so the bridge sits in the center of the top to see if I could better better tone. Its really a diatonic mandolin, with an extra course of high strings. The two end double courses are .010. The thought is to use drop thumb style like a clawhammer banjo player would. The neck bolts on, and I used two 1/4" steel rods to strengthen the box, so I wouldn't have to heavily brace the top to withstand the tension of the 10 strings so much. There is one brace under the bridge. The two rods run from the head to the tail block, about an inch from the sides. I had put a pickup inside but it doesn't need one. The tone and sustain is good!
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