Well, it looks like the mandocello string set is the right one for the Octave Fiddle. I have several more on order ( and one gets TWO OctaveFiddle sets per Mandocello set!) at under $11 a set. About 1/10th the cost of an Octave Violin set ( as expected- the Fiddle set is 1/8-1/10 the cost of a violin set).

Using a Bass rosin, and viola BCF bow. One does have to shorten the strings, leaving about 6 turns on the peg when it is holding down the bridge- there is no silk end, s0 the end gets bent after going through the peg. Had to shave the inside of the pegbox on some of the instruments, to get clearance for the winding.