As a matter of fact, Rick's mando-thingie was the prototype of that particular instrument,(In 1991 Rick and I came up with the concept for it, a scale,somewhere between a mandolin and a mandola, truly a "little bastard") although I built a couple of banjoes prior to that and countless repairs, it was indeed the first.
As for this new vision Rick, I'm intrigued.

When I built the baritone for Emmylou, I went with heavy gauge Martin bronze strings and the bottom end was in your face.Had I gone with heavier gauge, I guess the testosterone level would have increased for sure.
All this talk has got me wanting to do another.
Glen