Rawhide is right. He even spelled the name of the maker correctly and corrected my misspelling of "mandoline-banjo." It is tuned and played exactly like a five string banjo. I usually use the same tunings I use on the banjo.

Fie on Spaw for his dislike of bastardized instruments. I like this little sucker because I'm not very accomplished on guitar and sometimes I want a mellower, deeper tone than I can get on any of my other banjos.

I can even play blues on it. One of the nicest compliments I've ever had was when a listener said, "Reminds me of Robert Johnson on an old National steel guitar." That's overstating it, but it can achieve a funky, old-time blues sound.