as I stated earlier I already own a bouzouki--- that is it's bass strings are paired in octaves like a 12 string guitar. The octave mandolins I have seen are paired in unison and tend to have shorter necks I was hoping to hear from those who might have both to see if there was any significant difference between the sound of the two. Like a 12 string guitar & a 6 or as with an open back banjo & a bluegrass banjo. Since I am likely to order it by mail it makes hands on compairisons difficult