The 'quality' of the instrument will make a lot of difference to the sound with different string weights . I have a Short Scale Tenor which
SHOULD be strung with fairly light guage strings and tuned like a Viola , but to make it easier to play in sessions I have it tuned same as Mandolin / Violin , and hence have heavier guage strings on . FORTUNATELY it still rings well , so its just a matter of trying out which strings work with the tuning you are using on YOUR instrument .

Incidentally , Johnny St Cyr , who played 'banjo' with King Oliver and Louis Armstrong in the nineteen twenties often played a six string banjo tuned like a guitar .