I have a banjo-mandolin I bought on my honeymoon (the desire to buy it should have been a clue to Jennifer of what she was getting herself into, but she urged me to get it). It's a Vega Tube-a-phone, and a dandy.

I've never heard that the four-string versions were "banjolins," and the eight-stringers "banjo-mandolins." I distrust that factoid.

And it's really hard to make a good-sounding one, I can tell you. I've played a number of 'em, owned a couple more than the keeper mentioned above, and in general find them hard to 'get right,' with action hard to set up and a sound that isn't always what you thought you'd get.

Bob