Clinton. Lets make sure all of us are on the same page here. The bass string on the mandolin is a G (usually about a 32 guage).

The bass string on my Glen Reid Octave mandolin (about the same size as a Mandola) is D (I use a 35...for a light tension) the next string is A (about a 24). The next is E (about 15) and the high one is B (about 11). This gives me a nice light feel. (remember these are paired)

One of the problems is that all these hybrid instruments have different scales and are often called something their not. My "Tenor Guitar" is a 1910 Washburn and the label says it's a "Courting Guitar"(!!?). It may actually be the scale of a baritone uke. (slightly shorter...thus heavier strings. I've seen three or four sizes of instrument called "Octave mandolin". Glen Reid designed his from another hybrid called an "Octophone". This is one of the reasons why I've used trial and error to get the right "feel". The Problem is that once it's time to change the damn strings I've forgotten what's already on!

Fortunately Tenor guitar strings aren't hard to find these days.

Shit this should have been easy. Sorry to make it so complicated.

Rick