No offense, John, but I've spent too many years developing my 6-string technique to even consider a 4-string instrument (except for taking to the beach, etc.). As for the cittern or the octave mandolin, I'm not familiar with them.

I do still want to play 6-string guitar, though -- and it's not like I CAN'T play it any more --, so my main focus is on finding one that fits my hand. (Dulcimer, lap guitars, banjos, etc., all require learning to play all over again -- just as alternative tunings on the guitar do (at least for the left hand).

Genie