Bridge for an electric 8 string mandola?

[Bill Bell]

My sister would like me to make an 8 string electric Mandola. I'm not sure what to do about a bridge for it? A lot look like they are custom made or some modification of a Tele or P-Bass style bridge? Can a typical acoustic Mando style bridge work, the only potential issue I see is how tall these bridges are, and distance of the strings form the pickup? Any ideas or suggestions for a bridge?

[Jon Whitney]

Solid body or semi-acoustic? Are you willing to use a tailpiece, or do you want to anchor the strings in the bridge? The answer to these questions will have a great effect on the answer to your original question.

[Bill Bell]

Solid body, a tailpiece is ok but prefer to either anchor strings in the bridge or through the body.

[Jon Whitney]

If you use a tailpiece, making a floating bridge from hardwood is a simple matter.

I can imagine making a through-the-body anchor bridge from aluminum and/or brass would be fairly easy also if you can live with a floating bridge design - though I've never done it. Anything other than floating bridge is tougher to do but still possible. You might also look at some bass bridges and see if you can copy them in a smaller size and, obviously, double string slots per saddle, using metal rods and bars, set screws, etc.

Sorry I can't be of much more help. Maybe someone who knows what they are talking about will come along.

[Michael Lewis]

Most electric mandolins have single strings rather than 2 string courses, though there are some 8 strings electrics. Acoustic mandolins have paired courses to support a volume level not attainable with single strings, but an electric has no such encumbrance and can easily provide a high sound level with single strings. You can go either way with this but there are many more options for four string parts. Allparts has some.