I agree on the 10 string mandola concept. I've got a small herd of the instruments mentioned here, including the Eastwood mandola and an Ovation clone octave-mandolin 8-string. I've ordered a 10-string mandola that I'm hoping will combine the mandola/mandolin for me and get more range. What I would like also is an acoustic guitar-mandola(10) double-neck. Guess I'll start another thread for that. I wanted to chime in support for the mandolin and mandola kits though. The 10-string mandola would be awesome.