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The latest addition to the mandolin family is the mandoletto. Introduced to the line lovingly by Mr. Michael J. Farrand, it bridges the mandolin and mando-cello thusly:
E--A--D--G . . . . . . . . . . . . mandolin
---A--D--G--C . . . . . . . . . . . mandola
-----------W--X--Y--Z . . . . . . . . MANDOLETTO*
--------------E--A--D--G . . . . . . . octave mandolin
-----------------A--D--G--C . . . . . . mando-cello
----------------------------E--A--D--G . mando-bass
Borrowing from alternate bouzouki tuning, its sweet tone stuns the trained musical ear, evoking at once the mystery of the Mediterranean and the magic of the British Isles. Initially "discovered" on the octave mandolin pictured above, available through Lark in the Morning, further development of this new instrument occurs in the greatest of secrecy. Mr. Farrand, an Italian speaker, named the instrument mandoletto because, as the inventor, he can name it any damn thing he wants to.
*Once this new instrument makes its official debut, the proper tuning will be revealed.
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