Mandolin-banjo became more popular. In the heyday of mandolin orchestras and banjo bands (late 19th–early 20th century), all sorts of instruments were produced. The mandolin-banjo is one of the hybrids that resulted. It enabled mandolinists to produce a banjo sound without having to learn that instrument's fingerings. The instrument adds the banjo's volume to the mandolin. The banjolin is different from the banjo-mandolin in the number of strings that it has. Banjolins today are supposed to have four strings instead of 8 strings (in courses or pairs). However, that distinction is not universal; the "banjolin" name was patented in 1885 by
Mandolin Brothers they thought that the mandolin was not getting due recognition in the community. Mandolin Brothers Mandolin Brothers is a musical instrument shop in New York City. Mandolin Brothers is located in Staten Island, New York. Its clients have included Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney'. Mandolin Brothers is listed on The New York Music Trail a map of the "Sites of Sound" established by the City of New York and The Host Committee for the Grammy Awards, as a destination for visitors. Mandolin Brothers was established in 1971 by Stan Jay and Harold "Hap" Kuffner. Kuffner left