I'm trying to make, as a hobby, a few instruments, and watching videos on string instruments, specially compact ones, I noticed that outside of the sounds being pleasant or not, the volume was mediocre at best.
So, without actually studying music with luthier theory as a career, what should I consider to make the sound as loud and pleasant as I can, regarding shape, matterials and such?
I would like it to be as small as possible without being unconfortable. Something between the size of a mandolin, an ukelele and a violin (Lenght of the neck is not that important but I will probably make it longer than ukelele). If possible, not as big as a lute.