I bought one of these to play in the Irish band I play with:
http://www.rondomusic.com/md30vt.html
I play mainly whistle and flute and this mandolin actually doesn’t sound all that bad for occasional use.
However, the neck is quite thick from front to back and I’m wondering if I could thin it down on a drum sander. The mando does not have a truss rod.
If I could shave off even 1/8", then sand it and apply some lacquer I think it would be a lot more playable. What d’yall think?
I don’t think you’d have any problem, especially if happen to be using light strings with an electric anyway.
That’s what I thought: I’ll try it AFTER our Sunday gig… 
Or you could just keep the lacquer off and call it a"speed neck" like some of the bluegrass banjo players.
A lot of BG mandolin guys do that too. Like a violin neck. They spend a fortune on fancy varnish finishes, then scrape it off the neck when it gets all sticky in humid weather playing outdoors. Give me modern technology every time! 
I will probably do that at least temporarily. Maybe a bit of Tung oil, but no lacquer. I can always go back and finish the neck if I don’t like it plain
I did it and it came out great. The thinner neck is much more comfortable. I left it unfinished except for a coat of linseed oil, and may give it one or two more. In the process I lowered the bridge and now this cheapie plays like a real champ.