bass player trying to learn mandolin

[Lobster11]

I've been playing bass for about 7 years now; I took it up at age 41 and it's the only instrument I have ever played. A friend just gave me a very nice little mandolin and I'm eager to learn to play it. At least initially, I'm especially interested in learning chords and focusing on it as primarily a rhythm instrument. (I'll get to soloing later.)

I've been looking at some books, online videos, etc. to learn some basics about techniques and chords, and that's given me enough to fool around with it for awhile. What I'd like to know, though, is how I can best take advantage of my knowledge of bass in learning this new instrument. I mean, it's basically the same neck upside-down, and I'm already starting to understand how to construct chord shapes to take advantage of my knowledge of the bass fretboard. I'm thinking there might be other specific ways in which bass experience would be particularly useful for getting my head around this instrument, and it seems that bass players who double on mandolin would be the best folks to ask.

Anybody? Thanks in advance for any advice.