Cavaquinho tuning question?

Hi -

Not sure if this is a flaw in the (yes, cheap) instrument but the bottom string on my new cavaquinho goes up by a whole step on the first fret, not the expected half step. (Open string is a D, first fret is an E.) None of the other strings do this. I have a set of new strings and was already planning to change strings out when the instrument arrived but I thought I'd float this by the fine UU minds in case I should be investigating for another possible problem.

Thanks in advance,
Lesley

It sounds like a low first fret or a high second fret. have your tech check it out.

Thanks... yes, that was the conclusion I had reached after some additional Googling. I already planned to visit the tech with another instrument so I'll make this a two-fer visit. Many thanks!

Lesley