Ashbury AM-380E Mandolin

We went into a local shop and played the 380E which is a good-sounding traditionally scrolled bluegrass mandolin. We were impressed. We wanted one and found one on amazon (as we had Prime it was here the next day)Although the picture shows, and the description is of, an Ashbury 380E (GR31028) the product supplied is a GR31027 with an added pickup. By itself this is not a bad mandolin and the matt finish is nice: it plays well and sounds very nice. It is, however a different product from the one advertised and not one in the Ashbury range. If that were all it would get high marks as it compares very favourably on looks, price and functions and sound.But there is a really big drawback which is that the fingerboard has an extension on the A and E strings which was clearly meant to accommodate extra frets, as on the classic Gibson F5. However this is not fretted and is merely a lump of wood at the end of the fingerboard which interferes with playing. It is not a feature of any Ashbury Mandolin. It is, I think, made to look like a defretted and slightly scooped F-5.Many people have these removed or scooped (on this model it is ever so slightly scooped but not enough) even if they are fretted as only bats can hear the high notes they produce and it really gets in the way of playing most stuff. Or you can raise the action, which is pointless as this model has really good action - unless you like a high action..This suggests this is something else from the same factory in China, with Ashbury labelling. When playing electrically because of the piezo pickup, hitting the fingerboard extension with your pick produces quite a loud thump. It is less noticeable acoustically, but still audible. The sweet spot for picking is exactly where this extension is located.The action is good and the weight and balance are great.If it wasn't for the fretboard extension this would be a very nice instrument indeed, and probably preferable to the 380E if you are a traditional player as the finish and appearance are less 'electric'. When plugged in the sound is very good and better than a traditional magnetic pickup. It sounds better (to my ears, and more trad bluegrass) than the Ovation bowlback (even though the latter has a preamp) when plugged into a good amp.You can get a luthier to remove (best) or rescoop (OK) the fingerboard extension (people even do this on F-5s) - probably invalidating any guarantee - for about £30 and that makes it into a very nice instrument indeed. Another niggle is that the bridge adjustment screws are also proud of the bridge and will give you blisters, again this is an easy fix you can do yourself or get a luthier to do. So if you are willing to have the fingerboard modified, I'd say go for it at the price, (£212) but just make sure you know what you're getting.