Will ordering mando w/o extension hurt value?

[Rick Crenshaw]

I've got a mandolin on order and have to decide what exactly I want on it by sometime this winter (10 month wait list). My question is: For an F model, do most folks want the full fretboard scalloped or a cut-off fretboard (no extension) ala Weber or Sam Bush? Would the fretboard w/o the extension hurt the value of the F-5? I'm thinking - just cut the extension off. What's the purpose of the extension? What would you do?

Rick

[dfrady]

It really shouldn't hurt the value, alot of it is just personal prefrence. Personaly i wouldn't worry about it just order what you want that way you won't have any regrets about it. Hope everything works out for you !!

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[JiminRussia]

Unless you are Dave Apollon the extension is just a rather useless apendage. How many notes do you play at the twentyeth fret anyway? As far as the value of the instrmeunt goes, if it comes from he Luthier in that form, what diference does it make if it is here or not? Either way it is still "as origianally built".

[Hoovetone]

I think that the extension (florida) is in the way and useless. I like the way Weber does them. But in this case, tradition seems to be holding up.

[Charlie Ayers]

I'm a fan of shortened fretboard extensions (24 instead of 29 frets). I've owned mandos with the Flatiron shape, and the Heiden shape, but my favorites are the Gilchrist variety - somewhat the same shape as the long fretboard extensions, but with a 5 fret length removed.....(does that make sense?).

Charlie