I have an Ashbury Octave Mandola and it's a superb instrument, except for the tuning pegs which are crap. I keep meaning to getting around to replacing them. The gear ratio is poor and it is difficult to tune using them. I also had to add a bit of graphite (pencil lead) to the nut to get the string to move smoothly over it - tendency to tune without anything apparently happening then suddenly a jump in tone or the reverse.
However, that apart, my Bouzouki teacher had a play of it last year and said: "What a powerhouse of an instrument!"
I've got an ashbury tenor cutaway - decent instrument with decent electronics. My experience is it has been good value for money. I gigged it for years with no issues.
One of the first Ukes I bought was an Ashbury Tenor, And for the price it was excellent. I might have been lucky with a good one, so as others have said, " Try before you buy"