There are environmental factors that can affect such things. I was at a Guitar Center a few winters ago, just kicking the tires of the Jazz basses they had in stock. I got to compare an Fender Standard (MIM), a Squier Vintage Modified and a Fender American Standard. Of the three, the Squier felt the best in my hands, while the MIA Standard felt the worst. The neck was seriously bowed forward and frets were sprouting out to the point where it felt playing a cheese grater…and I can ignore with a wee bit o' fret-sprout.
Once I got past my utter bafflement, something clicked…the MIA Standard's place on the wall was only a few feet from an HVAC vent. Months and months of dry, hot air was practically desiccating the fretboard, causing it to contract, thus the front-bow and fret-sprouting. Ever since then, I always try to consider where instruments are hanging when I go to any musical instruments store.
P.S.: I wanted to bring this to the attention of the schmoes working at that particular GC store, but they couldn't be bothered to give me the time of day, even when I was standing right next to a trio of them while holding the instrument in my hands. I swear, I was just standing there for almost a full minute while they were jabberin' away between themselves like I was invisible. So, I just turned around, put it back in it's unfortunate place on the wall and left.
P.P.S.: I'm not trying to rag on Guitar Center and am happy to say this was not my local store. The peeps at my store are great. I just feel bad for that other location for having hired a bunch of duds. Such are the vagaries of "retail life", ja?
HAHA, you just described the GC in Athens, Ga(home of the University of Ga). Those college kids at that store are not musicians, wannabe musicians, or even interested in music other than the hiphop on their iphone.
