[quote name='TomRichards' timestamp='1385398112' post='2287741']
Lastly, with the exception of great dealers like Bass Direct[i] [and Bass Gallery, Bass Gear, MBL... ][/i], who love all things bass, if the stores in the UK are like those here, many of the floor people and salespersons have little or no experience with actual guitars or basses and many if not all have never done any work even on their own guitars, so they would have no clue as to how or what spec a bass is set to.
[/quote]
this...
I read your second post, and was about to reply when I found you saying the same thing as I was about to in your first post.
My local large shop doesn't have anyone on staff who can set up a guitar or bass. The nice secondhand bass I found needing the truss rod adjusted (a lot) didn't come home with me as I wasn't prepared to spend £800 finding out if the neck would go straight.