So... I made a terrible mistake... (new guitar related)...

What with living where I do and the absurd prices on guitars here I have had to buy some online, sight unseen (well, except for the pics on the website). And it has often worked out extremely well. And even when I can play the guitar first it is so poorly set up with super light strings which are rusting off the fretboard that it doesn't really help much! Now that I have brought my latest guitar home, the Thinline Tele, it has impressed me a lot more than it did in the shop. Even though the action was set right (which it never is!) it felt good but not great in the store and the amps I had to try it with sounded very average. But I took a punt because I felt something good was there and it was. Fortunately.

Unfortunately I'm one of those who don't get on with a 7 1/4" radius. Which is good I guess - I don't need to look at the new Fender RIs.
 
Every guitar and bass I've bought over the last 6 hears has been online and sight unseen. Music stores are completely useless. They have poor selection, the instruments are never set up, the staff know nothing and the prices are a lot higher than online. And they don't sell any useful selection of accessories. What is even the point?

I just take my chances with online purchases. Since I can only afford cheap instruments, over the years I've had to learn to fix most issues that arise so now I have no problem taking new guitars apart for surgery on day one.

I'll refine my position on 7.5" radius. I stumbled upon it because I bought my Strat because of the color and it happened to be a Classic Series 60s. My bandmates play a Squier CV and an MIM Fender Strat with 9.5 radii and they are easier to play, no doubt. They're also lighter. But I'm a vintage nerd and I like to know that my neck has the same specs as the old ones. Ridiculous.

On bass it's a different story. I want a big neck and the vintage radius helps. I own 5 basses and only my main P bass is 7.5 but I immediately feel the difference with the other ones. They play beautifully but they lack the girth. Bass for me is all about feeling the power and a skinny neck just doesn't work. One of the reasons why I abhor Jazz basses and their pencil necks. And I need a roomy fretboard. Give me a wide nut. I'm so sad my P's nut is only 42mm.
 
I have no problems with the 7 1/4 radius on a P-Bass. Like you I much prefer the necks on a P-Bass over a Jazz... plus I just love the sound of a P-Bass. The only other bass I would play would be a Stingray. But yeah - for me it's P-Bass.
 
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