Forward Bow

Also called “relief,” forward bow refers to a slight concave curvature that brings the center of a guitar’s or bass’s fretboard away from the strings. This curvature is caused by the tension of the strings pulling the instrument’s headstock toward the body of the guitar or bass. A slight amount of forward bow or relief is desired to allow for lower string action. Severe relief (too much forward bow) in the neck can cause high action, uncomfortable playing, and may affect the intonation of the instrument.