The amount of relief needed varies from one player to the next. A guitarist with a light touch needs less relief than one with a heavier attack. Ideally the neck should be as straight as possible and then the amount of relief dialed in to suit the player.

We list the "straight as possible" dimension on some pages as a starting point. The condition of the frets can also have a bearing on the amount of relief required for good playability. If the frets are level with no grooves or worn spots less relief is needed to play without string buzz.