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Bongo Neck Bow

If the bass feels "right" under your fingers but your eyes say that one side is flatter than the other on your neck, clamp a capo on your 1st fret, hold down your low B at the 24th fret at the end of your neck and run a feeler guage under the string at the eight fret to determine the relief (gap) between the top of the fret and bottom of your B string. Repeat this on the high G. If the gap is the same on both strings trust your fingers and not your eyes. It is hard to sight a gap under and .045 G string and compare the gap under a .120 low B string. I've been fooled before. The feeler guage will tell the tale.
 
The more I look at it - the more I think that this is an optical illusion - sort of like "Old School" said.

The other day I got a metal straight edge and checked the neck – used a feeler guage. It actually seemed OK - though visually it looked really bowed. Then I noticed if I held my head at a different angle and sighted the neck and not the fret board the results were more like the straight edge told me. I noticed that the fret board is not as wide as the neck under it – you can actually hang a fingernail on the edge of the neck near the head stock. So, I think the side of the fret board is not straight. I will check that tonight.

So, moral of story is trust your tools!

I must say that I am not really impressed with the workmanship of the neck. Once I get all my ducks lined up I will contact EBMM and see if this is what they call OK. On one hand – you got to give it to them. They are able to provide a 5 string active bass with dual humbuckers, other features, OHSC, and 4 band EQ with a street price of $1500 – and still make it in the USA. On the other hand – you would think they could have sanded the neck better.