Abstract: A stringed musical instrument with a base portion and neck portion with an inlaid fretboard snugly secured within a recess between an upper wall and a lower wall on the neck portion is disclosed. The geometry of the upper and lower walls maybe optimized and includes walls that are substantially perpendicular to the face of the instrument, walls that are angled with respect to each other to define a wedge-shaped slot for slidably receiving and securing the mating fretboard therein, and walls that are angled to define inwardly extending protrusions that allow the fretboard to be “snapped” in place on the neck portion of the instrument. The fretboard may be rigidly secured to the neck portion with glue or the like or it may be detachably secured within the slot thereby allowing fretboards to be changed as desired for aesthetic or performance purposes.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument with a base portion and neck portion with an inlaid fretboard snugly secured within a recess between an upper wall and a lower wall on the neck portion is disclosed. The geometry of the upper and lower walls maybe optimized and includes walls that are substantially perpendicular to the face of the instrument, walls that are angled with respect to each other to define a wedge-shaped slot for slidably receiving and securing the mating fretboard therein, and walls that are angled to define inwardly extending protrusions that allow the fretboard to be “snapped” in place on the neck portion of the instrument. The fretboard may be rigidly secured to the neck portion with glue or the like or it may be detachably secured within the slot thereby allowing fretboards to be changed as desired for aesthetic or performance purposes.