Patent ID: 8263844

Claim:
A neck assembly for a stringed musical instrument, comprising: a light-system having a plurality of light elements capable of producing illumination when energized to indicate a static musical pattern for a select duration of time, wherein each of the plurality of light elements is configured to produce a first light and a second light different to the first light; a fingerboard having an elongated body sized for placement on an instrument neck of the stringed musical instrument, the fingerboard having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a plurality of openings with a plurality of wells extending from the plurality of openings toward, but not through, the top surface, wherein the fingerboard allows illumination produced by the plurality of light elements positioned within the plurality of wells to be viewed from the top surface of the fingerboard and wherein the plurality of light elements, when un-illuminated, are substantially concealed by the fingerboard; and a substrate adapted to permanently bond to the fingerboard, the light-system being disposed on the substrate, wherein the plurality of light elements are positioned on the substrate to be received by the plurality of wells of the fingerboard; wherein the substrate comprises a circuit board, the circuit board having channels for receiving an adhesive to permanently bond the substrate to the bottom side of the fingerboard, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of electrical lands sized and shaped to be positioned at least partly within the plurality of wells of the fingerboard, and wherein each electrical land is located beneath a light element.