Molded fretboard and guitar

A stringed musical instrument comprising:

• a molded fretboard having frets molded integrally therewith,
• said frets having abrasion resistant characteristics and being composed, in a working region thereof, of a molded mixture including glass beads and resin,
• said mixture having a higher proportion by volume of glass beads than of resin, and said glass beads being compacted such that each glass bead is in contact with at least one other glass bead.

A process for producing a molded fretboard for use with a stringed musical instrument, comprising the steps of:

• a) pouring a pre-mixed molding mixture of glass beads and resin into a mold plate comprising fret grooves to permit said glass beads to settle into at least the working region of the fret such that each glass bead is in contact with at least one other glass bead, said mixture having a higher proportion by volume of glass beads than of resin;
• and
• b) curing the resin to produce a molded fretboard having abrasion resistant frets integrally formed thereon.