Frequently Asked Questions
Are you selling the entire wooden neck?
No we are not. What we are selling are non-permanent, removable fingerboard decals that easily install onto your existing instruments neck. Our neck illusions fingerboard decals are also designed to help protect your instruments fingerboard from the natural acidity of your hands and fingers, which can cause this type of unwanted finger tip wear. SEE THIS
What are they made with?
Our fingerboard protectors are printed on a proprietary material that is constructed of the highest of quality material. They are designed to hold up to your most demanding licks and are guaranteed to not wrinkle, stretch or move out of place! These are NOT to be confused with cheap paper "stickers"! Extremely durable, our product has been rated for outdoor use using waterproof inks.
Will they get in the way of my playing?
Because they measure only 0.007 (Matte) 0.007 (gloss) in thickness they are virtually unnoticeable to the players fingertips. However, players have reported that they enjoy the smooth and faster feel of our product over a fingerboard that has "rough" textured wood grain.
Will they affect the tone or sustain of my instrument?
Absolutely not! When designing our product, one of the most important factors was that it would not interfere with the tone and sustain of the instrument. Because our material is acoustically transparent it will not effect the tone or sustain of the instrument. Our patented product has been recording studio tested and approved!
Are they easy to install?
Yes! In fact, installing the neck illusions fingerboard protector is so easy you don't even have to remove your guitar strings completely. The whole installation process should take under 20 minutes.
Does the fingerboard protector cover my frets?
Our fingerboard protector is made up of "pre-cut"multiple pieces. Each piece (decal) is designed to fit between the metal fret wires.
What if I put the decal on in the wrong way?
Don't worry! Our neck illusions removable fingerboard graphics use a low tack temporary adherent that is very easy to remove and re-position.
Can the low tack temporary adherent damage my fingerboard?
The short answer is no. We spent just over one year of extensive real world testing making sure the neck illusions will remove easily and cleanly after twelve months. Our product uses a highly advanced low tack temporary adherent. This adherent is strong enough to hold the decals in place under the most demanding playing and yet they are easy to remove without leaving any sticky residue and not causing any damage to your instruments fingerboard. In fact, we are so confident in the safeness of our product that we use a $12,000 PRS Private Stock as one of our test guitars. SEE THIS
Do I still need to condition my fingerboard?
Yes. Maintaining the correct hydration is essential for the health of your fingerboard. We strongly suggest removing the neck illusions fingerboard graphic protector a minimum of once every 12 months and then do a proper conditioning treatment to your fingerboard according to the manufactures instructions. After this is completed, the neck illusions fingerboard graphic can then be re-applied to your instrument.
How do I properly remove the neck illusions graphic fingerboard protector?
Loosen or remove the strings on the instrument to expose the fingerboard. To prevent any scratches to the fingerboard, we recommend using the tip of a pointed wooden toothpick to get under the edge of the decal and begin to slowly lift it off. Continue down the fingerboard until all of the decals are removed. We recommend a simple cleaning and conditioning of the fingerboard after you have removed the neck illusions decals. SEE THIS
When removing the decals, I noticed grime sticking to the adhesive side of the decals, is this normal?
This may occur on some guitars and there is nothing to worry about. On new guitars, fine particles of wood dust that were created during the manufacturing and sanding of the fingerboard became lodged into the wood grain of the fingerboard during the polishing and rubbing process, where they have remained. On older guitars, accumulation of oils, dirt and grime get pushed into the wood grain over time. The low tack adhesive of the neck illusions decals are simply locking onto this material and lifting it out of the wood grain. The same thing occurs when a guitar luthier removes their low tack "painters tape" that they use to protect the fingerboard from damage when they are doing fret work. Removing this material out of the wood grain creates an added benefit of allowing fingerboard conditioning products to penetrate into the fingerboard more efficiently.
Can the neck illusions fingerboard protector be reused?
To maintain proper adhesion, neck illusions can be removed and re-used up to three times although your results may vary. If you ever want to remove your fingerboard protector from your guitar, you simply loosen or remove the strings, then peel away each decal using a toothpick or other similar item to get under the decal. IMPORTANT: Avoid touching the adhesive part of the decal with your fingers. The oils from your fingers will greatly reduce the adhesion quality of the decals. Return the decals to the original backing paper. If you don't have the original backing paper, a good quality wax paper will do. To help with the re-usability of the neck illusions fingerboard protector, we highly recommend that you clean your fingerboard thoroughly and let dry before applying the decals for the very first time. This will remove any dirt and grime that would otherwise stick to the neck illusions fingerboard decal and prevent them from properly adhering.
How long do they last?
Typically, they will begin to show signs of wear after 3000+/- hours of playing. Your results may vary depending on several things. • How aggressive your playing style is • How much playing that you do • How acidic your fingers and hands are. The first indications of wear should be a slightly noticeable wearing of the GLOSS or MATTE finish on the protector. Working like a gauge, that indication lets you know that the protector is doing its job and should be replaced before the wood of the fingerboard begins to show through.
How will I know if it will fit my instrument?
Our new ordering process allows you to choose a large variety of sizing options. We will cut the neck illusions based on the dimensions that you selected when you placed the order. As long as the measurements that you selected are correct for your fingerboard, the neck illusions will have a proper fit.
What is the "End of the Fingerboard Length" and will I need to trim it myself?
Possibly. The "End of the Fingerboard Length" piece is designed to cover the area of the fingerboard that is after the last metal fret wire. Because this area of a fingerboard varies by all makes and models, there is a possibility that this decal will need to be hand trimmed to properly fit. Some examples where trimming will be required can be found on strat and tele style guitars where this area of the fingerboard is curved.
How does the "One Size Fits Most" sizing work?
Our "One Size Fits Most" sizing is designed to fit most 6 string electric and acoustic steel string guitars where the customer doesn't want to order using the custom sizing method. It is designed to fit 6 string guitars having scale lengths from 24" to 25.625" - Nut widths starting from 1.55" and wider - Up to 24 frets.
Does the "One Size Fits Most" accommodate different fret wire widths?
Yes! Our "One Size Fits Most" neck illusions are now available in five different versions to allow for a better fit onto your guitar. These different versions are designed to accommodate the different fret wire width on the instruments fingerboard. Our "One Size Fits Most" neck illusions are now available for instruments with NARROW frets (0.09"), MEDIUM frets (0.10"), MEDIUM JUMBO frets (0.11"), JUMBO frets (0.12") and SUPER JUMBO frets (0.13")
What is the "One Size Fits Most" Sizing Verification Template and how do I use it?
Our "One Size Fits Most" Sizing Verification Templates are used to check the fit onto your instruments fingerboard to verify the fit. These are available in PDF format and can be downloaded HERE Please Note: A small 2mm gap between the edge of the fingerboard and the edge of the decals is necessary for UN-obstructed playability. SEE THIS EXAMPLE
Yes you can! You can submit your very own artwork or we can work with you to create the artwork for your design. Please keep in mind there is an additional fee of $19.95 if we create the artwork. Visit our Custom Shop page for more information about custom designs.
We hope our FAQ answered your questions. If you have any additional ones, please feel free to contact us.
The Neck illusions team