A stringed instrument and associated fret mapping method. The instrument includes a neck having a fret board provided with a plurality of frets having offset string contact regions along their length, whereby accurate intonation of a note is achieved when a string is brought into contact with one of the string contact regions and a note is played. The fret mapping method utilizes a test instrument having a fret board that is longitudinally movable toward and away from the nut of the test instrument. The method utilizes this movable fret board to determine the desired locations of string contact regions for frets on the fret board of a stringed instrument of the present invention.