Like master crafters of the Renaissance, Martin uses only the finest materials
in its acoustic guitars.

Every instrument begins with
carefully selected woods chosen for
acoustic qualities, resonance, and
beauty. Rosewood, mahogany, ebony,
and spruce, among others, offer
both strength and flexibility. Often
crafted with intricate mother-of-pearl
inlaid fretboards, Martin guitars
are not only musical instruments,
they are also playable art.

Although Martin continues to use
many traditional abalone pearl
inlay patterns from the 1800s, the
Custom Shop allows guitarists to
choose from a wide array of patterns
or, if desired, to furnish their own
inlay artwork. Black ebony provides
the ideal background for these
delicate fingerboard designs.