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.