[semolinapilcher]

I’m supposing a bit here. But “back in the day” at Martin, if their best people worked on the 42/45s and the best (looking?) wood was chosen, (and then the instrument was maintained a little better by its more affluent owners), then all of that would lead toward a potentially better sound coming from the higher-end model... and the blingy guitars would sound better. But that’s correlation, not causation.

However - and again, I’m supposing - if you had already selected the lumber and then you told Mr. Henderson / Olson to add abalone, I’d be surprised if it impacted the tone. And if it did impact the tone, I’d be shocked if the impact was a positive one.