Martin Guitars & the use of Ebony going forward

[MaurysMusic]

We (the Martin authorized dealer network) received a bulletin recently, regarding the use of ebony for fingerboards & bridges... as well as some alternative materials. We just added a thorough blog post on our website & we invite you to check it out. Sorry, forum regulations ask that I don't link to it from this section of the AGF.

Basically, the only Nazareth-made Martins to continue with solid, uniformly-dark ebony will be style 41, 42, 45 and some customs/limited editions. All others may exhibit the natural, streaky appearance you've been starting to see.

The Mexico-made SCs, as well as the Shawn Mendes, could end up with streaky ebony, Richlite, Katalox or Granadillo.

Contact us if you have any questions about the fingerboard & bridge on ANY guitar on our website, and remember... we show actual pictures of all in-stock guitars, and they can be found on the IMAGES tab on that product.

Thanks.

[SpruceTop]

I don't mind a fairly uniform lighter marbling of an ebony fingerboard.

[lowrider]

I striping on the fretboard or bridge can be very attractive. I just think Martin should be doing a better job of aligning the variations. Right now it looks like the just cut it up evenly and use it. There was one pic here that was dark with as light blob that looked like and elephant's head.

I think they can do better.

[egordon99]

Glad I stocked up on my Martins already.

[tsmith28]

I realize this is a contrarian opinion, but I would much prefer a nice uniform Richlite fingerboard to a streaky Ebony one. I like dark Ebony, but I find the streaky ones to be pretty hideous.

[BoneDigger]

I actually like some streaking in my ebony boards.

[Guitars44me]

In the bad old days, apparently about 90% of Ebony was left to rot on the forest floor when it displayed streaking.

Fortunately, it works just as well with the variations since there is not that much left in the world.

Richlight has been invented, and is supposed to sound just as good, for those wanting solid black FBs

Play on and thanks for the update!

Paul

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by MaurysMusic

Sorry, forum regulations ask that I don't link to it from this section of the AGF.

Okay, I'll link it .

https://maurysmusic.com/maury_s_blog..._ebony_in_2022

Since it's informative rather than promotional, it's okay.

[birdsong]

I love the streaky look and I'm so glad that much of this is now being used and not left to rot away.

Skunk fur has been used for ages in coats - those white streaks dyed black. I'm sure they'll figure something out for streaked ebony if they have not already.

[jrb715]

I, like some others, prefer the marbled ebony: in fact I strongly prefer it. To my eyes, it's just more interesting and beautiful.

[Wellington]

I prefer streaky, non uniform ebony, I think it's unique. My LL16 is streaky, it's beautiful. At the end of the day though, it's somewhat irrelevant to me. Black, streaky, richlite, rosewood, other woods; it's all fine with me. My main guitar is rosewood fb. I have no issues. I actually think richlite is a good thing.

[Don Lampson]

It appears streaky ebony is what's happening these days, thanks to a large degree from Taylor, in their cause of "greenness"... I guess I'm just a traditionalist, but I prefer a black ebony board, & bridge... But, dye doesn't bother me a bit.... In fact, I even had my rosewood B&B, dyed black with India ink.....

Don

[zoopeda]

Nice of them to let you (vendors) know six months after they started shipping guitars with streaked ebony! 😂

[gmel555]

Thanks for the update. I'm OK with it as well. I am glad they'll keep solid black on the 40 series though as -IMO- with the extra bling inlay on them, they don't need any more going on visually.

[cc132]

I haven't liked every individual example I've seen (just like I don't like every head plate, every set of top wood, or the figure on every back/side set), but overall, I think this is a great move. Wood is an organic material and it's fine to me if it looks that way.