FRETS.COM Illustrated Glossary


A special kind of purfling
Pearl Border
© Frank Ford, 9/11/98 Photos by FF


The "pearl border" decoration has been most associated with the deluxe model Martin guitars for the last hundred years. Most of the time, this inlay purfling is made from abalone shell, and set off by black/white/black lines either of wood or plastic:



Pearl bordering may extend around any or all edges on the instrument:


Pearl bordering like this is a thin delicate inlay and has no effect on the tonal response of an instrument.






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