Herringbone - excerpt by Mike Longworth, taken from "Martin Guitars - A History" (1975)
"Herringbone, the most mentioned word in connection with older Martin guitars. Perhaps it is even more heard than D-45 as it echoes its way through the heart of any self-respecting Bluegrass Festival. Herringbone is the name given to a particular type of wood trim around the edges of the tops on style 28 Martin guitars from way before the turn of the century until the 1940's. Over the years it varied a bit in size, but the pattern remained basically the same. Some style 21 guitars used it around the soundhole and up the center of the back.
First we should dispell a misunderstanding surrounding the use of herringbone material. Many enthusiasts are under the impression that Martin made two series of style 28 guitars at the same time, these being classified as herringbone and non-herringbone. Not true! These strips of wood marquetry were a standard feature around the edge of all style 28 guitars, regardless of size, until it was discontinued in 1946.
Originally all the marquetry used in Martin guitars came from Europe. The Germans were very skillful in designing and making marquetry and inlays of colored woods. They also did excellent pearl work. Changes in Martin designs as related to inlays and trimmings are largely the result of changes in sources.
Marquetry has been made in this country for a good many years, but it was a small industry and suffered from manpower shortages at times. Finally Martin found the quality unsuitable and decided to drop the feature.
By that time, plastics had improved to the point that Martin was using them more and more, and it felt that the black and white purfling lines would be acceptable as a substitute. The only record of the change is a note in the foreman's record stating that all style 28 guitars beginning with #98233, a D-28, would be bound like a C-2 carved-top guitar with black and white purfling. The change was not formally recorded because it was considered a minor alteration at the time."