Pearloid

Pearloid is a plastic that is intended to resemble mother of pearl. It is commonly used in making musical instruments, especially for pickguards, electric guitar inlays, and accordions.^[1]

Pearloid inlays in the neck of a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar

Production

Pearloid is produced by swirling together chunks of celluloid in a solvent, then curing, which gives it a mother of pearl effect.^[2] It is sliced and bonded to or inlaid in other materials, such as the wood of guitar necks.^[2]

Use

Pearloid is used in any context where genuine mother of pearl or abalone might be used, as it is much cheaper. Gibson uses it as a substitute for the mother of pearl inlays in the fretboards on most of its guitars.^[3] Various colored versions are often used on items intended to have a retro appearance.^[4]

See also

• Cultured pearl
• Imitation pearl