Figured Cherry Back and Sides (Dreadnought/Jumbo)_

Physical properties

General: Black Cherry is widely considered the equal of mahogany in the USA. It is stiff ,strong and easy to work with a high natural heartwood resistance to rot.

Appearance: The heartwood varies from a red-brown to light red with flecks and gun pockets being common.It can display curly figure and is UV sensitive- changing to a reddish-brown mahogany tone. It has a rich and satin like luster.

Working: Black Cherry has a fine grain and a strong likeness to mahogany- it is sometimes referred to as New England Mahogany.

Values. The Janka of Black Cherry is approximately 950 and the specific gravity is 0.55.


As a tonewood...

It is used for back an sides for guitars, where it compares favourably to the true rosewoods.

Think of cherry as in the 'maple' class of tonewoods; maybe a bit less 'dry' sounding. Most cherry is very close in density and hardness to soft maple, but some of it can be very hard. Cherry has a wonderful aroma as it wafts around the shop as it is being worked. It will burn easily so you have to pay attention when thickness sanding or machining it with high speed cutting tools.

To the ear, the tone is both clean and articulate leaning toward maple with more sustain and clarity. Its not overly bright just crisp. It pairs well with warmer sounding soundboards like Sitka, Engelmann or Cedar. Its a highly under appreciated tone-wood!

I would broadly characterise the tone of Cherry as falling between Maple and Mahogany- it has more distinct bass and more midrange than Maple but has better clarity and balance than Honduran.