Cherry

A warm-toned hardwood of the genus Prunus, familiar in furniture and used on guitars at the smaller end of the market.

American black cherry grows widely in the eastern United States and works beautifully by hand, planing and turning without tear-out. It darkens markedly with light and time, moving from pale pink to deep reddish brown, so a finished instrument keeps changing for a year or two. It is commonly described as being in the mahogany family but drier and clearer, with a smooth top end and a modest bottom, and makers often pair it with a spruce top for that reason. It is softer than the rosewoods and easily marked, and it is not especially stiff, so it is rarely chosen for a neck.

Example: A small acoustic with cherry back and sides sounds warm and dry rather than lush, and its colour deepens noticeably over the first winter.

typical use: Acoustic backs and sides, occasional tops, and a few solid bodies.

Cherry

See also