I chose Mahogany. I have never used Mahogany before but picked up some really nice wood from a former luthier. Well seasoned, dried, and very nice. Today I cut out the back and sides and thinned them down on the drum sander. Ready to get going on #109.
Here it is with the Englemann Spruce sound board and a Honduran Mahogany neck. I may decide on a Spanish Cedar neck as it offers a slightly greater color contrast, or go all the way with an Alaska Cedar neck that would be about the hue of the Soundboard.
Then, of course is the choice of the binding. I have some nice figured white koa from Pacific Rim Tonewoods that I think will set off the Mahogany well. The figure shows faintly here but comes out more distinctly when the finish is applied to it.
the final decision will be the fretboard. The choices range from the darkest ebony to the lightest maple. I will probably choose from these fretboards that I have in the shop. That decision can wait.
With the addition of this veneer brace around the sound hole, the soundboard is finished. The grain of the maple veneer goes counter to the grain of the spruce top. Just a precaution against a split at the sound hole.
