Irish cherry. While I was in a sawmill in Tipperary I was offered some Irish grown cherry. The boards were from a tree that was bigger than any I had seen in this country and were wide enough for me to be able to cut quartersawn sets of backs and sides from them. This is the first guitar I used this wood for and, as it was the first and an experiment, I used timber that was less than perfect in that there were small knots and imperfections visible. I need not have worried. The result not only looked good but it sounded wonderful - an excellent tonewood. The cherry has a beautiful range of colours from red through gold to green. I used a 12 fret joint with a slotted headstock and Rio rosewood for the fingerboard, bridge and binding. Close grained sapele laminated with flamed maple is the neck wood and the top is very white engelman spruce. I think this is the first ever guitar made from Irish cherry and it works really well and so I intend to make more. Sound and looks are on a par with any exotic. I have enough of this rare wood to make probably another 6 guitars and I will be very surprised if I can replace my stock although I will keep looking for more. return to Acoustics