Identify this Wood please...and then help me choose

[emoney]

Ok, so I'm almost ready (since I'm running out of reasons to stall) to start my
first build. However, I'm debating about which woods to use first, more on
that later. My first dilemna, is simple; what kind of wood is this? I was told
it was Cherry when I bought it, but the guy didn't sound as if he actually
believed what he was saying. Would you wood guys please take a look and
give me your opinion;

And a shot of the endgrain if that helps;

So, my Rosewood blanks should be here any day and that means, outside
of finishing the resaw on my maple, I need to choose which of these hunks
of wood I'm going to start with. So, I'll give you the options and please steer
me in the right direction. Keeping in mind, this is my FIRST build, so there are
really good odds that much will go awry. Anyway, first let's look at the the
two choices of Mahogany;

Now, we'll move into the top choices. Option #1 is Sycamore, that is going
to have some flame come up, I do believe. This seems to be the Sycamore
that's a lot like Maple;

Option #2 is the "Cherry" (assuming that's what it is) from above;

And lastly, is the figured Maple, that still needs to be resawn;

My initial thought was to use the "plainer" looking Mahogany with the Sycamore
for the top, but the more I look at that top choice, the more I like that wood.
I assumed that I'd save the Maple for the 2nd build, thinking that one will be
much better. Regardless of which I start on, I plan to build 3. I just need
one more blank of Mahogany. Hoping to have two that are actually playable.
Thanks so much for your help, your sharing of the processes, and for your
talent (that I plan to garner as much info from as possible). Special kudos to
Bill (bfcg) as I seem to inundate him with questions and he's always patient
enough to answer them.

 

[LC100]

It's hard to tell with the flash, emoney, but the mystery wood sure looks like walnut. As for the mahogany it's a toss up. They both look fine. Grab one and go!

 

[ievans]

That doesn't look like any cherry I've seen. Plus cherry has closed pores, and that blank doesn't. Maybe walnut. How heavy is it?

And definitely the sycamore top on the already-cut mahogany.

 

[emoney]

It's not heavy at all. If I cut it to the same size as the Sycamore, it would probably be
lighter. Walnut makes more sense, though. It's got kind of a "purple" tint to it, if that
hellps.

 

[Claymore]

Not sure what wood that is e$, but my vote for #1 would be that first chunk of hog and the sycamore - that appears to have some cool lacewood-like figure....

 

[stmfitr636]

That appears to be walnut.

 

[gator payne]

My guess judging by grain and color is Claro walnut. That said I have seen cherry with that brown of heartwood. Not being there to scratch, sniff and feel. It is impossible to say it is not cherry. It has a couple of nasty pitch pockets and quite a few sucker knots. you see that more in cherry than Walnut but really that does not mean anything.

 

[ievans]

The open pores in the endgrain shot indicate, to me, that it's not cherry.