Okay, fellas, weigh in.
This thing is pretty close to cherry. One or two little dings, and that it.
There is, however a nasty hump in the neck at the heel/12th fret, just at the fretboard extension, so thats a drag.
I just took one of my old surface-mount DeArmonds and made myself a wiring harness.
Now... to drill... or not to drill...