Walnut, Juglans California, is a beautiful wood and is a pleasure to work with. It cuts and planes like a dream. I've often thought that working with walnut feels like scooping ice cream. Often used for fine furniture walnut is also quite commonly used as a musical instrument wood. With a finish on it walnut turns a deep chocolate brown. The grain can be wild with good contrast as with Claro Walnut or it can be more subdued as with the board in this photograph.
Here in California Walnut is fairly plentiful and is still reasonably priced. I do not charge an additional cost for building from walnut.
Bookmatched walnut on the back of a Grand Concert dulcimer and a bookbatched piece of walnut ready to become a dulcimer back.