I'm building a vihuela de mano, and the traditional wood used for several parts (e.g., the neck, bridge, ...) is European Pear. I'm trying to build using local woods (maple and walnut for the body), and was wondering if there's a local wood with similar properties to pear. The Wood Database says that it's used in Europe much as Black Cherry is used in the USA, i.e. as a high quality domestic hardwood. But when I read the specs, they don't seem to have very much in common at all - pear is nearly double the Janka hardness, is denser, etc.
Is there a domestic wood that would be good to substitute for pear?
Thanks!