Using Maple Butcher Block Under a Turntable

I use a 19.5" x 16.25" x 3.5" maple block on cork/rubber in a SolidSteel WS-5 wall shelf (have also use sorbothane disks under the block). My Clearaudio Ovation sits on top of that. However, when I had it made I had it done as an edge grain. Now I am talking to Butcher Block Acoustics about making me a custom end-grain 3" maple block in the same size.
I am also planning to audition a set of HRS Nimbus feet to see if it improves the system further.

Anyone have thoughts on using maple vs cherry vs walnut for a butcher block base? Maple is harder than the other two (Janka scale for maple 1450, walnut 1010, cherry 950). Cherry would match my system the best. I guess my real question is how important is the relative hardness of maple, or does one just begin to arrive at dimishing returns for a certain hardness? I'm going to put a 40 lb. unsprung TT on it.

I’m inclined to go with maple. It will be more rigid and better for isolation, which is what it’s for. I can always refinish it if I want to.

I ended up ordering mine from Bucther Block Acoustics in maple this weekend. I am getting the end-grain version in a custom size (19.5 x 16.25 x 3) to fit my SolidSteel WS-5 wall shelf as direct replacement for the MDF board it comes with. They say it should be about 6 weeks for production. They were going to quote one in cherry to match my furniture, but I’m changing the latter next year anyway, when I get a Naim Fraim, which I will do with either black or ash shelves.

I got my butcher block from Butcher Block Acoustics the other day. It took about 6 weeks because I had mine done at a custom size to fit my Solidsteel WS-5 wall shelf. It came with cork/rubber pads for feet, which I am using to support the block on the shelf. For the turntable I have changed out the spikes on the feet for a set of isoAcoustics Gaia III feet (normally used for speakers, and I have the Gaia II on my Dyn C2s). It looks and works great. I am going to try out some HRS Nimbus pucks instead of the provided cork/rubber feet to see if that makes a difference.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4864/45893515952_dc0f5bece2_c.jpg

As for hardness, I have the Butcher Block Acoustics end-grain 3" Maple block, and they rate it 1450 on the Janka scale. I am using it under a ~40 lb Clearaudio Ovation (with 2350 gr of clamp and outer limit ring).

I'm now using the isoAcoustics Delos, instead of the ButcherBlock Acoustics I had before. It's more expensive, since it has four of their iso-pucks embedded as feet, but I'm happier with it and I'm now able to use my turntable on my equipment racks instead of dedicating a wall shelf for it. 

LOL. I'm not sure I would hear the difference between an air and kiln dried wood base, but I do know my system is resolving enough that I heard I heard a pretty big difference between a HRS ADH 850 gr record stainless clamp (which has a rubber compound base) and the new Monarch Systems Ultra Carbon 1000 gr clamp (that is all stainless and carbon fiber). I was skeptical at first it would make much difference, but surprised how better the latter is (so I bought it).