[EricS]

I used cherry and it was just a "pinch" on the dark side. Not by much, but in bright light, the repaired spots are just a tiny bit darker than the surrounding areas. I originally picked up some cherry and some walnut, figuring I'd start with the lighter cherry and see how how well it matched. If it was too light, I thought I'd mix it with walnut and see what it looked like then. If still too light, I'd just use straight walnut.

I think this will work well for you after you get you veneer neatly patched.