I have never used it before but here are some data:
Average Dried Weight: 50 lbs/ft3 (800 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .62, .80
Janka Hardness: 1,490 lbf (6,640 N)
Common Uses: Musical instruments (ukeleles and guitars), turned objects, carvings, and other small specialty wood items.
Relatively soft for a "hardwood". As for thickness of back and sides: Lots of threads on this to research but aim for about 0.080 or more on the back and a bendable ~0.070 on sides.