Top, sides and back should be well book-matched during assembly. This is not only to provide aesthetic symmetry but also helps ensure that all stresses are evenly distributed. Look at where the sides meet the heel of the neck, and notice how well the grain on the sides line up with one another. While this is mostly an aesthetic quality, it is indicative of the level of attention to detail you can expect from the builder. The fingerboard and bridge should be a fine grade of ebony.
Many manufacturers use rosewood and nato as the wood of choice for fingerboards.
These woods are inferior to ebony because they are softer and, with use, will tend to rut out under the strings of most frequently played frets. The wood of choice for necks is mahogany. Some other woods, such as cherry and maple, work very well for necks. Several varieties of woods will work well for bracing. Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, and Appalachian Spruce are three excellent varieties, depending upon the desired sound.