There are two schools of thought about bass backs: 1) The back should be stiff and thick, so the top does the majority of the vibrating, and the bass will be more powerful; 2) The back should be treated like the top in that it vibrates and resonates freely, and the whole instrument will vibrate and the bass will be more powerful.
Several prominent bass makers carve their backs quite thick, and the tops fairly thin, adhering to school #1 above.
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