question about back graduations

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Both Kens gave excellent information above. To stir the pot a little: there are makers who believe that the back table should be as stiff as possible and not vibrate, therefore allowing the top to vibrate more. Then there are makers who believe the back should behave as a secondary soundboard and vibrate like crazy. Whether you rework a back table's thickness (and by how much) will depend on which camp you are in. I've seen back thicknesses (round-backs) of 6mm all the way to 14mm.

14mm? Did we both see that Bass?

Anyway.. Of the Basses I have owned, those with harder maple backs seem to project more volume providing they were properly thicknessed within. Those with softer backs seem to put out a softer tone, less penetrating in the mids. The only softer maple Backs I have seen recently are those of Italian Oppio, a local wood of north Italy used often on Italian basses and Cellos. I currently have two Oppio Backed basses and although both loud and deep, they do not 'throw' out the sound as well as some other basses with harder maple regarsdless of them being round or flatback.