Backstrip or No?

[Marley]

For luthiers, orderers and anybody else...

How do you decided when to use a backstrip and when to simply let the bookmatched wood join on their own?

[cpabolting]

Depends on the wood to me. On my last Olson I wanted it to be no backstrip but on my earlier one I separated it.

[WaddyT]

Depends on the wood and the look you want out of the instrument. Converging grains usually don't need one, nor do backs with a high degree of matched figure. Sometimes even straight grain doesn't need it if there is something to catch the eye.

[jeastman]

I'll agree it depends on the wood for me. If it's got a bit of figure or some sapwood in there that's enough for me without a backstrip. But a nice line of the binding down the middle of a more solid colored back is a nice little bit of flair.

[Brackett Instruments]

I'm really fickle on stuff like that. It suits me when the client has specific preferences, or can decide from pictures.

[fitness1]

I love the look of either a matching (to body binding) backstrip, or even better.....abalone. I love the way Mr Millard does the Froggy's with the ab.

[buddiesorg]

For the most part, I prefer no backstrip ... I also prefer a simpler look with few distractions.

[K III]

You should take a look at one of Hnuuhiwa's Stehr builds. He does a partial back strip, which is a great take on it.