Hey Dustin,
Just saw yer post, I've built two short backed Ipe bows. Both of them were 3/4" wide, one was hickory backed and one was bamboo backed. The most recent was posted as "Alabama Ice Pick"...boo backed Ipe, 55" , 52#@ 27" it's 3/4" tapering to 5/16" tips and is a "D" bending bow. Shoots very fast and smooth. The other bow is 3/4" tapers to 1/2" tips 53" and 60# @ 27" it's hickory backed Ipe, also in a "D" bow configuration....the man I gave it to has killed several deer with it and shoots it regularly and has commented on how "nice" it shoots.
Generally I would post the pics for ya but recently my hard-drive went away and I haven't recovered my photo's as of yet. If ya want to see the photos check out the "Alabama Ice Pick". One other thing is I have a really nice bow that Hillbilly 61 made me, it's real thin, real strong, and real quick.....it's a skinny boo backed Ipe and shoots really smoothly. I believe that he posted the bow as well.
So my experience would be that; keep your hickory thin and build that thing, ya just might like it, eh?
rich