You can also create more backbone by cutting the hairs lower too.

What was so great about the old two banders was they had great backbone but also had soft tips which I think is the perfect combo.

Usually you get one or the other. You can get a pure badger with backbone in spades but is so scratchy, well its scratchy or a Silvertip that is like a marshmallow but is way floppy in use.

The best way to think about backbone is take the dry brush and push down on it (the hair side of course) with your hand and see how much resistance there is. I guess you could use some instrument and get a numerical value.