There are a lot of options when it comes to stringers. If you can think it, it most likely can be done. The stringer is the wood strip down the center of a surfboard — and often there's more than one. Multi-stringer combos, different woods glued together, highlighted colored foam strips, colored glue lines from where the blank was cut and re-joined — all of these turn the stringer from a structural requirement into a serious design element.
This guide walks through every stringer type we offer, in the order we'd suggest considering them: statement options first (the unique ones), then classic single stringers, then shortboard-specific, then the industry-default 3/8" basswood last. A good side exercise while you read: browse Instagram and Pinterest at brands like Almond, Bing, Album, Woodin, Tyler, and Chris Christenson for inspiration.
Default on every Lundquist longboard: 1/2" dark-wood single stringer. Included in the base price, along with 1/2" basswood or 1/2" cedar at no upcharge. You can downgrade to 3/8" basswood if you want the traditional look, but the 1/2" tier is included because the aesthetic jump is that much bigger for no cost difference.
Big Wedge Stringer
Not shown in most catalogs, but one of Blake's favorite moves. A single stringer that's 0" or 1/8" at the nose and tail and swells out to ~1" in the middle of the board. Reads as a huge wooden wedge down the centerline. Almost nothing else on the water looks like it — when a board is designed to stand out, this is the move.
+$100 for this configuration. Pick your wood species (dark-wood, cedar, basswood, balsa) — the geometry is what makes it special.
T-Band (Multi-Wood Glue-Up)
A T-band is a three-piece stringer: two outer pieces of one wood type sandwiching a narrower or thicker middle piece of a contrasting wood. The middle piece is always a different species from the outside pieces, and the customer picks whether the middle piece is much narrower or much thicker than the outside pieces — that choice defines the whole look.
T-band pricing by total stringer width:
- 3/4" total (e.g. cedar + dark-wood + cedar glue-up totaling 3/4") — +$75
- 1" total (e.g. basswood + balsa + basswood totaling 1") — +$100
Each board is truly one-of-a-kind with a T-band. You pick the wood species, the middle piece's profile (narrow or thick), and the combination that works best under whatever resin tint or clear finish you're going with.
Double Stringer
Two stringers spaced across the middle of the board. Default spacing is 1 1/8" apart — the exact width of a standard single fin box — so the box drops neatly between the two stringers for extra structural integration.
Spacing options:
- 1 1/8" default — fin box centers between stringers, stringers sit in foam. The standard clean look.
- Closer together — the fin box gets routed into the wood itself, which is even stronger mechanically and has a tighter visual.
- Custom off-center — both stringers can shift off the centerline in the customizer. Good for asymmetric designs or artistic placement.
Thickness pricing (double stringer, per side):
- 1/4" each — included, default look
- 3/8" each — +$50
- 1/2" each — +$100
Single Stringer Wedge
A single stringer that tapers along the length of the board — thicker on one end than the other. Different from the Big Wedge (which swells in the middle) — this one is heavier at either the nose or the tail and thinner at the opposite end. Affects the board's flex pattern as well as the look.
Pick your wood species and which end is heavier. Same base pricing as a 1/2" single; +$50 for the wedge profile.
1/2" Single Stringer — Included in the Base Price
Any 1/2" wood option is included at no upcharge on Lundquist longboards. Pick your favorite:
- 1/2" Dark-Wood — dyed basswood, near-black, Lundquist default
- 1/2" Cedar — warm brown, classic log look
- 1/2" Basswood — light golden tan, standard reliable look
The 1/2" tier is the sweet spot. Thicker than the industry standard 3/8", beautiful grain, no upcharge.
Shortboard Stringers — 1/8" Ply Black or Brown
Performance-focused boards default to 1/8" ply black or 1/8" ply brown — black-dyed or brown-dyed natural 3-ply wood. Thin, clean, disappears visually under a resin tint. The stringer shouldn't fight the shape for attention on a performance board.
Step-ups default to two 1/8" ply stringers glued together for the extra strength needed in heavier surf.
3/16"–1/4" Dark-Wood (Shortboards & Twins)
When you want the stringer to read a bit more on a shortboard or twin without going full longboard thickness, a 3/16" to 1/4" dark-wood stringer is the middle-ground option. Heavier than ply black, subtler than a 1/2" single. Works especially well under transparent or 50/50 tints where a thin black ply would disappear but a full cedar stringer would feel out of place on the shape.
Balsa Wood — Premium Statement Stringer
Balsa is light, beautiful, and looks phenomenal under a transparent tint. Not always available depending on supply, but when it is, it's one of the best-looking stringers on earth.
- 1" Balsa — +$75
- 2" Balsa — +$150
Thick Dark-Wood
For a statement stringer on a log where you want the weight and the aesthetic of a full wood plank running down the center, we go thicker than 1/2" dark-wood. Heavier than a standard single, noticeably more visual presence under any tint. Great on glide-focused longboards where the weight is a feature, not a bug.
Pricing is quoted per-build based on thickness.
Wide Double Stringer
Two stringers spaced wider than the 1 1/8" default — often framing a fin box, a logo, or just opening up the centerline foam for a different visual. Same thickness options as the standard double stringer.
Double Stringer Wedge
Two stringers that taper along the length of the board. Closer together at the nose and further apart at the tail, or vice versa — fully customizable. Visually distinctive, affects flex.
Same thickness pricing as the standard double stringer, plus +$25 for the wedge layout.
Triple Stringer
Three parallel stringers. Typically one on the centerline with two outboard stringers spaced for structural and visual balance. Heavy, strong, beautiful — a move for big longboards and statement builds.
Pricing quoted per-build based on wood species and thickness.
Colored Foam Strips
Colored foam strips add personality without adding wood. They can sit alongside a single stringer or flank a double stringer for cool color combos. Any color and thickness of foam can be used.
Starting at +$40 for the first strip in the smallest size. Honest note: airspraying color lines usually looks cleaner and often costs the same or less — if you're going this route, it's worth asking about airspray alternatives before committing.
Glue Lines
Glue lines are intentional contrasting lines created by the glue between pieces of wood — subtle or bold depending on what you want. The smallest aesthetic touch in this list and one of the most refined. Often combined with a T-band or double-stringer layup.
3/8" Basswood — The Industry Standard (Listed Last on Purpose)
I list the 3/8" basswood at the bottom because it's the industry standard and the least interesting option. It's the cheapest wood stringer, it's strong, it's reliable, and a lot of shapers default to it because it just works. If that's what you want, we'll build it. But if you're paying for a custom Lundquist board, there are much more unique options above — I'd rather you scroll through the full list before defaulting to plain.
Blake's Take
Stringers are the intersection of function and art. The choice shows up in every photo, every session, every morning you walk into your garage.
For most surfers, a 1/2" dark-wood single stringer (the default) or a multi-wood T-band strikes the best balance between beauty and affordability. For statement builds or wall hangers, the Big Wedge, wide balsa, or triple stringer is the move. For performance-focused shortboards, 1/8" ply black keeps it clean.
Pick something that makes you smile when you look at your board.