[aragorn]

Hmmm. "Scalloped" to me means that it has a profile similar to a suspension bridge when viewed from the long side, that is one or more curves in the mid-section, and then getting shorter towards the ends.

"Tapered" means that the edge glued to the top or back is wider in *cross-section* than the opposite edge closest to the interior of the guitar.

In other words, you could have a brace that is both scalloped and tapered.

A "straight" brace is neither - it is about the same thickness from top to bottom, ignoring rounding, and has no scallops carved out along its length.

Am I completely confused here?

Jim's braces above look "straight" to me. The thickness doesn't vary much, and they're also not scalloped. Great looking work though! My Raimundo uses this type in the classical "fan" layout.

-brian