[Howard Klepper]

I've moved away from side braces, but there are plusses and minuses.

The wood braces add rigidity which is good for volume since it keeps vibration in the top. They probably do better at stopping a crack because they are more rigid.

OTOH, wood braces can cause cracks, because they run across the grain of the sides and won't allow the sides to expand and contract as much with humidity change. And cloth braces do better at preventing trauma cracks from originating, because they allow the side to deform and spring back when it is hit.

It's important that wood braces be let into the liners to avoid creating a stress riser where they meet the line, and also that they not run all the way from top to back because they will push out on the top and back when the sides shrink from low humidity.