Thank you, Bill - GREAT pix!! I see the brace was installed before it was painted, too...there's paint visible on the sides of the brace.
Interesting that it's not adjustable. if I go that route, I need to get it right the first time. It looks from the photos like in your Gretsch the brace is level with the underside of the body. I can measure my pickups and see how that looks - I have the full floating bridge with the adjustable thumbwheels on the Univox, so maybe everything will just work out.
I'll take a good look this weekend.