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Many vintage guitars (especially archtops) have those tell-tale signs of lacquer checking. The cracking of the surface lacquer does not appear to damage the tone or playability of guitars, but just reminds me of a 100 year old's facial skin. (No offense to any centenarians on the forum)
Why does this occur? Is it avoidable? Will it happen to all lacquer finishes eventually? Is it reversible? If so, does it require a refinish?
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06-07-2020 06:12 PM
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Hey Git,
For many, that's a "desired" look with nitro finishes, and some builders even do that on purpose (sort of like "relic-ing," and with certain heating techniques, I believe) before sending the new guitar out! From what I've read, it's certainly nothing to worry about, and not a reason to refinish (unless you simply don't like that look).
Marc
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It's typically caused by rapid temperature changes. Can't be reversed, can be prevented by always leaving the guitar in its case after bringing it in from the cold until it gradually warms up. This isn't often practical when gigging, so it's best not to leave it in the cold if possible. Also commonly happens when a guitar has been shipped in cold weather and not allowed to acclimatize before unpacking.
Danny W.
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Everything Danny W. said, I just would add that some lacquer formulations are much more likely to check. Some eras of Gibsons seem particularly prone to checking. New York built Epiphones in my experience often show no checking at all. It also seems like the thicker the lacquer, the more likely it is to check.
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yes, nitro checking is all about temp and humidity changes...as temps change it changes water content in wood and finish, so finish cracks appear...and if severe enough, even wood cracks!
keep your cases humidified...and apply some quality polish (non silicon-no wax) to your guitars regularly
checking can be masked a bit, by some automobile tech style rubbing out and re-glazing....just be careful what chemicals are involved... on your wood guitar!
cheersLast edited by neatomic; 06-07-2020 at 09:08 PM. Reason: typo-
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Yes, move to a warmer climate or, if in a colder area don't arrive for a gig or session late and let it warm up in the case before opening to the warm air.
Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
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I appreciate the interesting and informative incites.
Some lacquer checking looks cool on vintage guitars, but when its on virtually every part of the instrument, I assume it has been abused. That may not be the case but that's my gut feeling and I steer clear.
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Nothing wrong with a bit of lacquer checking.
Last edited by Hammertone; 06-08-2020 at 06:11 PM.
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I still hate it though part of the aging process like wrinkles on us. I can live with a little but not the feel of a severely checked neck. Originally Posted by Hammertone
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There are luthiers who purposely use low-plasticity lacquer. They believe that checking tends to free different parts of the top to move differently, so it facilitates tone production.
Phrased otherwise, those people believe that having one homogenous blob of finish all across the top hinders tone production.
As always there are great-sounding examples in each camp to support each side of the argument.
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That might explain why certain builder's guitars tend to be more or less prone to checking. Originally Posted by Sam Sherry
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My Gibson has miraculously not checked at all. I accidentally left the backpack I carry it in partially open after a rehearsal a couple of winters ago, and because I was dressed for the weather and we finished early (12), decided to walk 40-60 minutes uptown and taking a metro from there, instead of taking one from downtown. It was around -5 to -10 that day, so how that didn't mess up my stuff is beyond me. Maybe the 15-minute metro ride acted as an intermediate temperature stage before coming home to my superheated flat.
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Hard to believe without proof. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
You win the internet today. Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
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Wood expands and contracts with weather and humidity. Finishes with no or low amounts of plasticizers don't, so when the wood expands something's gotta give. The more elastic a finish is, the less likely it is to check.
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OK Hammer here is one
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Another factor is the stress applied to the lacquer. The heel of the neck is one spot.
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Clearly you are remiss in not sending it back to Campellone for a complete refinish. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
OK Hammer here is one
I think you need to get rid of it before it gets more checking.
I'd be glad to take it off your hands at a suitable discount, ha!Last edited by Hammertone; 06-09-2020 at 03:30 AM.
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I used to run from checking like it was the plague. Now I fully accept it as a natural element in the life of some guitars.
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It is all yours when I am dead. I may be downsizing Gibson's though. Originally Posted by Hammertone
Last edited by vinnyv1k; 06-09-2020 at 08:13 PM.
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One advantage of acrylic lacquer is that it generally does not do this and does not turn yellow. Bill Barker started using acrylic on his instruments by about the early 1980's. This is not a bad thing at all he did not put on coats and coats of paint like we see in many guitars done in acrylic. That said both of the guitar makers that learn to make guitar from him, Billy Cook and Bill Hollenbeck used nitro. Barker just like the way the acrylic buff and as far as I can tell it did not do anything negative to the sound. His later guitars in my opinion were some of his best sounding guitars.
I personally use nitro and the reason is that it simply is the standard and has the ability to be sprayed over and repaired easy. The positive of acrylic is the binding does not yellow and it does not check as such or certainly not like nitro. I believe Hollenbeck maintained the guitar was more open with nirto and the guitar was better sounding. I don't know because my 1965 Barker is nitro and the later one is acrylic. They both sound great the acrylic is warm and responsive but of course the finish is not thick like the usual imports and looks so much better. I might add the binding looks great all pure white around no yellowing and it stands out nice.
I don't mind a bit of checking and if it is uniform over the guitar it is ok. The problem is the checking and then if the guitars starts getting scratches and dents.....well it is getting old an used right.
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my Trenier Excel has some "stretch marks" I find them somehow comforting...
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@ Deacon Mark.... What is your opinion on the Stew Mac water based stuff. I know Matt Cushman uses it and suspect so does Steve Holst as my new Holst had no new nitro smell to it. No smell at all. My new Campellone you can get a little buzz sniffing it. Total new car nitro smell. The bad thing about checks is I like to use polish on my guitars. You can't with checks or the polish will turn them white. Use nothing and just wipe eventually dirt gets in and they turn black. I am ok as long as the neck is smooth. If I feel dings or checks on a neck that drives me crazy. I always say my son came from the post man. His guitars have repaired headstocks all dented and checked and he could care less. Actually I need to be more like him......can't do it.
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Unmodified nitrocellulose is brittle. It has no flexibility, bad scratch, mar, and impact resistance, and is prone to "blushing" under high humidity conditions, or if the tail solvent is incompatible during the drying stage. Dry nitrocellulose also has zero odor. Any odor from an NC lacquer comes from solvent or modifiers. The nickname for NC is "cotton" because cotton is structurally very similar. It is nitric acid exposed cellulose, and in its alcohol wet state, looks and feels similar to cotton. When it is dissolved in compatible solvents and forms a dried film, it goes clear.
Last edited by zigzag; 06-15-2020 at 05:39 PM.
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Thank you Mark for the magic juice
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