This is a term that is widely used in vintage guitar circles, but it’s meaning may not be immediately obvious. Finish checking, or weather checking as it is also known, refers to the pattern of small cracks, usually comprising a series of parallel lines, but sometimes loosely checkered, that can appear on certain guitars with nitrocellulose finishes. The cracks may be loosely spaced or very tight, and can appear on any part of the guitar.

But what causes the checking? As the two names suggest, these cracks are in the finish (paint) of the guitar and are caused by extreme changes in temperature. Typically a guitar that has got cold and then warmed too quickly: maybe travelling in a cold vehicle, then brought into a warm venue – or flown in an unheated aircraft hold before landing in a warm destination. But this does not mean guitars should not travel, only that they must be allowed to acclimatize gradually.

Finish ‘checking’ may actually be in lines rather than checks Figure 1 checking in a translucent Cherry Gibson SG, Figure 2 in the Candy Apple Red of a Gibson Melody Maker

So how do you prevent finish checking?

Guitars will typically travel in hard cases – this naturally protects the instrument from knocks and breakages, but will also protect from sunlight and temperature swings. If an instrument has spent some time travelling in cold conditions it will ultimately get as cold as it’s surroundings. The problems occur when the guitar is quickly brought indoors – perhaps into a hot club, under hotter stage lights. The rapid change in temperature causing the finish to crack; effectively the wood expands more quickly than the finish. So preventing these changes are as simple as waiting for some time before removing guitars from their hardcases, and allowing expansion to occur slowly.

Figures 3 – 5 – in many guitars the checking resemble a mosaic of irregular shapes

Can it be reversed?

Finish checking can not be reversed, but it can be prevented – see Gibson’s recommended procedure for finish care below. Obviously your guitar could be refinished, however this is expensive (see What is the Cost of the Refinishing a Guitar), but, in our opinion at least, unnecessary; finish checking can be considered as the ‘patina’ of a well loved and well used instrument. The majority of older guitars seem to have some level of checking, especially in countries with a range of climatic conditions. In fact the lack of this checking can be an indicator of a non-original finish!

Gibson describe the problem of finish checking in their owner’s manuals as follows:

Abnormal Winter Exposure

Try to keep your guitar at room temperature. If you can’t or if it gets left in the trunk of a car for many hours or days, you run the risk of damaging the Gibson through finish checking.

1. Bring the instrument into a warm room. If you don’t need it right away just let it warm up safely in it’s own case.

2. Use additional caution when a thoroughly chilled instrument is needed immediately:

A. Open case lid about 1 inch allowing warm air to enter slowly.

B. Open lid 4-6 inches fanning out cold air until no condensation appears.

C. Open case lid fully and lift guitar approximately 1 inch from back of case. This allows warm air to circulate in back of the instrument in small amounts.

D. Work instrument up and down in it’s case to expel all the cold air and admit the warm. If no condensation or haze appears, the instrument is ready to remove from the case. It will still feel cold to the touch, but is past the danger point of causing damage.

E. Leave the case open so it too, can warm up thoroughly.

Follow these instructions and you can’t go too far wrong!

What is the cost of refinishing a guitar