Finish Cracks In Neck Pocket

Skully · October 19th, 2005, 03:41 PM

I just pulled my CIJ Pink Paisley out of the closet for the first time in about two months and noticed that were two identical finish cracks running about a half an inch out from the inside corners of the neck pocket on either side. I can't imagine what could've caused it, because it hasn't been out of the case, the case hasn't been moved, etc. Could changes in the weather have caused this?

Mark Davis · October 19th, 2005, 04:06 PM

Usually caused by over torque on the neck screws but you didnt touch it so thats the only resonably explaination.

Do you live in an area with extreme temp changes?

Skully · October 19th, 2005, 04:10 PM

Not really. I live in Los Angeles. It gets very hot during the summer, but not particularly humid.

I wonder if I should find the appropriate color fingernail polish and fill in the cracks.

RichardL · October 19th, 2005, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skully

I just pulled my CIJ Pink Paisley out of the closet for the first time in about two months and noticed that were two identical finish cracks running about a half an inch out from the inside corners of the neck pocket on either side. I can't imagine what could've caused it, because it hasn't been out of the case, the case hasn't been moved, etc. Could changes in the weather have caused this?

Same thing happend to my 1998 CIJ '52 in the first month or two I had it. Nothing has changed in the 7 years since then.

slack · October 19th, 2005, 06:18 PM

Very common place for finish cracks. Most older poly Teles, such as from the 70s, have deep checks there. It's also a place where Tele bodies crack. It's simply an area that is stressed due to the neck attachment.

Skully · October 19th, 2005, 06:39 PM

That's what I want to hear. But, you know the story... The guitar was pristine and now... I have a MIJ Blue Flower that has several chunks missing from the finish. The cracks in the Paisley are only noticeable if you look very closely.

0le FUZZY · October 19th, 2005, 06:52 PM

If yer cracks are onlee these kind its purdy standard in our California cornditions.

If its li kiss won ri cheer yew may haff sum wood cracked dew tew makin them screws tew tite.(Where yew at Ian?)

In either kase there ain't tew much tew worry about.

Iffin it starts doin iss ri cheer yew gotta git it all off HEE! HEE!

0le FUZZY

Mark Davis · October 19th, 2005, 09:40 PM

Im in Bakersfield same basic weather conditions as LA and I have never had any cracks appear in any of my Teles or Strats.

0le FUZZY · October 19th, 2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Im in Bakersfield

0le sweet thang lika jumped outta the PT Cruiser whence we passed them flower gardens that go for miles there North West of yew on hi-way 46 betwixt the cotton fields !

That waz a beautiful site.

Yew are lucky tew knott haff yer 70s TELECASTERs knott crack or craze. Yew muss haff good air cornditionin and humugidity control.

0le FUZZY

Oh BTW, I ain't never owned a car that dent hurt my back, legs er dairy-air after 10 anna haff hours drivin. The PT waz un-beleeb-bable.

Skully · October 19th, 2005, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Im in Bakersfield same basic weather conditions as LA and I have never had any cracks appear in any of my Teles or Strats.

Maybe the gods figure it was bad enough having to live in Bakersfield, you didn't need cracks in your teles, too.

My first L.A. roommate was from Bakersfield. Other people from your neck of the woods (or arid desert) would marvel at his accent and tell him, "I'm from Bakersfield, too, and I don't talk like an Okie." He went on to play Bill Black in the short-lived "Elvis" TV series and now he has a semi-regular as a bartender on "General Hospital."

slack · October 19th, 2005, 11:07 PM

Bakersfield has a marine influenced Mediterranean climate? 8)

fndtele24 · October 20th, 2005, 05:03 PM

Those cracks are normal. They usually happen on guitars with aftermarket necks. What happens is the neck which is one type of wood and the body another type of wood react to humidity changes differently. the neck may swell up in the pocket causing the cracks. Nothing to worry about unless the crack gets bigger.

TG · October 20th, 2005, 06:58 PM

If it makes you feel any better, I noticed the same cracks on Steve Vai's JEM while watching the 'Live At The Astoria' DVD.

October 19th, 2005, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Skully Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glamorous NoHo Posts: 3,989	Finish Cracks In Neck Pocket I just pulled my CIJ Pink Paisley out of the closet for the first time in about two months and noticed that were two identical finish cracks running about a half an inch out from the inside corners of the neck pocket on either side. I can't imagine what could've caused it, because it hasn't been out of the case, the case hasn't been moved, etc. Could changes in the weather have caused this?

October 19th, 2005, 04:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	Usually caused by over torque on the neck screws but you didnt touch it so thats the only resonably explaination. Do you live in an area with extreme temp changes? __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

October 19th, 2005, 09:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	Im in Bakersfield same basic weather conditions as LA and I have never had any cracks appear in any of my Teles or Strats. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

October 19th, 2005, 04:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Skully Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glamorous NoHo Posts: 3,989	Not really. I live in Los Angeles. It gets very hot during the summer, but not particularly humid. I wonder if I should find the appropriate color fingernail polish and fill in the cracks.

October 19th, 2005, 06:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
slack Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,929	Very common place for finish cracks. Most older poly Teles, such as from the 70s, have deep checks there. It's also a place where Tele bodies crack. It's simply an area that is stressed due to the neck attachment.

October 19th, 2005, 06:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Skully Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glamorous NoHo Posts: 3,989	That's what I want to hear. But, you know the story... The guitar was pristine and now... I have a MIJ Blue Flower that has several chunks missing from the finish. The cracks in the Paisley are only noticeable if you look very closely.

October 19th, 2005, 06:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	If yer cracks are onlee these kind its purdy standard in our California cornditions. If its li kiss won ri cheer yew may haff sum wood cracked dew tew makin them screws tew tite.(Where yew at Ian?) In either kase there ain't tew much tew worry about. Iffin it starts doin iss ri cheer yew gotta git it all off HEE! HEE! 0le FUZZY

October 19th, 2005, 11:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
slack Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,929	Bakersfield has a marine influenced Mediterranean climate? 8)

October 20th, 2005, 05:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
fndtele24 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Haven, CT Age: 27 Posts: 163 4 Photos	Those cracks are normal. They usually happen on guitars with aftermarket necks. What happens is the neck which is one type of wood and the body another type of wood react to humidity changes differently. the neck may swell up in the pocket causing the cracks. Nothing to worry about unless the crack gets bigger.

October 20th, 2005, 06:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 47 Posts: 4,504 7 Photos	If it makes you feel any better, I noticed the same cracks on Steve Vai's JEM while watching the 'Live At The Astoria' DVD.