How does finish checking happen?

A crack in a guitar or bass’s finish. Checking can result when the temperature changes. As the temperature increases or decreases, the instrument’s wooden body and neck expand or contract at a different rate than its finish, causing the finish to crack. See also “checking.”

How do you do a nitro test?

Simply put the guitar’s body in the freezer overnight, let it thaw out and repeat the process until you see checking lines beginning to develop. Sometimes, it happens straightaway, and sometimes several cycles may be required, but the results can often be excellent.

Should I check my guitar?

You can always check your guitar as a baggage item, but this also puts your instrument at extra risk of damage and theft. Acoustic Guitar Magazine writer Kristina Rose suggests musicians check their guitars in baggage only if they are prepared to lose them.

Why do guitar finishes crack?

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.

Can Poly crack?

Poly finish is extremely durable and will not crack or wear out with regular use. However, accidentally dropping it or applying a strong enough force can definitely crack a guitar with poly finish.

How much does it cost to check in a guitar?

American/Delta/United Domestic checked baggage fees: $30 for first checked bag, $40 for the second, $150 for the third. With air travel, there are fees associated with everything. For traveling musicians who check guitars, there will be extra costs for each and every flight.

Is checking a guitar safe?

Will painting a guitar affect the sound?

For an acoustic or hollow-body guitar the paint impacts tone more than it does on a solid body electric because the wood tops on these guitars are a lot thinner—roughly 1/10-inch thick as opposed to a 2-inch thick solid body.

How do I know what nitro finish I have?

Find a hidden area like the control cavity and rub a small spot with a Q-Tip dipped in acetone. If the finish dissolves then it is nitrocellulose, if it doesn’t it’s likely a urethane, polyurethane, or polyester finish..

Will a poly finish check?

I’ve seen PLENTY of 70’s era THICK poly check too. It can , and does happen to poly finishes. Being poly doens’t make it immune to checking, and if you think that, you are kidding yourself. It’s less fragile than nitro, but it isn’t exactly bullet proof.

Is it safe to check a guitar?

In 2003, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the American Federation of Musicians reached an agreement allowing airlines to treat guitars not only as checked baggage but also as carry-on items.