cjd-player
Senior Member
Yes, unfortunately Nitrocellulous lacquer can check by just being exposed to cold temperature. The lacquer shrinks more than the wood, so it has to crack. That's why Frank Ford calls them "Cold Checks". I'm sure he has seen his fair share of them.
As an aside, that's why it makes no sense to me that companies like Guild and Gibson stay with Nitro lacquer.
Modern finishes are so far superior in durability and resistance to checking.
I did a quick search on the Acoustic Guitar Forum because I remembered some threads there about finishes. According to several folks on the forum, these companies have all gone away from Nitro lacquer:
Taylor, Larrivee, Goodall, Huss & Dalton, Bourgeois, Collins, Martin on many except the "traditional" models, and too many independent luthiers, such as James Olson and Rick Turner, to mention. It seems that only Gibson and Guild are holding on to Nitro exclusively.
I won't buy the argument that a Nitro finish sounds better 'cause so many independent luthiers who make guitars costing upwards of 5 grand have gone away from nitro. It's an old, obsolete finish material.
As an aside, that's why it makes no sense to me that companies like Guild and Gibson stay with Nitro lacquer.
Modern finishes are so far superior in durability and resistance to checking.
I did a quick search on the Acoustic Guitar Forum because I remembered some threads there about finishes. According to several folks on the forum, these companies have all gone away from Nitro lacquer:
Taylor, Larrivee, Goodall, Huss & Dalton, Bourgeois, Collins, Martin on many except the "traditional" models, and too many independent luthiers, such as James Olson and Rick Turner, to mention. It seems that only Gibson and Guild are holding on to Nitro exclusively.
I won't buy the argument that a Nitro finish sounds better 'cause so many independent luthiers who make guitars costing upwards of 5 grand have gone away from nitro. It's an old, obsolete finish material.