What causes neck pocket stress cracks?

[FenderBob]

What causes neck pocket stress cracks in finishes?  Could the cracks be caused by extreme temperature fluctuations...Or is another factor more likely?

PS - The guitar is a MIJ floral (blue flower) Telecaster.  Finish is Poly

Thanks in Advance.
-Mark

[Infliktor]

I had that happen on my Masterbuilt Jag.  The pocket itself didnt crack.  The finish did and pulled away from the wood.  They re refinished it.  They said something went wrong during the paint/finish process.

?

Mine was a very thin poly finish

[sookwinder]

the neck pocket area (where it usually cracks) has high stress levels and this IS the place that cracks will occur.

If the finish is a "sticky" nitro finish like my CS strat, then nothing happens as the paint seems toi be able to stretch with the changes in stress/movement. But if the finish is stiff nitro or poly then there is a good chance that if cracking will occur ... it will occur.  I have cracks on my 1988 AmStd tele  (which is poly) and one of my 73 strats  (which is what ever they used in 73)

[RumorsOFsurF]

My MIM standard Tele has a pretty big crack, but I've had the neck on and off for traveling, and stuffed the body in a suitcase.  I wasn't as gentle with it as when I'm adjusting a trussrod on my other guitars.

I guess that didn't answer your question, though. 

[FenderBob]

the neck pocket area (where it usually cracks) has high stress levels and this IS the place that cracks will occur.

So do you think extreme temp. flucturations aren't as relevant to the cracks occuring?

[spacecadet]

the neck pocket area (where it usually cracks) has high stress levels and this IS the place that cracks will occur.

So do you think extreme temp. flucturations aren't as relevant to the cracks occuring?

I think it's probably more likely humidity levels.

I don't have any cracks on my JM, but I have a couple little areas on the neck right at the edge of the poly finish where the finish has pulled away from the wood a little bit.  Poly finishes don't seem to have much give to them so as the wood expands and contracts in different humidity, it seems like the finish will not react well.

I would try to regulate your humidity levels and at least make sure any humidity changes don't happen too fast.

[Owen]

I think over tightening of the screws in the neck plate could be a factor too...

First stage of relicing...