Rickenbacker 340

[VA Pilot]

I'm looking at buying this 340 online from CA. It looks nice except some checking on the laquer. Its a 2008 guitar. Why would that have happened to a 10 year old guitar and should I not buy it because of this issue? Can it be fixed properly so as not to hurt the value?

$1900

Pics below

Thanks.

[jdogric12]

That's not aging checking, that's temperature stress checking. Someone probably had it shipped in cold weather and failed to let it acclimate properly before opening the box and case. 1900 seems very high even for a mint recent 340 MG. I'd also want to confirm it is a factory 340 and not a 330 with added pickup and changed upper guard. Unless you really want the long term collector value of a factory 340, which isnt much anyway, Id just find a standard 330 (common) and add a middle pickup and change the upper guard. Good luck!

[maxwell]

I’ve always wondered what the effects of temperature stress looked like. Thanks, to both of you.

[jdogric12]

Typically, time-checking is in long lines from one side to the other, all in the same direction. Temperature makes the tiny little cracks. I could be wrong, I'm not an expert on this, just know what I've seen myself.

[VA Pilot]

Thanks for the replies. I’ll just take a pass on this one and get a 340 in good shape!