Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

After years of lusting for a Rickenbacker I finally bought a 1996 360-6 MG. I'm like a teenager with a video game. I can't put it down. Now I understand why I have lusted after a Ric for so long.

My question has to do with the finish. The fingerboard has cracks in the finish at the 3rd fret. The cracks follow the outline of the inlay. The finish does not appear to be in any danger of peeling or chipping away. There are no other signs of finish checking on the guitar. Do you think this is a sign of rapid temperature / humidity change or is this from an impact? Is there anything I should do to ensure that the finish remains stable in this area?

It could be a number of things, most of which are nothing to worry about.
A picture would be very helpfull so that some of our more knowledgable
forumites could give a better diagnosis.
From the sound of it, it sounds as if the dissimilar materials have aged and
expanded at different rates, thus causing the seem to crack at the finish.
My '05 360/12 did it on the neck laminate seems, but is not structural at all.