I've had my American Standard for about 3 years. It was purchased new. Just noticed a tiny hairline crack on each side of the pocket where the neck meets the body. Very small, extremely thin. I don't know how long it's been there.

I'm a little inexperienced with this stuff. From what I've read 9 out of 10 people say it's common and nothing to worry about. Just in the paint. And pretty much unavoidable. Is this true? And will it get worse?

Out of curiosity, what can be done to fix it? The guitar has a lot of sentimental value. I honestly don't want to go and replace the body.

The post reads "neck crack", but you really have a hairline by the neck pocket on the body?

Nothing to worry about, except loosen those screws. If your body is compressing enough to crack the paint, it's also enough to warp your neck plate.

Take all the tension out of the strings, so they flop, or remove them completely. Take a screwdriver and loosen them. Softly tighten them until they stop. Do not force or add any additional pressure. You should be good. All you need is to take up the slack so that the neck is resting against the body (or shim) and has no play. It does not need to be tighter.

As for fixing it? It's only cosmetic.

That's correct. It's on the body. Not actually in the neck.

Thanks for the response. I don't know much about setting up a guitar. I had it done once professionally by a great guy in the area. It's possible he went too tight. That was a year ago. I think I may go back to him and let him adjust.

Cracks in the body will appear do to more factors then just connection points.
the body will expand and contract dependent upon local ( to you ) climate, how long if at all that you allow your guitar to acclimate in it's case when brought in from a cold into a warm environment or vice versa....

I really would not get too upset about cracks and dings and just general wear on the guitar.. they are after all instruments meant to be handled and played and sometimes little bumps and whatever will happen..

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Cracks like this in the finish, close to the neck pocket are common on may of the MIM guitars, especially the polyester finishes as opposed to the polyurethane finishes. Nothing to worry about, and the wood isn't cracked, just the finish. The small cracks closest to the neck just happen regardless of how tight the neck screws are. The larger crack can happen from just tightening the neck screws, although I would point out that the screws are not too tight, it's that the finish is susceptible to cracking.

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Thanks guys. Very helpful. I do have a couple minor dings throughout and I do think it adds some character. I'd like to think as I'm learning and playing over the years it will turn into a great old vintage guitar (and hopefully well played!). Just wasn't sure if it was a structural concern or if there's something I should do to prevent it from getting worse.

BTW, the crack I'm experiencing is like the smaller one in your picture on the curve of the body where the neck meets. Basically same size and location. It's on both sides of the guitar. Is the bigger crack you have a result of the neck tightness or could the smaller cracks come from that?

As previously stated, those cracks are from over tightening the neck screws. The body finish is being squeezed between the neck plate and the neck. The body wood is more pliable (allows more give) than the finish.

They can be caused in other ways as well.

A friend of mine accidentally backed his car over his guitar (in a hard shell case) which caused the same stress cracks at the neck heel on his guitar.

Man, that could give me nightmares.

Again you don't have to replace the body, surface cracks ( finish/paint ) do not affect the wood in any way.
You will get more cracks as time goes on due to wood contracting and expanding at very different rates than the finish.
The two small cracks you are concerned about have nothing to do with structural integrity.

Stop worrying and spend time playing the guitar....That is what it's about....

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Will do. Thanks for the peace of mind.

That's most likely from a tight fitting neck pocket and normal expansion/contraction of the wood. It's just superficial.

Cracks can still appear if your screws are too lose, but most of the time you see cracks by neck pockets and often see neck plates that are warping. If your neck plate is warping, your screws are definitely too tight.

RRR, how does someone accidentally back a car over their guitar?

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~Dan

I'm an excellent driver, yeah, excellent driver.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

I gigged a '68 Strat for many years with hairline cracks
and authentic relic'ing. They give it *mojo* tone.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!