I did a search and can't find any opinions on this topic. I live in a cold climate and am not sure how prone a varnish finish might be to finish checking. Is it more or less prone than other finishes or for that matter is there no difference. I use common sense but I'm not sure if I need to be even more careful due to varnish being a bit more susceptible to dings and scratches. Any thoughts?

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Originally posted by Dreadhead:
I did a search and can't find any opinions on this topic. I live in a cold climate and am not sure how prone a varnish finish might be to finish checking. Is it more or less prone than other finishes or for that matter is there no difference. I use common sense but I'm not sure if I need to be even more careful due to varnish being a bit more susceptible to dings and scratches. Any thoughts?

I'm in Colorado...really cold at least part of the year, really hot at least part of the year. I've owned several lacquer Collings and several varnishes as well. Against ubiquitous advice, I don't treat the kids differently from each other and I've never had any finish checking problems with either...or increased rates of scratches, dings or even the hypothesized imprinting from the case with the varnishes. And my 6yo and 10yo boys are constantly messing with them and playing them. I realize I'm just one anecdotal case, but I think you'll be fine staying the course with your usual protocol.

Dreadhead, the varnish is less prone to checking than thicker lacquor. The thicker the finish the more it can check. That said, the real danger is splitting your top wood.
The important thing is to allow time for the guitar to slowly adjsut to the temp you place it in if there is are big temp. change. 3 to 5 degrees is neglibable. But if you guitar spent the night outside, leave it in the case overnight inside before opening it.

If you left your guitar outside in Colorado this time of year, you're either: a)really drunk; b)really stupid; or c)locked out by your wife;or, d) all of the above. I'm goin' with (d). I lived in the mountains for ten years. You don't leave anything or anyone outside in the winter.

No plans to leave the guitar outside, or get drunk for that matter. Although I may have a couple beers tonight at Dark Star Orchestra. Appreciate the information from everyone. I have been pleasantly surprised from the durability of the varnish. I was concerned that it would take very little to scratch it and I have not found that to be the case. Although I do baby it. The sound of the guitar makes it worth it.