Grooveadelic....

I spent over an hour talking with a luthier in New Mexico a couple of weeks ago, part of the time discussing neck finishes. His take on the Warmoth condition for their neck guarantee is simply that they are located in Washington state where it is extremely humid, therefore there is a risk that their necks could be relatively damp, and a hard finish (i.e. nitrocellulose lacquer, etc.) will keep the neck more stable in the short run.

He finishes everything with tung oil, or something comparable. He insists that it's OK since it is so dry where he is, and assembling the neck/guitar in a dry climate and moving to more humid conditions is OK. On the other hand, he also said that going from humid to dry can be a real problem, especially for necks and fingerboards. It all made some sense to me FWIW.

I do not know if this is true, but it sure is wet in Washington. Of course, this would might affect ALL companies manufacturing necks in that lovely climate.

Chip