I posted a few months back about how my P-bass's lacquer checked, but then I was able to just wipe off the cracks.
Nobody believed me. Here's the proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQvLFkX6dM4
I put my bass out in the garage last night to try to "enhance" the aging effect, and was pleasantly surprised this morning to see some really small areas of really cool looking lacquer checking.
Funny part: it wipes right off with just finger pressure!! Fender's thin-skin lacquer heals itself!!