Well it is definitely not just gold tops b/c mine has the same thing going on. I also had considered the possibility that it was just pressure from the pots being screwed too tight, because the checking I first noticed was by the pots. However, I have noticed the checking between my pickups and selector switch is just as bad. There is one noticeable difference: the checking by the pots can be seen on the TOP of the finish AND within it (it can only be seen when light hits it at the right angle), whereas the checking by the pickup can only be seen UNDER the finish (at the right angle). It once occurred to me that maybe the compressed air I use to blow the dust off the guitar created enough of a temperature change to do this to the lacquer. The air does get extremely cold, but I figured that a few short bursts of air would not cause enough of a change to affect the finish. Like I said, I don't really care, but this would be an interesting problem to solve.