Output jack cover plate fix

scottcald

scottcald

Well-known member
My old Ibanez RG550 from '87 has the rear cover plate for the output jack with one screw that won't stay in.   I chipped away some wood to fit a battery in there ages ago, and over time the one screw's surrounding wood has gone away.  The screw won't stay in now.  What would you guys suggest to fix it?  Picture shows what I'm talking about. 

Thanks.  

Scott

View attachment 12581

 
Unless it's a mint example of an uber-rare '87 RG550, of which I don't think there is such a thing, I'd personally use gaffer's tape to hold the plate on haha.

Seriously, drill out the hole to accept a very small length and glued-in small diameter dowel, then re-drill the dowel and re-screw. You can use cheap dowel material from a Home Depot or Lowe's since it's just holding a plate on and not under any kind of tension or torque or anything. And since the mod will not require any real precision and will be concealed by the plate itself, you can use a hand drill - no drill press needed.

 
Jeff, thanks for the help.  It is a 1987 RG550 in the slate-ish blue with maple fingerboard and white pickguard.  Haven't seen another like it.  Mint?  No.  This sucker has some miles on it.   Trying to get it back in playing form again.  It's been neglected for a while.  

ETA:  I think the color was like Pearl Violet or some name like that. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
The dowel is a good idea.

Other things you could do are:

Mix sawdust and yellow Elmers carpenters glue.

Apply it to both sides of the hole trying getting it completely filled.

Then drill it out for the screw.

Or:

Get several tooth pick, cut them to size and fill the hole partially, then screw the plate back on.

 
HSB0531 said:
The dowel is a good idea.

Other things you could do are:

Mix sawdust and yellow Elmers carpenters glue.

Apply it to both sides of the hole trying getting it completely filled.

Then drill it out for the screw.

Or:

Get several tooth pick, cut them to size and fill the hole partially, then screw the plate back on.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I've been the toothpick route.  Over time, the one side has flaked away, so the toothpicks won't work anymore, sadly.  

 
HSB0531 said:
Yes, yours was more of a grand canyon epic hole to fill.

Dowel was/is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Yeah, definitely.   When I put EMGs in, I chiseled away enough to put a 9 volt in it.  Clearly my 19 year old patience and skill were sorely lacking.  

 
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