This is horrible. I can't believe this happened. Can I get it fixed? How much would it cost? (it's from an RG350)

that picture is so zoomed in i cant tell what part of the instrument that is!

Is it the trem claw plate? if it is you can fill in the wood and get your screws back in. Rich harris at Ibanezrules regularly posts on jemsite and should be able to advised accordingly...in fact i am sure if you do a search on jemsite you'll find you are not the first to ahve this happen....don't hit the the ejector button just yet :D

Yeah it's the trem claw screw. I was playing and i heard a click, then all the strings went out of tune. At first I laughed and thought that one of the strings slipped somewhere. I was about to put on a new set of strings (they were old anyway), when I saw this.

So how sturdy is this wood filler? What's it made of? Do you think a local guitar shop could fix it for me? Don't worry, I won't "eject" it :P

I don't think I would use filler, too much chance that it would happen again. I would drill out the holes and then fill them with glue, then fill the holes with maple dowels. then re-drill the holes. If you took it in to a luthier I would assume that is how he would repair it. A very easy fix actually.

I'd fill the hole with wood filler (most decent brands say [and it's true] that the filler is stronger than the wood itself). While the filler's still wet put some matchsticks (remove the igniter part!) in. When it's dry trim with a sharp knife and sand to level.

Good luck, let us know how you get on!

Longer screws?

Ouch. Im sure you could give your right arm some exercise in another area for the time being .... :)

Agreed. That's the way I'd so it as well :)

wood filler is stronger ...drilling out for a dowel could make problems alot worse....fil and let dry for 2 days.....then drill guide hole (1/8") before screwing...a little candle wax on the tip for ease into the filler...i make my own filler with saw dust and elmers glue....elmers make a great filler

Not if you do the job correctly. Any part of the guitar where there is going to be a lot of force or pressure (trem claw screws, neck screws, or bridge studs) should be drilled and dowled. Doing anything else is just putting on a band-aid, and will have to be repaired again sometime down the road. Ask any good luthier, or post over at project guitar and they will tell you the same thing.

i agree...but ive experience very dry wood that will split so personally i would be worried of that....it the wood filler didnt work...then dowling can be done but if doweling has issues..your in trouble....both ways sound fine..good luck

good luthier?...well they all think their good..lol

Sounds like a good idea Axe,,

Nasty looking problem you got thee though :(

how new is the guitar cos if its new and that happened you should take it back rather than fix it.

Good point Axe, especially if you are not an experienced woodworker. The location of the two trem claw claw screws could also cause a problem because you would have to insert the dowel almost parallel to the surface of the wood, which could cause cracking if you are not careful.

One thing that that many at the Project Guitar Forum recommend over wood filler on a lot of repairs is using auto body filler (often referred to as Bondo) it is much stronger and does not shrink like most wood fillers do. If you do decide to go the filler rout I would take the screws to a hardware store and see if you can find screws that are just a bit wider and longer.

As for luthiers all thinking they are good, too true! I'm not a luthier, but I have built a few guitars (some body's from scratch, assembly, and lots or repairs and mods) and I have a few of delusions of grandure about my abilities :D Though I do have enough of a grasp on reality to realize that unless you have the ability to build a neck from scratch you are not a luthier!!

so right Tschommer, though looking closer at the photo, i suspect the issue is being caused by dried out wood. A larger screw would end up an even bigger hole so i personally would be filling that hole with wood filler....id clean the hole out a little to be sure on no air gaps...then pack it in there....worse case scenario has dowlings to back it up

Thanks for all of your input... not that I was able to use it

I was out of town for the weekend and my dad put in some glue and toothpicks before I got back. I suppose that's fine. Unfortunately he didn't get any new screws so they're still short. I'll try to find some this week I guess. Anyway, today I drilled new holes, put the screws back in and restrung the guitar. I've been pulling those springs as far as they go (with the trem) to see if it would break again. So far it's fine, but I haven't actually played the guitar yet. I have a feeling that it will break again so I'm not getting my hopes up... we'll see