Hi Lord Puffin, The crack in the control plate is extremely common. If you use a straight guitar jack & step on your chord, that's all it takes to crack the plate. Using a 90 degree plug on the guitar end will remedy this if you replace your plate. That being said, I would replace the plate. Here is a company that makes them.... http://littlebrookengraving.com/testmonials.html . I have never bought anything from them. If you do replace your plate, I made up a few .015 thick spring steel support plates to keep it from happening again. I would send you one if you want. I'm not totally sure about your Bigsby.