Guest Bill,

I'd go for it!

I had a similar experience while clambering over a rubbish dump in London (I don't make a habit of this folks! Just had a "feeling" that day!). Lo and behold, an all mahogany guitar abandoned, intact but for a humungous split, crushing and loss of wood partially around one side and a little on the lower corner of the top.

With a little investment in time and materials it wasn't too difficult, and a very satisfying, job to do a fairly serviceable repair. When it was finished, the "abandoned guitar" was a good player and I sold it sometime later for a fair price!

I'd say go ahead. There are several of us here with instrument-making and repair experience and I, for one, would be happy to guide you through each step as you reach it. Can't say whether you would need to remove the top without further information. I've done a few where that was necessary and several where it was possible to do a good repair without. Either way, it's a feasible and interesting project!

Best of luck

mooman