@rajbcpa

Have you got a photo to post. Mark did a demo on this during last weeks live stream about how to cope with a split side. It's not always a disaster.

Ouch - that's not nice!

Even if that was repaired/repairable, I'd always be worried about it being a weak point and prone to splitting again.

So your plan is to reduce the depth of the body and have a slightly thinner bodied guitar?

Are the edges of the side still parallel - ie can you use the undamaged side as a guide when cutting?  

It may be salvageable if you have the split part at the front and top of the guitar  Once the back has been glued on you trim quite a bit off the front section so all may not be lost. As you can see here.

The problem may be clamping the sides to the back on the first place. Hoepefully @markbailey sees the post and can comment further.

Sorry that’s should be front and back of the guitar. Sorry for the confusion.

Good thinking there @deej, that sounds like you’re on the right track to me...

and just out of curiosity @rajbcpa why did you order bent sides when you have a side bending jig?

I don’t know a thing about acoustic guitars but that definitely isn’t good, I feel your pain man. You will find help here though, no problem. Keep the faith. ✊

why did i order a martin kit with pre-bent guitar sides?  ...well, it took 2 months to get the bending machine?   i love this question! 

...the only reason you are asking this is that it would be easier for me to cut off the split pieces; right?

i had to wait 2 months to get the bending machine....   although i am starting the hobby recently, with only 16 guitars under my belt [most solid body electric] i have assembled several acoustic guitars, acoustic bass guitars, and ukez...

i would buy more pre-built body kits since they have nice wood [generally] and have gone together well...  and at equal or less cost than buying the components including non-bent guitar sides in pieces or complete...   

...the broken sides appear to be the top since the "good" bottom pieces are flat...

'

The flat pieces would get glues to the top of the guitar and the back is shaped so it should work?

the split[s] are at the fat [bottom] part of the sides...

...so i can buy new guitar sides...  ..done that before...

a non-guitar retailer supplying walnut wood pieces 6"x48"x1/8" would provide another alternative for the repair [side replacement]... SHOULD I AVOID THESE SELLERS?    

...have this tool below???

@rajbcpa

I just checked one of the acoustic builds I'm doing according the the Martin D28 plans. The bottom block glued onto the sides is 4 3/4 inches high finished size, so if you have this from the good edge to the split you will be ok. You could make the side depth shorter it will just make less air space in the sound box, which will reduce the volume and give more treble than bass response. 

I would not buy new sides from a non guitar supplier as they might not be quarter sawn and may not respond well to bending. I'm shocked that a kit supplier wouldn't take these back. I think mentioned they were from Martin. I follow the Martin owners group on Facebook and the company has been getting bad reviews recently for poor customer service, even apparently refusing to deal with customers outside the US. 

Also sides are usually a bit longer than you need so you might be able to lose the worst damage near the tail end and glue the parts where you can get two ends to match together. Even if you can't get a perfect match some filler is ok with a reinforcing patch on the inside. Interested to read how you get on.

the only reason you are asking this is that it would be easier for me to cut off the split pieces; right?

 @rajbcpa

No, I asked because I was curious why someone with a side bender would order pre bent sides. It wasn’t obvious that you recently ordered the bending jig.

...have this tool below???

I have one. Something you wanted to know about it?

Our dreadnoughts are 120mm at the fattest point so you can easily cut it down to 115mm (5mm made up by top and back) - is that enough to cut the split off?

The Bailey Bootlegger is just 100mm - looks like if they are 6" now then you can get away with it?

I would cut them down on the bandsaw using the edge guide - you could do a temporary fix with super glue just to hold it while you build and then cut it off during the 'Shaping the Back' stage as @Deej said.

Let us know what happens!

🤔 BTW we have always had side benders in stock and ready to ship:

https://guitarmaking.co.uk/product/side-bending-iron-ibex/

Interesting, does it do anything other than keep doors open?😂

Seriously though, what is it?

Darren