Top repair on a budget

[Dave Martin]

I'm not sure this is the place for a question like this, but here goes...

I was just shown a mid-sixties Roth bass with a carved top and plywood back and sides that has seen better days; it appears to have at least three good sized splits in the top including one on or very near the bass bar. The kid who owns it is wondering if it's worth repairing, and I didn't have an answer for him since I've never had to have that sort of thing done. The owner is apparently a carpenter - I was able to explain to him that the tools he uses to frame houses would NOT be good to use on a musical instrument.

The goal would be to make the bass playable, not new. Would one of you gentlemen be willing to even venture a guess as to what would be involved? I can get pictures, probably on Tuesday, if that would help....