If it was glued with hide glue the front should crack off with some careful tapping with a thinned out spatula. Once you get a little opening up around the edges, it should work. You want to span the center seam glue joint with the spatula when you finally get to that area and the rest is loose. Slow going is the ticket. Never use heat around center seams. The tailblock should be tapered to kerfing width.
I can't begin to tell you how many folks don't do the taper on the tail block and what a difference it makes. No telegraphing from a wide block with bad humidity care. I was toying with the idea of doing the same on the dovetail block at the bottom before I quit.
A big question is "Is the neck on yet?" Might make it a little easier. The Idea of using an ocillating tool with a very thinned out blade is a good idea too.
