8) Before making a purchase I scan the archives to get the best info to help in making my choice. Here is a perfect example: While looking at the Songbird inventory I came across the Sale and clearence section. Japanese Strats regularly $865 cnd for $519 cnd, converted to US$ that makes it $396. I saw this topic about Songbird selling Japanese and shipping Korean. I called the Toronto store and spoke to Skitch . He had what I was looking for ,a 50's style strat, single layer pickgaurd, a fat C shaped tinted neck with vintage tuners and best of all a "Blackie"! Let me say this about Songbird...they are great! Not only is the Goldstar everything Skitch said it was, they did a great job of packing and getting it shipped out quickly. As soon as it was shipped I got an E-mail with a tracking # Blackie arrived last evening and it is a beauty!!And It is Japanese! I restrung and changed the knobs and pick-up covers to a set of Aged plastic and now it looks even better! :lol: The alder body is cut for 3 single coils and the neck is one of the best shaped and a beautiful amber color. I highly recomend Songbird , as well as Mike's Music in Canada, They deliver and I'm one happy customer! :wink: You can buy with confidance! TG 8) * this was an unpaid testemonial, I swear!*