Not sure what happened to my earlier response but it seems not to have taken.

I know of no restrictions to the import of the Thomann product to Canada. Might be just market interest type thing right now.

The Coral Sea sounds like a wonderful place to live, I am on the East Coast on the Atlantic. It aint so nice!

Re GIbson and Fender, yup, the market determines price and these makes seem to have a demand for the branding. I would like to have either name on a head stock but not right now. Maybe some day.

That Pacifica is a black beauty! I have a Pacifica in Seafoam and also a Yamaha BB series bass. Pretty hard to beat them for the price. Both have been on stage with my son's band and the kids don't have a problem with the name on the headstock. The kids live in Epi and Squire land like most kids and actually if a young person shows up at a gig with a name brand it kind of looks out of place. But there is a turning point, seems when the musicians get past the teen years they are more aware of the headstock. And that's cool with me, whatever puts gas in tank.