God. I bought my Stella for $5 back in 1952 With a while painted finish . ended up by putting U-Conn decals on it and a leather boot lace for a neck strap on it for some reason hanging on the end of it was a baby's pacifier I dont rember why tho. You mean you were suposed to change the strings? If I recall if one broke you bought a single string to replace it. One of the broken 1st string was made in to a pick to clean the orfice on my carbide lamp that was used for spelunking. also remember jumping over a stone wall when the bottom of the Stells slamed in to the wall Just a chip of paint gone not even the tuneing changed.We never heard of guitar cases, tho there were some cardboard ones around. Those strings shure put calloses on the thumb. Dont remember any one playing a Kay. THose were expensive and only the rich kids could afford to buy them fron Sears. We would throw the old Stella in the babk of the car, pile the camping equipment on top of it and drive to Virginia to go Spelunking on our Spring break. THose were the days Stella by Starlight.