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rodan
@Regal
So I bought a Strat and returned it, lol.
It was really nice actually, but I quickly realised it wasn't right for me.
So I decided I needed to go try a load of Jazzmasters and see how good all the various grades were, from Squier CV up to AmProII. Turns out I hated all the Mexican ones - I didn't like the pickups on either the Player or the Vintera (even some FSR model with USA pickups in apparently), also really didn't like the look of the pau ferro boards or the feel of the glossy necks. The AmProII is very good, although the rosewood fingerboard was quite dry feeling and the neck was a bit thinner than I'd like (though still very nice to play). But sound-wise it kind of felt a bit too polished to me. Too much of a dad guitar. Loads of very nice tones though, I really like the way they swapped the rhythm circuit for a humbucker setting, plus both settings of the coil tap were very usable. But also: they're like 1700 quid. Maybe one day.
Surprise of the day was the 40th anniversary Squier: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/220118379953025--squier-40th-anniversary-jazzmaster-vintage-edition-satin-seafoa
Weird spec on this one but hear me out. The neck is killer. Better than any other JM I tried except the AmProII (and actually I prefer the deeper carve on the Squier). And even the overall sound and chiminess of the pickups was at least as good as any of them, and definitely I preferred it to all the MX ones. And they're more vintage sounding than the AmPro.
I did not like any of the glossy necked Squiers. Including the 40th version with the gold hardware. There was one with block markers and a laurel board that just looked and felt crap. The only one I did like (apart from the satin 40th) was this '70s walnut blocks & binding one from Andertons: https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/squier/squier-jazzmaster-guitars/squier-fsr-classic-vibe-70s-jazzmaster-electric-guitar-walnut
That felt a lot like the 40th (and similarly has the Mustang style bridge) except with a glossy neck. Couldn't A/B the sound with the 40th as it was at a different shop.
So yeah, I have a weirdly-satin seafoam Squier JM on the way. I think it's going to need a pickguard swap though, gold anodized is maybe too much of a look for me.