Hey folks,

I recently managed to get an AC30 for dirt cheap and have since picked up my guitar again. After getting a bit into pedals and finding that I'm getting close to a sound I like, I can't stop being pretty frustrated with my guitar. It's a decent Hiram Bullock Signature Mk 2 by Cort, but unfortunately the HBS-2 has some inferior components, noteably pretty dumb pick-ups, and I also have some issues with the neck etc. I want to keep it for some Blues and modding experiments, but I kind of want to get a new guitar, and something is just calling me to a Jazzmaster.

I just really like that etheral shoegaze sound of e.g. My Bloody Valentine or the dirty mindnumbing sounds of Dinosaur Jr., and I'd really like to go for that sound. I also am thinking about a Tele, but I feel it's a bit too bright for me. So currently I am closing in on Jazzmaster models.

I am willing to spend a bit of money there, but let's face it, I am in no way spending more than $1k (preferrably a lot less). My initial hope was to go for the Squier J Mascis signature of which I've heard good things, but unfortunately it's pretty much sold out at this point, the stores say the next shipment comes in November, and the resale market in Europe for this guitar is straight up dead. I even see many ads online of people looking for this guitar, so in no way would that be feasible at the moment.

So, I instead started focusing on the Fender Classic Player series that has 2 AlNiCo-2 Humbuckers built in. Do you have any experience with these models? Are they good? I also am kind of flirting with the idea of a Player Pure Vintage 3TS, which is a considerable price above the Classic Player series, but it looks amazing and the pick-ups seem to be good (I like Single Coils, and the AC30 is running hot anyway, no need to push it further with loud Humbuckers, I'd feel). I also am entertaining the thought of a Fender 60s Vintera series, but I dunno.

So yeah, do you guys have any experiences with these? Is the J Mascis so good that I should wait till November? What about the other models - any known issues? Are any not suited for the style I want to go? I kind of suspect the Vintera series might lend itself better to actual Jazz than me wearing Sunglasses indoors turning the Fuzz to 11 and trying to get my speaker to sound like a growling bear taking its final breaths. Any help would be appreciated - thanks!