What electric guitar - up to £1500

[maturin23]

Hello all.
I've just had a request from my best pal's wife to help choose a guitar for his 40th birthday present.

She's happy to spend up to 1500 quid.

It'll be his first decent guitar - he's a blues/rock/funk fan.
He's currently got one of my early 80s JV Strats on long term loan which he adores so my default plan is to buy a tidy one of those.
Having said that the potential budget goes some way beyond the price of even a perfect JV so am keen to get some suggestions.

I think it needs to be a Strat-type but he's not a badge snob.
I think 2nd hand is fine too.

Any thoughts?

Cheers
Ian

[maturin23]

Thanks guys - some great suggestions.

I do have a good idea what he'd like.

Strat with single coils and a maple fingerboard.
Vintage/second hand rather than brand new.

He has visited Guitar Classics - some lovely instruments there.

I think he'd actually be completely thrilled by a Squier JV or a 90s Standard US but his wife's suggested budget opened up some more options.

I'm still not convinced he needs to be spending quite so much for a first guitar.

[maturin23]

I'm also tempted to agree that this kind of choice is almost too personal to make on someone's behalf however well you know that person.