So let's say you were Fender...

[Stereordinary]

Imagine yourself as the embodiment of the decision-making board at Fender and you've finally decided "It's time to do a little something for those offset fans."  What would it be?  You can choose two from my list above, or suggest your own idea, and maybe one of our friendly mods can add it to the list. 

[DB]

No question - the XII.  You have plenty of options for aftermarket Jag & JM, but nothing for the XII.  Just to get the basics would be great.  I couldn't wait though - I got an XII.

Maybe Fender should let the Japan operation make the decisions.  They came up with the Jag bass, Jag baritone (I own both of these), Jag HH, Jag HH Bari, matching headstocks, etc.  The Japanese stuff is well made, and if they upgraded the components they'd be great.  But it's pretty easy for us to swap out parts.

DB

[djetz]

Maybe Fender should let the Japan operation make the decisions.

That's been suggested before. And a very good suggestion it is. Fender USA is very conservative, the Japanese have imagination.

But it isn't too hard to just buy the Fender Japan stuff online. Not a perfect solution, but better than nothing.

[Laika]

No question - the XII. 

+1 

The Japanese stuff is well made, and if they upgraded the components they'd be great.  But it's pretty easy for us to swap out parts.

I'd love a XII .. CIJ over a AVRI, keep the cost down and as you say we can swap out parts later if you really want to.

[Ian]

Ugh... I couldn't narrow it down to two. 1, 2, 3 and 5 are all so tempting.

[Jay]

Starcaster and more JM options that aren't on cheapo models.  I'd love to see a Jazzblaster (and what an opportunity for endorsement) and with he Starcaster being a hollowbody, I think it would provide something different in the lineup.  I think if I were jut concerned with $$ Highway One would be the way to go.

[Daysleeper]

Fender XII in BlacK with red Tortoise Pickguard!

And how about and affordable well made Bass VI. And not the Jaguar baritone...a reissue of the real deal. Around the $800-$1000 range would be acceptable for me.

[quandar]

The Starcaster would  be on the top of the list for me.... hopefully that comes with accurate wide-range pickups.

[Gesekki]

The Bass VI, or at least some kind of baritone would be my choice. Being a guitar and bass player, and having never played a hybrid (if that's a fairly accurate term to use), I'd be interested in the musical possibilities of such an instrument...and, let's face it, if you're going to buy something unusual, it might as well look cool.

[Tweez]

All of the above ideally, but probably the Starcaster, then there would be more chance of getting proper Wide Ranges.

[Superfuzz]

2 and 5 for me..

[TheodorJ]

All of the above.

[mynameisjonas]

i'd add a '58 jazzmaster, '65 jazz and jag (dots+binding), '67 jazz and jag (blocks+binding) to the AV series and make correct WRHP reissues.

i would also put some effort into making good looking tort guards, and make the beveled edges on all pickguards vintage-correct (flatter angle = wider edges). and i would bring the old way of doing sunbursts into the AV series as well, and not limit it to just CS instruments.

[fenderjeff]

highway jazz & jags, but also Squier : just imagine a jagmaster with the jazz tremolo, the jazz or jag pickups, but no rythm circuit (in a way to stay low budget)

maple necks would be great too

[Stereordinary]

I didn't put "Re-issuing the Bass VI" on the list because of the recent CS released version.  I figured I'd narrow things down a little to some stuff that hasn't been done at all yet.  Though making blocks or dots & binding available at least from the Custom Shop should probably be up there.