the Chinese counterfeits are not even close to the quality of American made.

So save your reviews for this Chinese junk

I agree on the Chinese Les that have Gibson on headstock junk mystery wood. But the epiphone coming out Asia are decent for starter guitar long tenon real maple cap

But I also think the LP (USA) has done downhill in recent years - mostly due to mismanagement by Gibson.
Heritage is the "real" traditional LP

I have a USA Jazzmaster and a Squier Deluxe Jazzmaster that I swapped out pickups and electronics - compares pretty well.

I like SD pickups but there are a few other places that offer custom design and winding - all USA stuff etc:

https://www.planettone.com/shop/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293066436589?ul_noapp=true
https://brandonwoundpickups.com/shop/

I was looking at planet tone voodo set for 110$ thinking mexi Strat we have

have not had any problems with it and the pickups are fine.To hear it, one could not tell the difference between the Strat American and the one made in Mexico

I'm somewhere between tentatively and aggressively in the market for a Strat.

Had my eye on the American Special, Sonic Blue with Rosewood, but there isn't one local for me to try out before I buy.

So I've been haunting the guitar shops, looking for something that grabs me.

But so far, I don't see a lot of difference between the M's and the A's.

Granted mine has a "real' Strat neck. But the body and pickups are Mexican. Its indistinguishable from a US made "real' version