I'm with Alan - I would love to own a B James Avocet. One came up on ebay recently, but my wife reminded me in no uncertain terms that money is of object
As for reels, A nice match arial - never bettered.
I longed for an Avocet for years. No idea why, as my battle-weary Wallis Wizard did everything an Avocet would do, but there we are. A few years back, in a more profligate phase, I happened across an early Avocet (circa 1954) at a goodish price. What a disappointment that rod was. It looked lovely, but the action was all wrong. Fished side by side with the old Wizard, the latter was by far the sweeter rod. At least I got my money back on the Avocet!
The truth is, B James rods are not the best around, not by a long way. I still have a MkIV and a MkIV Avon, and whilst the Avon is a lovely lissome stick, the carp rod is a rather dull, lifeless object. I have another MkIV made and signed by a Surrey tackle dealer, which is sublime. I paid just forty quid for it a few years back, when B James rods were fetching three hundred.
If money were no object I'd like a Milwards Craftversa and a 1912 4" Aerial with Bickerdyke line guard.