I agree with those giving a thumbs up for Poplar. I have a '95 MIM that sounds GREAT!
TOP LOADER ....don't waste your time and $$ doing this string through deal.
The human ear won't tell a hill of beans differance and those that say different are just trying to impress people into believing they are some sonic wonder of nature !!
String guage, pups, pup height, pot and cap VALUES, AMPS...now your into difference in the SOUND.
Saddles (steel or brass) sometimes you could say there's a little difference but how can you say A is better than B to someone else, it's all a matter of what YOU like anyway.
Oh, I almost forgot, if you don't have a strap yet, try the leather ones, they make those Telecasters' sound AWESOME !
Have fun with the project !
Steve