[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Tom S

Poplar is relatively easy to work, usually moderate to light weight, and is often more suitable for paint than clear finish.

That's all you need to know about poplar. Since you are not building a body, it's all inconsequential.

Any questions about tone are unanswerable, due to the fact that no one knows what poplar "sounds like," and even if they did, no one could tell you with any degree of certainty whatsoever what your guitar will sound like once it's finished, relative to another tele of the same or different body wood. It will probably sound more like a telecaster than say, a tuba, though.

I thought my work here was done.

Welcome back Tom!

As you can see we still need you here ...