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I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but some of these posts about cheap Tele copies sound like they were written by sales reps, trying to "anonymously" push their product. Especially when they provide a route for you to purchase the guitar for yourself.
Does anyone else here feel that way, or am I reading too much into someone's honest to goodness post?
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I couldn't sell heaters to Eskimos, so I find the accusa....er, pardon me....inference that I'm a salesperson quite laughable. :?
Here's why I'm go for cheapies these days:
1) I'm just a guy who's going thru a divorce, and thus can't afford a "real" Tele right now thanks to my lawyer and my ex.
:evil: When I finally can, it'll have to be with all the bits in it I want, so it'll likely be a custom job or a parts-a-caster (gee, even then it's still not a Fender, so am I still gonna get razzed?). FMIC can't deliver the right features I want in a single guitar unless I pony up a few grand at the Custom Shop and wait a year or two...(uh, no thanks)
2 ) I posted the Kramer Classic info you similarly commented on in another post because A) it's a d*mn good price for a clone and B) it got good reviews from other TDPRI-ers who AREN'T locked into brand names, and C) I believe in sharing, and wanted to pass along the deal to like minded folks here who are either in the same shoes as me and/or aren't lemming-like in how they view instruments. They're basically just tools to get the point across, after all...Makita or Craftsman, they make no difference to me so long as I get the hole drilled in the wall and I don't get ripped off or hurt in the process.
3) I myself currently am fortunate enough to still own several guitars, some expensive, others cheap imports, and have had other from all points in between over the years (in fact, my current fave is a $300 guitar that I got from MusicYo - got it on a whim, and it was a complete shock to me how good it was). Having the benefit of this knowledge, I can attest that the quality of many of the imports these days is quite good, so much so I'm not afraid to turn others onto stuff they may not know about or are on the fence to try if their wallet is in a pinch. For instance, the MIM 50's Fender Strats easily rival my "real" USA-made mid-80s '57 reissue. I used to own a Japanese ESP strat that also was as good as the Eric Clapton strat I had at the time, and it cost 1/4 of the price (used vs. new). My first guitar was an Ibanez Les Paul Custom clone that beat the pants off the Gibson versions being made at the time, and sounded/played just as good. If anything irritates me, it's overpriced/underfeatured guitars that ride on their name recognition only...and as you can see, it's been pretty much ingrained in me from my earliest days as a player.
4) I simply enjoy getting a cheapie and revving it up to better something you can get off the shelf. Been doing this since I was 15, and not only is it therapeutic, but also was and still is a lot less expensive than other hobbies (hot rods, golf, etc.)...and of course, still a helluva lot of fun!
Trust me, I appreciate a good "vintage" guitar (my faves are a '64 L series Strat and one of the first ever Custom Esquires), but they're out of the reach of mere mortals like me. The prices and quality on repros these days - Fender or not - is better than ever. Unfortunately, the economy in general for most (not to mention personal situations for others) is not. Otherwise, we all could afford to be "purists".
So now ya know.
-Scotty