Tom Anderson vs. LsL vs. Nash vs. Suhr vs. ??

[slang05]

Looking to get an upper end tele here in the next few weeks. I am selling the only guitar I have so I can't special order one. I'm looking to spend $2500ish or less and want to get something that not only holds its value, but holds my attention also! So who is the best guitar maker out there? I would love to find a Crook, but my only shopping options are ebay and driving 3 - 4 hours to a high end guitar shop so my gut will be playing a big part in my decision, and whatever advice I can get here! So what do you guys think? Yes, I did leave Fender of the list, but I would consider a relic'd piece or a custom shop if I could find one for a reasonable price. Thanks!

[mabley123]

i cant speak for how much he charges for guitars but ron kirn can make you a tele probably as good as anyone and better than most.

i dont know if this is true or not...and it is not a bad thing. good thing really.

but i read crook and rs guitar works uses many usa custom guitar bodies and necks and then finishes them up the way they want them. but i am not 100% sure on that. but ive read it in more than a few places.
usa custom guitars makes probably the best or as good as it gets aftermarket necks and bodies.
like i said in the beginning. ron can make as good or better tele than anyone.

[teleamp]

Tom Anderson builds the best playing but they don't sound like a tele

[bugbiteaudio]

I have owned a Nash and it was an excellent playing and sounding guitar. My only complaint was that the relic job is overdone and quite unconvincing. I live very close to California Vintage Guitars and have had the opportunity to play many Lsl guitars and examine them carefully. They sound great, look great and the relic jobs are stellar and subtle. They play wonderfully and all the necks are shaped by hand. You can not go wrong with an Lsl. I have one in my future. Not sure when, but it will happen.

[KhaykinD]

See my signature. I have tried Tom Anderson and Suhr extensively - great guitars, but Kirns are indeed something else as they are just just more "personal" in a way.

[Maxwell Street]

Fender Custom Shop team built can be had for around $2500.00, if you call Wildwood or Music Zoo etc, you can spec it out yourself and they'll give you a quote.

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/produ...goryID=44&n=11

http://www.musicgalleryinc.com/Fende...p/cz518757.htm

[telemystix]

I recently played a K line truxton and was blown away with the neck, feel, tone and general workmanship.

The Don Grosh tele is also a great guitar in this range.

[Telenator]

http://www.suhrguitars.com/proSeries.aspx?series=t1_t2

I can't say enough good things about Suhr guitars. I own 3 of them and this Tele blows away everyone who plays it. They're simply astounded at how good it really is.

The Pro Series retail around $2200

[stonerwitch]

I would go with Danocaster or Kirn, I'm leaning towards Danocaster myself....

[Phelonious Ponk]

I've played Andersons, Suhrs and G&Ls in one sitting and could not feel, hear or see the extra money in the Andersons and Suhrs, personally. Great guitars with subjective differences between them, but all on the same, very high level.

P

[astutzmann]

don't forget to look at a G&L ASAT Classic, USA made, great guitars and will be a lot cheaper!

A used one is even cheaper!

[HOBBSTER01]

Forrest Lee Jr. has $500 off a couple guitars for cyber Monday.
Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1067459712

[teleamp]

I have owned a Fender MB, 3 Nocaster Relics, a Don Grosh, 3 Tom Andersons, a Ron kirn and a ton of lower priced Telecasters... a 1988 '52 Telecaster RI blew all of them away tonally.

[slang05]

Wow! Lot's of great info. Thanks guys for your thoughts. Lots of great stuff to check out!

[Stdon]

My instructor, Bill Harkleroad gets all his from Suhr. That's where my next one will come from.

[El Reclusa]

Originally Posted by Stdon

My instructor, Bill Harkleroad gets all his from Suhr. That's where my next one will come from.

Wow! You get lessons from Zoot Horn Rollo? AWESOME!

[gypsymoth]

can't imagine lessons from him - I'd sit there like a bozo under the sea.
he is a brilliant player.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLdRh7qdi_g

[mabley123]

rs guitar works makes great guitars too and their finishes are second to none.

a friend was going to get a masterbuilt tele from fender but when he told them all of his requirements the price was 7500 dollars. this was 3 years ago.

rs did the same thing for 2500. 50 year old 1 piece swamp ash body, best figure you can get birdseye maple neck, fralin pickups.

for me i would ( bad resale value ) buy usa custom guitars body and neck. ( and if you want roasted maple neck ect. what ever ) they can do most anything within reason including hard to find old wood if available get the pickups i want ect. and then send it to rs guitar works for finishes on neck and body and then i would have them put it together and the have them put a nut on it.

tommy and his main man at usa both are master luithers. tommy was the main guy at warmoth wne the first opened and his #2 guy was the head of the fender custom shop. how can you get any better?

if you have the best body and neck possible its a good start.

ive read crook and rs both use usacg on many things too and they tweak them to whatever the customers wants ie. custom neck shapes and radius'.

[Robert H.]

One thing the responses in this thread show: Evaluating guitars is very subjective and subject to personal taste.
And BTW--I have a Suhr Tele which is my favorite guitar.

[slang05]

I know it's been awhile..but I got a Tom Anderson Short T in Diamond Ring...love it!

http://www.morganmusic.com/Electric%...nshorttdi.html

Truth of the matter is, it's the only high end Tele I could find that was close to where I live. But fortunately it plays and sounds awesome..