Best non Fender Tele copy ?

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by frogger

Tokai "Breezy Sound"........Pre lawsuit Tele copy that was too good for it's own good.

I bought a used one cheap in the early '90s, and both soundwise and playwise it was as good as my two mid-60s Fender Teles ! (At least as I remember them.)

I haven't tried too many Tele clones, so I can't tell which one is the "best", but the Tokai "Breezy Sound" surely must be the most identical one !

I've heard that the factory that made the Tokai - at least at that time - also made guitars for Fender. I can't verify this, though. (But the person who told me, is a recognized luthier, and should know.)

[tonfarbe]

Over here in Germany, the ROCKINGER Tele kits (these are actually fully assembled guitars minus a factory the setup)
win the "best-bang-for-bucks" pice:

Rockinger



To learn more, click on "Rockinger Guitar Kits" in the left menue.

[Big John]

It somehow 'cheapens' what he does to call it a 'copy' but BY FAR the best guitars i have played of any style come from John at Bravewood guitars in Cornwall UK.
He knows how to make them, and DOES, its as simple as that !

[Fatmanstratman]

I used to own this gorgeous Fenix TC-10. Beautifully made, sounded great, played superbly. Wonderful for bluesey stuff.

Under pressure from "she-who-shall-not-be-named" I reluctantly sold it to make way for my MIM 72 Thinline RI. I wish I'd kept it....

[sleepyeye]

I've been drooling over the GVCG Teles.
I've never even emailed for prices.
I don't think I want to know.

http://www.destroyallguitars.com/pages/gvcg.html









Sorry. I got carried away with the Tele porn.

[The Amazing Phil]

I think the best non-Fender teles you can get are as mentione the ones done by independant luthiers. But it used to be that you could score a good Tokai for not very much, but as people've mentioned because they're as good as more expensive instruments they're also becoming as expensive themselves.

I know the album cover for Texas Flood ahd the Tokai logo on SRV's strat airbrushed to be Fender, the cheek of it eh? It's still "as it was" on posters apparently, odd how the law of the music industry works aint it?

[sleepyeye]

Almost forgot my favorite GVCG Tele.
It's off of his old website. The top photo is my current screensaver.

[popthree]

would a G&L Asat "tribute" fit the catagory? those are pretty fine instruments, with excellent finishing, and american electronics.

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by sleepyeye

Almost forgot my favorite GVCG Tele.

Nice looking guitar, but those KNOTS! Is this a serious player, or built just for show? I would be real worried that once the timber started to dry out over the years, those knots would eventually just fall out.... not to mention the wood splitting....

[harlycarly]

Originally Posted by popthree

would a G&L Asat "tribute" fit the catagory? those are pretty fine instruments, with excellent finishing, and american electronics.

My sentiments exactly.

[Marshall Thinline]

Has anyone tried one of these guitars from GFS?
For $319, they look like a lot of guitar for the money.

[jericho60]

hmmm...how many USD's is 495 euros?!

[Fatmanstratman]

495 Euros would be around $630..... I guess you've been peeking at the Rockinger Tele "Five Minute Kits"?

I looked long and hard at them before I bought my Fender CIJ 62 RI - to be honest, I got such a good deal (INCLUDING shipping) from Bluzey Guitars in Japan, that it was cheaper than buying the Rockinger copy.

Having said that, I hear that these Rockingers are really good guitars. Personally, i just think they are a little overpriced. If they were nearer 495 DOLLARS, they would be a more attractive proposition.

[yerffej]

I am going to go out on a limb and say that jwells' headstock refinish was illegal, no?

[Fatmanstratman]

Originally Posted by yerffej

I am going to go out on a limb and say that jwells' headstock refinish was illegal, no?

Sorry, Jeffrey - you need to READ the posts a little more carefully! Jack made it quite clear that his headstock decal reads "Ferden", and if you look at the pic, it is quite easy to see.

I guess you were thinking that a naughty little 'Fender' decal had been added? Perish the thought!

Who would be so wicked as to carry out such a despicable act?.....ahem....*cough*.....

[Jack Wells]

Thanks FatMan .............. yep .......... it's a Ferden...........from a distance an optical illusion.

.....

[kp8]

Those 80s Fernandez teles & strats were something.

[Pete Galati]

Has anyone tried these newer Korean built Tokai Tele knockoffs?

http://www.jsdguitarshack.com/tokai_tele_style.html

There don't seem to be any USA dealers at the moment from what I can tell, but there are in Canada.

They seem to be trying to get something going in the USA, but I can't seem to find anyone selling them yet.

Pete

[yerffej]

Originally Posted by Fatmanstratman

Sorry, Jeffrey - you need to READ the posts a little more carefully! Jack made it quite clear that his headstock decal reads "Ferden", and if you look at the pic, it is quite easy to see.

I guess you were thinking that a naughty little 'Fender' decal had been added? Perish the thought!

Who would be so wicked as to carry out such a despicable act?.....ahem....*cough*.....

there I go jumping to conclusions again. Cool looking laquer job

[sleepyeye]

Originally Posted by Fatmanstratman

Nice looking guitar, but those KNOTS! Is this a serious player, or built just for show? I would be real worried that once the timber started to dry out over the years, those knots would eventually just fall out.... not to mention the wood splitting....

I wasn't aware that knots in the wood are bad. It's a pine guitar. Would that make a difference? The website with the description for the guitar is now down. I remember they talked up the knots like it's a good thing. In fact, I think they were calling it the Knotty Pine. It's 100 year old wood off an old barn... or maybe it was from an insane asylum. Something like that.

It's not the Tele I would buy. I wouldn't want the Bigsby. It sure is pretty though... especially with the lighting in the above photo.