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Doug 54 · January 1st, 2009, 06:59 PM

Private builders for the uber ones:

Kirn, Anderson, Suhr, Rice, Crook, Grosh, TYler--- etc.

Cheap ones:

ya' just have to play em'!!
Use your ear and eyes on theses!! I have a $110 Chinese T copy that is FANTASTIC!!
It gave me the chance to do my first fret level/polish and I sanded headstock did wipe-on Minwax, put better tuners on. PUPS ARE GREAT!!!!!

Wild Rice Chris · January 1st, 2009, 10:31 PM

That's the trick for sure! I've come across some cheapies that were killer (with some setup, fretwork, and rewiring to my standards). Then there are the ones that aren't worth the effort...

gman_67tele · January 1st, 2009, 10:39 PM

Nash guitars are built to look aged. A friend of mine has a Nash Strat copy and it is amazing.

www.nashguitars.com

XKnight · January 1st, 2009, 11:08 PM

The Squier Classic Vibes have been getting a lot of praise lately. For $300 they're worth a try.

johnnieboy2 · March 21st, 2009, 10:09 AM

Best Tele style guitar I've ever handled, heard and played, but maybe I'm prejudiced!

Tomkins Diamondtin II

One piece Aussie Red Cedar with thin Nitro Cherry Burst
Custom designed Nordstrand pickups
Gotoh vintage bridge
Gotoh vintage staggered tuners
Birdseye maple neck
Mother of Pearl inlays on ebony board

Muddslide · March 21st, 2009, 10:23 AM

I have played some good Tursers. My SX Tele is great. Under $125 shipped to my door. Every SX I've owned or played has been real good as a matter of fact.

kinkstah · March 21st, 2009, 05:01 PM

Tokai "BreezySound" -although I see mentioned elsewhere in this thread that the quality of those models seems not to be on par with what it once was.

rawker · July 13th, 2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gman_67tele

Nash guitars are built to look aged. A friend of mine has a Nash Strat copy and it is amazing.

www.nashguitars.com

ive had very good experiences with Nash guitars....in my opinian they sound better than standard fender teles

Mur · July 13th, 2009, 02:47 PM

I'd look-up Fred Stuart for a non-Fender. Or Alan Hamel, but seems he's not around.

Bruce Bennett · August 15th, 2009, 11:25 AM

Apparently My guitars more than fit the OPs question.

I offer in proof.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bennett-Custom-E...d=p3286.c0.m14

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bennett-Custom-E...d=p3286.c0.m14

of course the sad part here is I lost quite a bit.. but two very lucky folks ended up with two super guitars.

Keep your eyes peeled on ebay as i have about a doz more that I'm putting up over the next two months.

blueshawk1 · August 15th, 2009, 01:49 PM

Thee best copy I've found is my Agile. In fact, during a recent thinning out, I very easily chose to sell my Fender MIM and keep this one;

BigMike · August 15th, 2009, 02:12 PM

I don't consider my Chandler Schecter a copy. It is a beauty and has a one peice maple body with brass bridge and scratch plate and gold plated tuners. It has its original Schecter neck pickup and a Seymour Duncan bridge pick up that was added some 20 years ago. It sounds and plays wonderful...............

PJ · August 15th, 2009, 02:50 PM

For the $299 I paid for a CV, I can't imagine a copy being a better Tele. Maybe less $, but the CVs are pretty darn nice Teles, for the Escoudos.

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gremboul · September 13th, 2009, 12:15 PM

Jay Turser Vintage Series...great vibe.

VerySlowHand · September 13th, 2009, 01:10 PM

Maybe I'm just a sad old traditionalist, but I think most of the copy headstocks look horrible. 'Correct' headstock shape is the single thing that would influence which one I went for.

At the budget end the Squier CV would get my vote by a mile.

glebe digital · September 13th, 2009, 01:19 PM

2nd hand Vesters are pretty amazing for the money, look out for ones with a baseball-bat-V neck.....incredible tone.

bossaholic · September 13th, 2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky6string

I sure like my Fernandes. It's become my favorite guitar. I would imagine that the upper end copies might be a bit better, but I'm very satisfied with this little guy.

My first Tele was the Fernandez TE-1, a early 50's copy. It is a GREAT guitar and I still love it! I modified it a bit by replacing the cheap chromed plastic knobs, but everything is top quality.

gremboul · September 14th, 2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VerySlowHand

Maybe I'm just a sad old traditionalist, but I think most of the copy headstocks look horrible. 'Correct' headstock shape is the single thing that would influence which one I went for.

At the budget end the Squier CV would get my vote by a mile.

What about G&L headstock?

Tonetele · September 14th, 2009, 01:01 AM

Profile Tele's , especially the one's with Vintage on the headstock;those and Greco,early Ibanez, early Tokais ( as used by Keef) and Fernandez were ALL made in the Fuji- Genkakki factory- the people who made the great 70's and 80's Fender Japan guitars. They were all the same hence the "Lawsuit" era. CBS just hated their factory building these guitars and being badged under different names. If you've got one of any of the above-keep it IMHO.They're all essentially Fender Japan. Cheers, Tonetele.

Joeyzazza · December 30th, 2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug 54

Private builders for the uber ones:

Kirn, Anderson, Suhr, Rice, Crook, Grosh, TYler--- etc.

!!!!!

Add Foley to that list.

Here's my Foley Tele

January 1st, 2009, 06:59 PM	#81 (permalink)
Doug 54 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,807	Private builders for the uber ones: Kirn, Anderson, Suhr, Rice, Crook, Grosh, TYler--- etc. Cheap ones: ya' just have to play em'!! Use your ear and eyes on theses!! I have a $110 Chinese T copy that is FANTASTIC!! It gave me the chance to do my first fret level/polish and I sanded headstock did wipe-on Minwax, put better tuners on. PUPS ARE GREAT!!!!! __________________ . KENNY POWERS for Precedent !!

January 1st, 2009, 10:31 PM	#82 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 3,492 20 Photos	That's the trick for sure! I've come across some cheapies that were killer (with some setup, fretwork, and rewiring to my standards). Then there are the ones that aren't worth the effort... __________________ Hello, My Name Is Chris Rice "The children need to learn how to build their own environment and make their own music that is inspired by their roots."--Eugene Hütz

January 1st, 2009, 10:39 PM	#83 (permalink)
gman_67tele TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto - Beaches Posts: 20	Nash guitars Nash guitars are built to look aged. A friend of mine has a Nash Strat copy and it is amazing. www.nashguitars.com

March 21st, 2009, 10:09 AM	#85 (permalink)
johnnieboy2 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 12	I 'second' the Tomkins Teles! Best Tele style guitar I've ever handled, heard and played, but maybe I'm prejudiced! Tomkins Diamondtin II One piece Aussie Red Cedar with thin Nitro Cherry Burst Custom designed Nordstrand pickups Gotoh vintage bridge Gotoh vintage staggered tuners Birdseye maple neck Mother of Pearl inlays on ebony board

July 13th, 2009, 02:47 PM	#89 (permalink)
Mur Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,389	I'd look-up Fred Stuart for a non-Fender. Or Alan Hamel, but seems he's not around. __________________ ' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhO0yU8Z-I0

Sponsored Ads	#
Forum Sponsor Sponsored posting Join Date: March, 2003 Location: Forum HQ Posts: N/A

January 1st, 2009, 11:08 PM	#84 (permalink)
XKnight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 1,660	The Squier Classic Vibes have been getting a lot of praise lately. For $300 they're worth a try.

March 21st, 2009, 10:23 AM	#86 (permalink)
Muddslide Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Gypsy Caravan Posts: 1,717	I have played some good Tursers. My SX Tele is great. Under $125 shipped to my door. Every SX I've owned or played has been real good as a matter of fact.

March 21st, 2009, 05:01 PM	#87 (permalink)
kinkstah Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brittany Age: 42 Posts: 712	Tokai "BreezySound" -although I see mentioned elsewhere in this thread that the quality of those models seems not to be on par with what it once was.

August 15th, 2009, 11:25 AM	#90 (permalink)
Bruce Bennett Banned TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: chattanooga TN Posts: 68	Apparently My guitars more than fit the OPs question. I offer in proof. http://cgi.ebay.com/Bennett-Custom-E...d=p3286.c0.m14 and http://cgi.ebay.com/Bennett-Custom-E...d=p3286.c0.m14 of course the sad part here is I lost quite a bit.. but two very lucky folks ended up with two super guitars. Keep your eyes peeled on ebay as i have about a doz more that I'm putting up over the next two months.

August 15th, 2009, 01:49 PM	#91 (permalink)
blueshawk1 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Upstate NY Age: 55 Posts: 483 6 Photos	Thee best copy I've found is my Agile. In fact, during a recent thinning out, I very easily chose to sell my Fender MIM and keep this one;

August 15th, 2009, 02:12 PM	#92 (permalink)
BigMike Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Posts: 399 13 Photos	I don't consider my Chandler Schecter a copy. It is a beauty and has a one peice maple body with brass bridge and scratch plate and gold plated tuners. It has its original Schecter neck pickup and a Seymour Duncan bridge pick up that was added some 20 years ago. It sounds and plays wonderful............... __________________ "You can take a horse to water, but you can't make it scuba dive"....

August 15th, 2009, 02:50 PM	#93 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4,349 8 Photos	For the $299 I paid for a CV, I can't imagine a copy being a better Tele. Maybe less $, but the CVs are pretty darn nice Teles, for the Escoudos. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

September 13th, 2009, 12:15 PM	#94 (permalink)
gremboul TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: canada Posts: 34 5 Photos	Jay Turser Vintage Series...great vibe.

September 13th, 2009, 01:10 PM	#95 (permalink)
VerySlowHand Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chester, UK Posts: 277	Maybe I'm just a sad old traditionalist, but I think most of the copy headstocks look horrible. 'Correct' headstock shape is the single thing that would influence which one I went for. At the budget end the Squier CV would get my vote by a mile.

September 13th, 2009, 01:19 PM	#96 (permalink)
glebe digital Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: orkney Posts: 165	2nd hand Vesters are pretty amazing for the money, look out for ones with a baseball-bat-V neck.....incredible tone.

September 14th, 2009, 01:01 AM	#99 (permalink)
Tonetele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Australia Age: 56 Posts: 1,098	Profile Tele's , especially the one's with Vintage on the headstock;those and Greco,early Ibanez, early Tokais ( as used by Keef) and Fernandez were ALL made in the Fuji- Genkakki factory- the people who made the great 70's and 80's Fender Japan guitars. They were all the same hence the "Lawsuit" era. CBS just hated their factory building these guitars and being badged under different names. If you've got one of any of the above-keep it IMHO.They're all essentially Fender Japan. Cheers, Tonetele.

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