BEST Fender Telecaster alternative?

[Sybo]

What do you guys think the BEST non Fender Tele type axe? Max price point $2400

GO!!

 

[blowtorch]

Squier

 

[naveed211]

Don Grosh.

Or a pimped out to the nines Classic Vibe!

 

[cnlbb]

Once you get above ~$500 it really comes down to preference. Personally, I would likely pick up a hahn model C. But now that doesn't have traditional pickups, so....

 

[McGlamRock]

Build/assemble your dream partscaster. Then you can use the rest of the money and build a second partscaster!

EDIT: but...I've heard really good things about Suhr and Tom Anderson

I've been watching this on Reverb for a while:
https://reverb.com/item/34637693-tom-anderson-hollow-t-classic

and this

https://reverb.com/item/34549920-suhr-classic-t-electric-guitar

those'll empty your wallet fast

 

[BigDaddyLH]

G&L

 

[Don Rich Rules]

Make your own. Use Warmoth, a light piece of ash for body and a quartersawn neck with 6105 frets
Van Zandt or Fralin Telecaster pickups. You can make a killer guitar for around $1250.

 

[Fireball519]

I love my Tagima Tw55. 209 bucks. Awesome guitar that really needs no mods. Made in the same factory as Classic Vibe. However, lately I've been wanting to do some tinkering. Not because it really needs it, just because I cant sit still

 

[mfguitar]

You can find a used Tom Anderson for that money and you won't regret it. However, there are plenty of options under 2k, you can buy a new Logan for a grand, a used Kirn, or many others for less than 2400. These are all quality builds.
You can get a custom G&L for under 2k or plenty of used ones for around $1000. "Best" lies in the eyes and ears of the player.

 

[Willie Johnson]

Build/assemble your dream partscaster. Then you can use the rest of the money and build a second partscaster!

The next/last guitar I get, I'll put together myself. Seems kind of silly not to, given what's available to the guitar-buying consumer these days.

 

[bsman]

I'd put my Kirn into that category.

 

[Cali Dude]

Another vote for Tom Anderson or custom G&L.

 

[LGOberean]

I'll second the Logan Custom option. You could probably get both a Logan tele and strat for $2,400.

FWIW, "Best" is a subjective assessment. Admittedly, I'm biased...

 

[notroHnhoJ]

A Les Paul with P90s. Will totally get you in the ball park. In my opinion.

 

[gkterry]

Ron Kirn or a used Tom Anderson . . . both are superb.

 

[telemnemonics]

Make your own. Use Warmoth, a light piece of ash for body and a quartersawn neck with 6105 frets
Van Zandt or Fralin Telecaster pickups. You can make a killer guitar for around $1250.

So, you want us to make YOUR dream guitar?

 

[telemnemonics]

If you're thinking of a $2000+ Tele and not one of the billion fenders, you must have something in mind?
Throwing cash at a builder who makes Tele copies is not likely to get you a Tele copy that isn't a copy of a Tele and much like all the ones you don't want.

The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to figure out all the specs you like and all the specs you don't like.
Assemble only the specs you do like into a pile of parts, simmer on the kitchen table and season to taste.

 

[Veitchy]

Assuming you weren't after a straight clone I'd say a G&L ASAT Special. It's still a Leo design with some really interesting design and engineering decisions to push it a bit beyond the Tele. I like the design of the bridge, I love the pickups*, and you can roll your own as afar as specs go. It doesn't do everything exactly the same as a Tele, but there's a lot of overlap too.

*I really like the thinking behind the pickups. In my opinion, Leo was trying to perfect what he'd designed in the Jazzmaster pickup, in that it's meant to be a HiFi pickup that 'sees' a lot of string due to a larger magnetic field. Swap the rod mags and super-wide coil with a bar magnet wound a bit wider and you achieve a similar result.

 

[EsquireOK]

Used G&L ASAT Classic. The earlier, the better. G&L has gone way downhill since its glory days in the Leo era and early BBE era.

 

[Telekarster]

So... why does it have to be "non" Fender?