Telecaster Alternative

kswilson89

Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative to a Fender custom shop tele? I've played a few CS teles and found the quality to be really good, however the price hike in recent years has got me looking for an alternative in the £2000 (max) category. Also, I'm not looking to buy used.

Thanks

Lodious

K-Line Truxton?

mgaw

Hahn are very nice indeed bit more than budget though

crunchman

Try some of the cheaper Fenders - either the normal US factory, Mexican, or Japanese.

You might have to play 15 to find an outstanding one, but they do exist.  They also don't have all the fake aging, which is a bonus.

monquixote

G&L are very nice guitars and a lot more reasonable since they got new distribution.

Groke

Reverend Trickshot?

chrisj1602

Eternal guitars

fastonebaz

Charvel style 2

stimpsonslostson

Reverend Gristlemaster would seem an obvious suggestion. 

Emiel

I know you wouldn’t buy secondhand but I would pick this definitely:
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/146048/fs-1979-tokai-te-85-telecaster#latest

bacchanalian

Suhr Alt T Pro would be over budget new.  Maybe Suhr Classic T. 

Dominic

make your own......MJT ,USCG neck ,Lollars or Bare Knuckle etc etc
You can buy the best of every component, colour of choice and get a decent Luthier to put it together and set it up
TELECASTERS AREN'T ROCKET SCIENCE........that's the beauty of them

ICBM

Mexican Classic Series Tele, “lacquer” version if that matters to you. They’re the best guitars Fender make outside the Custom Shop in my opinion.

You can buy one new for less than half your budget. It’s possible you might want to change the pickups, but that won’t cost more than a couple of hundred at most.

Fuengi

Burns make a fabulous Telecaster copy. 

http://www.burnsguitars.com/sonicburnsguitars.php

mark_jwedge

Shame you are not looking to buy used as I could be tempted to part with this 

http://www.42ndstreetguitars.co.uk/guitarsDetail.php?T5E-Blackguard-5

Mine is is the actual guitar used in the photos. Easily fender custom shop quality. Looking for £800.

Alternatively if you want a new one I would highly recommend Angela at 42nd Street as a builder.

Henrytwang

crunchman said:

Try some of the cheaper Fenders - either the normal US factory, Mexican, or Japanese.

You might have to play 15 to find an outstanding one, but they do exist.  They also don't have all the fake aging, which is a bonus.

I’m inclined to agree. Telecasters are simple little things and shouldn’t cost a fortune. I have several, some expensive made by Fender USA others copies by various Far Eastern makers. My favourite is one I put together myself from parts, a swamp ash body, Allparts neck, Seymour Duncan and Alegree pickups, Wilkinson Kluson style machine heads and Fender bridge and control plate. Most of the parts were obtained via eBay and the whole guitar cost me less than £300. If I could only have one of my Telecasters the parts caster would be the one.

Caffeine_Vampire

Used Fender ‘52 Hotrod. Custom Shop quality at half the price imo. 

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Ive not played as many fancy guitars as a lot of the guys on here, but the best Tele I've played was a Bill Nash. Good look tracking a new one down to try in the UK though. 

https://www.nashguitars.com/tmodelgallery/

Bod1

Bravewood, they are wonderful, my tele is unreal

Nikc

My MIM standard is one of the best tele's I've played (and quite a few other players have said similar about it) - I'd put it up against anything. Good set up and change the bridge pickup. 

Other than that I've played some very nice tokai's which stand up very well for not silly money and look the dogs too

Or a Baja of course always worth a look - whatever you buy enjoy. Tele's are just great at sensible money so you want go far wrong

meltedbuzzbox

Why are you ruling out used?