Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 05:02:34 PM

Title: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 05:02:34 PM
Hi guys,
Looking for a 3rd guitar, already have an LP and and Explorer. Thinking about adding a Tele to the mix, but don't want to spend a whole lot, probably $300-400. I'm not really into the idea of buying a MIM Fender because it's Fender, I guess I'm looking for a guitar that plays much better than the price suggests. I'm willing to upgrade the guitar too. Anybody know of great Tele copies? I'm also open to suggestions for other guitars too, but I play strictly rhythm, so no shred guitars. Thanks!
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 05:05:48 PM
Also, even for a little more money, I'm willing to go the custom-made route, if anybody on here likes building guitars or knows people who do, feel free to let me know!
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 03, 2012, 05:52:30 PM
How Tele do you want your Tele?
Fender Baja Tele is pretty well liked round here.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 06:15:02 PM
I'd like a Tele with a little more kick to it than usual.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 03, 2012, 06:23:42 PM
Pretty much any tele you get at that price point will probably have pretty vintage-y pickups (unless you get an HH type, which was why I asked).
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Toe-Knee on April 03, 2012, 06:24:56 PM
For that kinda money and the simple fact that you are in the US i would go with agile. Theyre excellent quality and punch well above the price tag.

I would actually take a Agile LP over a gibson anyday.

Also note i have only played their LPs but i imagine the quality is equal along the various types.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: JacksonRR on April 03, 2012, 06:25:25 PM
The Guitarfetish Xaviere line seems to get really good reviews for the price, though upgrades in hardware and a proper setup is common. I haven't had any experience with them, but the locking tuners I got from them are great.....(wow, that hammer thread comes to mind now.  :lol:) The Agile line is also something I might look at. They have some tele copies and a really great looking PRS-alike on there for pennies as well.

I'd probably just buy a used Squire or Fender Tele though for that kind of money. Less QC issues and easier to sell on if it's just not something you end up loving.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 06:27:04 PM
When researching Les Paul's I came upon lots of Agile reviews, many positive. Does anyone have experience with Agile Teles?
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 03, 2012, 06:37:59 PM
No, I've only got an LP and a 7. Both are spectacularly good though. As Toe-knee said, I would happily stack my (modded) Al 3100 against a Gibson. Indeed, I was looking at a review of one of the new Gibsons with the baked maple board and thought "for a quarter of that money I could have an Agile and it would have an ebony board".
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 06:50:11 PM
Wow this is great to know. I'm BIG on playability and resonance, and if a guitar sounds good unplugged then you can always make it sound great no matter what brand it is. How's the playability, resonance, feel, unplugged sound, etc. on the Agiles?
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Telerocker on April 03, 2012, 07:23:49 PM
London City makes decent cheap telecopies. Get some used BKP's (like the Boss or Piledriver) and you won't go over your limit.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 03, 2012, 07:47:51 PM
Playability, feel and unplugged sound are all great. They're made in the same factory as Schecter, and are of similar quality.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Ian Price on April 03, 2012, 09:00:36 PM
I can vouch for the Baja. I have one and whilst it is not up there with Custom Shop Fenders it is good value for money. I don't think you could get a custom made guitar for "a little more money" although I'm happy to be corrected!
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 09:36:23 PM
And do you really think that the Agile would fend well in an H2H with a Gibson? If so, I think that just about sold me on them lol.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 03, 2012, 10:43:42 PM
I've changed the bridge and the pickups, I would happily put it against any of the sub-standard (fnah) models, and it'd hold it's own against a Standard. At the end of the day it's a mahogany body and neck, and while it may only have a thin maple top it does have an ebony board and real MOP inlays. Fit and finish is very good, and the range of finishes is about 4 times what you can get from Gibson. There's nothing actually wrong with the pickups either, they're just too vintage PAF for my tastes.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/25zqsdl.jpg)
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 03, 2012, 11:10:01 PM
Wow, she's a beauty! :D
Lol so I guess now my question is, with so many positive things about the Al's, should I go for an al or stick with the tele shape? I know I already have a LP, but u think I could use one more? :lol:
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Frank on April 04, 2012, 12:42:53 AM
I was very impressed with the Fender Blackout (not Blacktop!) Tele, drop a few BKP's in that and you'd have a very nice guitar indeed.

http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/search.php?partno=0135032306
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Telerocker on April 04, 2012, 01:04:40 AM
I was very impressed with the Fender Blackout (not Blacktop!) Tele, drop a few BKP's in that and you'd have a very nice guitar indeed.

http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/search.php?partno=0135032306

Yeah, that's a nice one. Too bad there's no rosewood fretboard-model.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 04, 2012, 03:37:27 AM
Are those the ones with the buckers in em? I've always been pretty interested in those. Anybody with an opinion on my getting a 2nd Lester, or make the jump to a Tele. LPs are my favorite guitars, love everything about them, but just toying with the idea of a tele, cuz I love the twangy resonance and the feel. Oi!
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 10:11:03 AM
No, they're 3 single coil models. If you want an HH Tele then the Schecter PT offers the best bang for buck, but if you love Les Pauls I'd just get another Les Paul rather than an HH Tele.
Why do you want a Tele? Do you really need a Tele for your band? If you want a different sound you could consider an LP with P90s, or there are various humbucker sized pickups which will give you a Tele-ish quality. In fact BKP used to wind one for Nathan Sheppard which sounded like a Tele when split.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Ratrod on April 04, 2012, 11:38:50 AM
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Roobubba on April 04, 2012, 11:52:34 AM
Is there anything so woeful in this entire universe as a telecaster copy?
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 11:59:18 AM
Is there anything so woeful in this entire universe as a telecaster copy?
Well, they can fix all the things you hate about Teles ;) Also depends how far you take it. Is an Axis a Tele copy?
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 04, 2012, 02:26:13 PM
Sifu Ben, This is the problem! I'll be using a 3rd guitar in the part of our set that is much lower gain and distortion, so I'm deciding whether to hot-rod a Tele to get me there or get another LP and throw some vintage pups in there. I guess I wanna know what you all would do in this situation
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Toe-Knee on April 04, 2012, 02:31:28 PM
Sifu Ben, This is the problem! I'll be using a 3rd guitar in the part of our set that is much lower gain and distortion, so I'm deciding whether to hot-rod a Tele to get me there or get another LP and throw some vintage pups in there. I guess I wanna know what you all would do in this situation

I would personally go for a LP but i really dislike teles in general.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 02:39:59 PM
In that situation I'd probably get an LP and put a humbucker sized P90 in the neck and a vintage-vintage plus humbucker in the bridge.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 02:43:42 PM
Maybe one of these http://www.rondomusic.com/al31252ts.html
Although this would be pretty awesome too  (although a little more than you originally stated) http://www.rondomusic.com/al32002tsp90.html
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 04, 2012, 02:56:53 PM
Yeah that would be cool. Can't stand chambered guitars though, if I get an LP I definitely want the full thing. For a matter of price, are regular buckers cheaper from Rondo? I'm gonna upgrade all the stuff on it anyway, so I'd like to spend as little as possible.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 03:06:47 PM
No, the price is the same.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 04, 2012, 03:12:46 PM
Alright, good to know. Sorry to be such a bother! But also, I know the difference between the 2000 and the 3000 is electronics and hardware, but I'll be replacing those anyways, so that stuff aside is the 3000 actually a better guitar than the 2000?
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 03:33:07 PM
2000s have 3 piece bodies, maple necks, rosewood fingerboards and single ply binding. 3000s have 2 piece bodies, mahogany necks, ebony fingerboards and multiply binding. 3200s have thru necks and a tummy cut.
Here's the rough guide http://www.rondomusic.com/alspec.html
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 04, 2012, 03:43:05 PM
Cool, so I think 3000 is the way to go. Anyone else have a say in the LP/Tele choice?
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Copperhead on April 04, 2012, 09:47:30 PM
This new Fender model is really nice for CHEAP!!

(http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/download/file.php?id=25125&mode=view)
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 10:25:37 PM
That's because it's made in China ;)
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Philly Q on April 04, 2012, 10:48:45 PM
Looks good!

But I didn't realise there were Chinese-made Fenders now.  It's almost reaching the point where the Squier brand becomes redundant...
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 10:49:24 PM
I only found out today, which is why I mentioned it.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Copperhead on April 04, 2012, 11:22:43 PM
I've had two of them sold out from under me now. Dealer calls and says he's got one in. I go down the next day and they're already gone.
I've seen one, fit and finish are flawless. Perfect burst. TINTED neck!!. 22 fret, jumbo. HB pickup. Pine body. What's not to like?
FWIW - the Chinese Charvel Desolation series is way better quality than the Japanese SoCals.
I think whoever is running the Fender China plant really has got great QC.
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Sifu Ben on April 04, 2012, 11:39:00 PM
Quote
What's not to like?
Quote
Pine body
???
Title: Re: Tele Copy?
Post by: Copperhead on April 04, 2012, 11:46:28 PM
Or you could buy an unfinished pine Tele body from Glendale for the cost of one these guitars...

(http://www.glendaleguitars.com/pinebodies.jpg)