Best bang for the buck Telecaster (or T-style) guitar with binding

[blownirocz]

Am primarily a Gibson guy, but have suddenly developed a hankerin' for a Tele again. As I'm watching some videos I realize that I really love the look of the bound Tele's, especially in colors like Fiesta Red and Lake Placid blue.

What's the best bang for the buck option for something bound? Doesn't necessarily have to be a Fender, but I do want the standard T aesthetic and prefer rosewood fretboards. Help a Tele newbie out!

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[the29band]

I am not a Tele connoisseur but I really like my American Original 60s Tele in Lake Placid Blue. I don’t have anything else to contribute. Good luck!

 

[ChipOnly]

Reverend Eastsider?

 

[tarheelalum]

Reverend Eastsider?

Indeed. They have a super sweet thin neck that I love but a bit pricey. For the money I suggest the OP take a look at Shecters PT Special. Super high quality build in Korea for a excellent price. This one has more meat on the neck than the above referenced Eastsider Tele.

PT Special

PT Special Guitars

www.schecterguitars.com

 

[blownirocz]

Thanks for the input so far guys! Any other feedback?

 

[makeitstop]

Check Logan guitars on Reverb. I just ordered one today and passed on a top bound light relic in black.

Guys over at TDPRI rave about Bob Logan, and his prices are pretty reasonable.

 

[moosewayne]

Schecter PT

 

[Otis B. Love]

Squier Classic Vibe 60’s

 

[Tag]

I am not a Tele connoisseur but I really like my American Original 60s Tele in Lake Placid Blue. I don’t have anything else to contribute. Good luck!

This.

 

[Man_on_the_Silva_Mountain]

Squier Classic Vibe 60’s

They only have one finish available .. Unless they've added more since my last look

 

[Guitarwiz007]

I was impressed by the few Michael Kelly's I've played. Also, the G&L Tribute series is pretty nice. Especially that Bluesboy.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

 

[shane8]

Thanks for the input so far guys! Any other feedback?

um .... i don't like bound teles coz the binding is sharper than non bound

i guess if ya used to bound guitars it won't bother you but unbound is more comfy

 

[Yamaha 350]

 

[Graham G]

Best bang for buck,has to be the Squire CVC,i've had one for at least 10years(maybe 15),it's done probably a couple of thousand gigs & still looks & plays great,it cost me about £250 new.

 

[MikeMcK]

Squier Classic Vibe 60’s

A few years ago I played one in Russo's... a double-bound Squier CV sunburst Tele that was an amazing guitar. I went back a couple of days later to buy it but it was gone. I triedd a couple of others, but they weren't the same. That one did everything you want a Tele to do, and it cost less than a lot of the pedals in the store.

 

[eoengineer]

Am primarily a Gibson guy, but have suddenly developed a hankerin' for a Tele again. As I'm watching some videos I realize that I really love the look of the bound Tele's, especially in colors like Fiesta Red and Lake Placid blue.

What's the best bang for the buck option for something bound? Doesn't necessarily have to be a Fender, but I do want the standard T aesthetic and prefer rosewood fretboards. Help a Tele newbie out!

Thanks in advance guys!

I agree with others that the classic vibe tele custom is probably the most cost effective path to a double bound tele. I would suggest the following ordered by cost low to high:

- Classic Vibe Tele Custom (I think only available in 3TSB finish)
- Partscaster (can get an allparts double bound body in the $300 range, neck for < $200) for a guitar that is maybe double the price of the classic vibe
- Fender American Original 60s Tele, which also happens to be available in some of the colors you mentioned.

 

[MikeMcK]

I agree with others that the classic vibe tele custom is probably the most cost effective path to a double bound tele. I would suggest the following ordered by cost low to high:

- Classic Vibe Tele Custom (I think only available in 3TSB finish)
- Partscaster (can get an allparts double bound body in the $300 range, neck for < $200) for a guitar that is maybe double the price of the classic vibe
- Fender American Original 60s Tele, which also happens to be available in some of the colors you mentioned.

Very true... here's my partscaster and it's a great guitar, but even with used parts cost 2 or 3 times what a CV Tele would (or did, last time I checked). But if you really don't want a 3TSB finish and don't want the hassle of a partscaster, Fender Japan made some nice ones. I only noticed this because the partscaster below is what I wanted even though it's historically inaccurate (Fender only started using candy-apple red after the fingerboards went back to being maple) but Fender Japan made the same combination for a while.

MJT_Tele_lrg

• MikeMcK
• Jun 12, 2019

MJT Tele, double-bound CAR

 

[eoengineer]

Very true... here's my partscaster and it's a great guitar, but even with used parts cost 2 or 3 times what a CV Tele would (or did, last time I checked). But if you really don't want a 3TSB finish and don't want the hassle of a partscaster, Fender Japan made some nice ones. I only noticed this because the partscaster below is what I wanted even though it's historically inaccurate (Fender only started using candy-apple red after the fingerboards went back to being maple) but Fender Japan made the same combination for a while.

MJT_Tele_lrg

• MikeMcK
• Jun 12, 2019

MJT Tele, double-bound CAR

I'm a HUGE fan of the MIJ teles. I have the transparent blue counterpart to your CAR custom there. They seem to put these out in limited runs.

That said, the market has caught on over last few years. While I was able to find these for $600-700 back in 2016, they are now pretty consistently over a $1k. At that price I would probably just save the extra couple hundred and grab the American Original 60s tele, which is IMO an objectively better guitar.

Anymore I'm firmly on the side of partscasters though. I put this one together for around $1k. All nitro, guitar mill nitro body, custom neck.

 

[fjblair]

Squier Classic Vibe 60’s

The quality and playability of that guitar is astounding given the price point.