Who Builds the Best Blackgaurd Tele?

[MGuts]

What do you guys think? Been looking at Kirn and K Line. Have a K Line Strat that I might be getting rid of. I really like that guitar, so I'm sure a K Line would be great, but I Wouldn't be opposed to trying something else out though either.

 

[Lespaulsignature 74]

I don't know if it's the best there is but I recently had a Suhr Classic T built for me in the style of a 52 Blackguard/Trans Butterscotch finish and I totally love this guitar. It is so resonate, this thing rings for days. I had the silent single coil system installed and it's as quiet as humbuckers. My Strat is now collecting some dust!

 

[fretless]

You might want to check out Hahn guitars. Nice article focusing on Tele builders in an issue of Premier Guitar a few months back. He was on their list. I've read some very strong praise of his work from some owners over at the TDPRI tele forum. There's a youtube post of Jim Campilongo playing a Hahn that he owns. Sounds freaking incredible, but then again Jim C. is playing it!

 

[supersonic1414]

Kirn never disapoints

 

[phoenix 7]

Check into GVCG guitars -- definitely among the creme de la creme.

 

[landru64]

gvcg

and still no one relics as well as jonathan

 

[phoenix 7]

gvcg

and still no one relics as well as jonathan

+1. I was never a fan of relics. I bought my GVCG only because of what I'd heard and read about their sound and feel. But damn -- I look at this thing and marvel at how much it looks like it was made 57 years ago. It's pretty amazing. Sounds and feels quite amazing too.

 

[Kmaz]

Does Johnathan have a website?

 

[wrxplayer]

Admittedly I haven't played any of the boutique guitars mentioned (have played Anderson teles, though) but I'd be hard pressed to find a guitar (tele or otherwise) that plays or feels better than my Fender Ltd. Ed CS '52 pictured.

 

[JES1680]

The boys at RS Guitarworks built my favorite.

 

[Patch]

Does Johnathan have a website?

Jonathan is selling them through Destroy all guitars.

http://www.destroyallguitars.com/gvcg

 

[Giraffecaster]

just to add a few more options
lsl is supposed to be good
danocasters if you can get one

 

[tacorivers]

For a little more than a new K Line or Nash, I got a Relic 52 with a Nocaster neck that beats every other tele I've played.

 

[AJ Love]

Best? Thats a tough one to come up with...

Lentz makes one helluva great Telecaster and the wood quality/neck quality is at a higher level (in my opinion/experience) than the folks who put together partscasters and relic 'em... feels more like a Vintage quality guitar, which is sort of the point, right?

Fender Custom Shop is hit or miss but the great ones are truely great

 

[sanhozay]

What we need is a blackguard olympics. They'd probably just stand silently around the tracks, or sink in the pool, or roll down the hill covered in snow. Sure would be pretty, though.

 

[gkoelling]

I like this one quite a bit.

This one went to TX but I think it's being enjoyed.

I'm my favorite black guard builder but hey......

 

[phoenix 7]

I like this one quite a bit.

This one went to TX but I think it's being enjoyed.

I'm my favorite black guard builder but hey......

Wow -- nice work!

What we need is a blackguard olympics. They'd probably just stand silently around the tracks, or sink in the pool, or roll down the hill covered in snow. Sure would be pretty, though.

 

[robinje]

Ron Kirn

 

[gkoelling]

Wow -- nice work!

Thank you, sir!

 

[TresGatos]

Who builds the best blackguard tele?

That depends on the criteria:

The most accurate to real Blackguard specs?
You want a Broadcaster, Nocaster, Esquire or Telecaster? 50? 51? 52? 53? 54?
Relic job or shiny new finish?
Sounds/wound like which specific blackguard, because they were all over the place? 5.7k, 6.1k, 8.5k ... etc.
Reinterpretation to modern playability?
What exactly is the most important features to you?


I couldn't buy one off the shelf or pre-built, I'd need to either get my criteria straight and choose a builder of find one that knows how to ask the right questions.