Stratocaster ✔ Telecaster ✔ Jazzmaster? Could you do one on Jazzmaster alternatives? I know you probably aren't a jazzmaster guy, but I really like the format you use on these videos.

Finally, a fellow lefty to watch. It's nice to know the guitars you are talking about are available to me as well. Thank you.

Hi Shane ! Greetings from Akron , Ohio USA ! I have been a subscriber for years , love your videos . So well made and informative .I agree with all your ideas on the faux Teles . I owned a China made Classic Vibe Tele Custom . Loved it , so well made . I traded it off because the neck was a little too thin for me . I should have kept it and bought a bigger neck for it , I miss it still and it was that good ! Kudos to Tokais . I have owned a couple and am always amazed at the build quality . I even had a nylon string Tokai Classical that was out of sight ! I have been playing since 1963 ( 71 years old ) , but I still get excited about guitars , still my mouth waters and I stare at guitars at the shops that I cannot afford . All these years , and all the gigs , and all the guitars I have owned and still own , I still have a burning passion for guitars

Got the HB TE-52 here. Works well, will excel after a good setup! Thanks for another great vid, Shane! Keep 'em coming!

Great list. Thanks!

The G&L Tributes are an amazing value. They have the US pickups and are assembled overseas. I had a Tribute and an ASAT, and actually preferred the Tribute.

My SX Tele is my favorite guitar. I just love it.

Truly Appreciate it. I been looking for a tele for awhile cause I don't got one yet, so hopefully one of these will work just fine :)

Two superb vids in a row Shane (this and the HB Les Paul one). Brilliant.

I’m such a big SX fan! Nice to see other people giving them some love

Just bought a butterscotch Squier CV....what a guitar! I wanted a tele without paying $2g (Cdn $)...after playing guitar for almost 40 years, never thought I would ever own a Squier, but these CV’s are excellent

Great presentation as always...

Hi Shane, love your channel. And love my Squier Tele and my MIM Strat. Keep up the great work!

Some Tele alternatives for the metal player: • Michael Kelly 7/8 string • Agile Texan 7 string • ESP LTD TE-200 • Dean Nashvegas • Fender Esquire Celtic • Squire John 5 Signature • Fender FMT • Schecter PT series • Peavey Generation • Squire Jim Root Signature

The Harley Benton TE-20’s a good shout as well. Crazily good guitar for the money. I liked the first one I get so much, that I bought another.

Thanks Shane, this video was very helpful.

Great video shane

I have a 1953 version of a Michael Kelly T style guitar. It has a silky satin smooth neck. The original pups weren't bad but over time, I put in Joe Barden pups. Great tele.

I'm in the states and about 30 minutes from Rondo Music. Grabbed a beautiful SX VTG Tele ,one piece ash body ,maple neck and it's a great guitar. My cost was around $189 US dollars. Frets are medium jumbo ? I love it.

Great list! Going to watch the strat one now

very helpful video. Watched it twice now.

I like my Schecter PT special. Had it modded with Fishman Gristletones. Fantastic guitar for the money. Original configuration had a P90 in the neck.

Just got a G&L Fullerton Deluxe ASAT Classic. My favorite Tele by far. I've owned a '68, '76, an MIM (2006), and a MIM Classic 50s. I rate the ASAT at the top (by a long distance) followed by the 50's classic, then the '68. For the 06 MIM, I put really nice and well known US bridge pickup, and I just can't remember which one and I no longer have the guitar. Put a Fender Fat 50s Strat pickup in the neck. Nothing helped. The ASAT is so well rounded. With regular Teles, I love the spank, but always roll back the tone for the bridge, but then have to open back up for the neck. The 50s are extra bright, which is period correct and too bright for some. I don't need to roll off the highs on the ASAT, but when I do, the neck pickup still cuts through and does not suffer from muddiness. I adjusted the polepieces per a Darrell Braun, video. Fretwork, neck, and wire size are perfect for me. Oh, I LOVE the belly contour.

Great job. Just stumbled across your channel. You have some Teles I have not even heard of before. Makes me want to expand my horizons. Best wishes!

Thanks for making this video, I am looking for a good t style alternative. You have given me options to look at. I did 👍

Fender Player Tele on the way. BB of course. I do have a Player Strat I love so I know the quality is there. Thanks for my final confirmation and this will most likely be my final post when my wife finds out! Be Well!

The Schecter PT is, in my view, a good alternative to the Telecaster. The PT has nice body contours, not present in the T. Costs about half of an American T but just as good.

Love both of my MIMs. Fabulous.

Thanks so much for the info! Rock on!

God, I sold a G&L ASAT Classic Semi-Hollow that had some of the clearest sounding pickups I've ever personally owned like 10 years ago and this video just reminded me of how much I still regret that decision. Pretty sure I sold it for around $250 or so back then, probably have to spend around $400-500 to get that version again since it doesn't seem to have been in production for very long. Sill might pick it up again though, it's definitely worth the (slightly inflated) price of admission.

Great to see some love for the G&L ASAT. I just ordered a black and white one from GC on sale for only $399 that I tried in the store and loved it. It’s funny, I never liked Teles much in the past and now I think they’re great!

Appreciate you Brother Shane! Very informative video.

Shane great video and i agree with you 100%....

As all Squier guitars are, it's really about the quality control. The reason I say this is because I have a 2018 Squier Affinity Tele and it plays and sounds wonderful. The amount of compliments I've received from it are far more than I expected. I may have got the luck of the draw with smooth frets, but with a final setup, it was ready to go and is my go to guitar.

Squier bullet telecaster are very solid as well. Cheap electronics but with a few minor changes, you've got an amazing instrument

Great Video - Earlier this year I acquired a 2012 MIM Arctic White/Maple Fretboard Tele... New old stock. It was still sealed in the Fender box. If you take the fragile state of small local Music Stores, and then combine that sad story with the Covid-19 pandemic, you get a lot of stores going under. There was a wonderful such shop near where I live which I have frequented for years. The owner and I had become good friends (in a business way). I got a call from him in March asking me with help closing down the store (very sad), pricing things out, and even acting as a salesman. While going through some boxes up in the rafters I came across one that looked like it had never been opened, and had the weight of a guitar in it. He did not even know he had it and we'd already sold every other guitar in the shop. I offered to post it on Reverb or eBay for him but he just asked me if I had any interest in it. If so it was mine for free if I wanted it. He was a broken man by now, I dug around in my secret cash I keep in my car that my wife does not know about and put together $198.00. I said I'd be thrilled to take the Tele but not for free. I stuffed the cash in his hand and took it home when we locked the doors that night. Back in 2012 the MIM Teles were (and some famous players agree) are still as good or better than the USA models. Since acquiring the Tele I have swapped out: the pickguard from white to cobalt blue, the ceramic single coils for Fender Tex-Mex Alnico 5 P'ups, I upgraded to EVH high friction Tone and low friction Volume pots, Oak Grigsby 3 way switch, a Switchcraft Output Jack, a .047uf Orange Drop Cap and classic cloth covered wire. The guitar setup perfectly and is my all time favorite Tele that I have ever owned. All new, all first class and all for less than $275.00!

Well done mate!

Honorable mentions: Vintage by Wilkinson (V52, V62, V2, etc) Anda also some models from Tagima too.

I've played quite a few SXs...very good "for the money".

Good stuff 👍 glad to see you again enjoy your weekend.

Great info Shane!🤘

The Telecaster is a guitar that is almost a must in any collection. It’s so versatile and simple! Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of the guitars you listed here would be a great alternative to a Fender. Personally I would lean towards the Classic Vibe mainly because I’m a fan of that vintage style mainly the tuners!! Cheers!!🎸🎸🎸🎵🎼

Excellent comparison Shane ! Well done. I have a Squier Bullet Tele (Butterscotch) and love it.

Great video thanks! I just picked up a Michael Kelly 53DB Tele style! It has 2 humbuckers with coil splitting for 8 way tone switching! I'm impressed! They also do more classic Tele styles!

I'm a Tele fanatic. One of my favorites is a Squier bullet Tele (seafoam green). Maybe I'm lucky, but got a great one. The main reason I picked it over the Affinity was the string-thru body, and the neck is slightly wider. I really like the unfinished neck. I also have a Squier classic vibe 50s tele, and a Glen Burton tele (talk about obscure!). Anyway, all i did to the bullet was lower the saddles a bit and re-intonate. GREAT guitar for $129 USD, as i caught it on sale. Would love an American Standard tele, but I'm wandering is the price difference worth it, when i love the guitars i already have?

Started my Tele journey with an $100 Aldi job. After a set up it played ok and sounded fine for what it was. Next was a 2005 Tele Squire Standard which is a great guitar and comparable to the Classic Vibe. Next up was the Artist TC59 with “humbuckers” which sounds nothing like a Tele and weighs a “metric Tonee”. Finally I bought a US Tele Standard. Still have all of them but no doubt the US Tele is the way to go if you have the money..👍🇦🇺

Excellent reviews Thanks

Great video!

SRV was a huge tokai fan, the strat on the front of Texas flood is a tokai

My only Strat is a G&L S-500 Tribute. It's my cheapest guitar but I love playing it. It feels good, stays in tune and the last set up was done 4 years ago. I just don't feel the need to "upgrade" to the American version of it. Never played a bad G&L so far.

Well done; very informative. Thanks.

Thanks, loved the video

Don't know if they're available in Oz, but I'd give the Cort/MansonClassic TC an honourable mention. Simply awesome guitars designed by UK luthier Hugh Manson; a very affordable and welcome addition to my American Original 50s and G&L Classic Bluesboy.

I have been GASing hard for a Reverend Gristlemaster. Especially the one in Kochwork Orange. Greg really knows his stuff and did a great job collaborating on a T style guitar with Reverend. Really want to hear those Fishman pickups in person.

12:44 props for putting this at the end of the video, instead of making it the first thing you say (like so many other guitar channels)

My G&L ASAT classic is my new favourite tele , fell in love with their single coil ( a little less twangy ) .

I think one of the best 'tele' or 'strat' guitars I've ever played were the Ibanez Talmans... there's a Tele type bridge and a tremolo (Strat) version, depending on the year/model (some years they made both) and they're around on the 2nd hand market occasionally and pop up as NOS in little guitar shops around the globe it seems. The necks are sublimely good, with a great 'C' depth but isn't too wide... they kinda feel like playing a 50's Les Paul, but with the full 25.5" scale. They sound very much like their inspiration, but have (especially the Tele one) clever upgrades in body carve, weight, balance, etc that make them both unique and 'better' IMHO. I've played a few, but missed the opportunity to buy one a while back, which I've regretted since. There's the posh MIJ ones and a cheaper series, but both are very good. Like the G&L's (which would be equal favourite Strat or Tele - I already have one each American Professional Fenders so need not go there again) their resale isn't great here, but that makes them hard to buy because they seem to come on the market at the 'right price' and probably get snapped up by the first unsuspecting person who plays them; but if you can find one (and like the neck) they're sensational value for a 'keeper' axe :-)

One guitar missing from the list is the Vintage V52. Probably not easy to find in the USA or Australia, but here in the UK it is one of the best value tele style guitars you can get.

Very informative, thank you nice job. I picked up a Squier California Series Tele [Asian/Malaysian/New Zealand market] from a local pawnshop for $99...[NZD] True! Try and beat that! No one wanted it because It had tons of fretbuzz below the 5th fret but after a new set of 11's and few 1/4 turns on the truss rod, and a day or two resting in between tweaks it has to be the bargain of the year! Build quality nice, no rough edges, low action, 6 saddles for perfect intonation, even still had plastic on the pickguard. It's a bit heavier than my Strat, and the neck quite thin, initially I kept overshooting the mark when playing. That said, it's got so much sustain and the tone ain't too bad either. really versatile sounds. I bought a Tonerider TRT2 Hot Classics Set to put in & Emerson electronics from the US, but it sounds good as it is I'm looking for another el cheapo to put these into. Very pleased. Agreed, thoroughly underrated these budget models.

Great video! I own an SX teal strat and a butterscotch affinity series telecaster. Both are awesome guitars and very affordable

Man, my brain really has a hard time with lefty Teles... more than any other lefty guitar. I see a lefty Tele and my brain just goes, "what the hell is that thing?" It's like they look backwards AND inside out and It never reconciles for me. No offense. It's my brain.

Does anyone else remember when the most expensive Sqiuer was around $250.

Great list & job as always shane !! Funny you posted this as I am watching on amazon prime a Muddy Waters jam in chicago back in 81 at the checkers club i think it is ... had buddy guy, the rolling stones & some others there at it .. amazing footage.

I've been playing Tele Player Mexican model for a couple of years. In that time I've upgraded to locking tunners and replaced the small neck pickup to a humbucker Seymour Duncan SH-2N. I've also replaced the bridge pickup to a Fender "noiseless". Currently the guitar is a beast... and can handle anything from mellow jazz riffs to distorted metal. Of the guitars that I have (Gibson Les Paul Faded, Fender Player Stratocaster, Epiphone Les Paul and the Tele).... the Tele is my most versatile, most playable and hence favorite guitar. Greatings from Prague

Hey Shane, Noticed Artist guitars now have US and UK web stores. Where would you rate their TC59 in this list? Figuring it would be similar to the Harley Benton but not sure. cheers

The Squier Classic Vibe is the best bang for the buck you can get!

Great video mate!👏

I've found the Mexican Tele not to have that twang I'm looking for. The Fenders didn't until I got up into the American Series and it was good plus the action is to die for. Totally easy to play. For a fourth of the cost the G&L captures the expensive Fender sound which makes sense because Leo Fender built the G&L company. Great informative video!

Hello Shane, I own a Vintage V52 tele and it sounds great, good quality Wilkinson parts and not much money for all of that... I would like to see your demo of it, if you can get it there, cuz i appreciate your honest opinion about guitars in your videos... I think you gonna like this one :) Cheers

Try the Indio Classic $95.

The Stagg T Series Vintage is a very cool looking guitar for $300 AU and it plays great. It comes with a P90 in the neck with a Cabronita-style scratch plate. I swapped out the bridge pickup and upgraded the saddles to compensated brass and it's now probably my favourite guitar! P90 is pretty noisy (as you'd expect), but the tone is great! Worth a look

Great job buddy! Greetings from Barcelona

Agile ( a Les Paul tribute guitar ) would be a good one if you did a LP top 10 ... for those of us who can't buy a Gibson !

Godin makes Great guitars and they have T-style as well. Truly great guitars, Canada & US made.

Thanks Shane, great comparison, Have you tried the Guitar Fetish Xavier, I would be interested in hearing how they compare to some of the other economically priced teles.

Great Advice and Video Shane thanks ❤🎸👍

Vintage! The Vintage brand is the best value for money I’ve seen. I have the V75. Alder body, brass saddles, vintage style tuners and Wilkinson pick ups. I paid 200 uk pounds! Great tele!

Monoprice Indio Classic..... incredible Tele style guitar with gig bag.for $100 ( may have gone up a few bucks as of late). You must pick up! Incredible steal, sound and plays awesome!!!!! I don't know how they do it.

Great video. Ive been contemplating a trip to guitar center next month. Now to price shop for a small amp for the apt. An AC30 is just a bit much.

Nice one Shane, I do love a good Fender, but i’m a big G&L fan as well (got 3 of them) and as a lefty even here in Oz i have always been able to find one around, G&L have always seemed to cater for Leftys (better than some other brands in my experience) and at the 2nd hand price tag they are hard to beat.

Love the vid man, I have the CV custom and its a nicely crafted guitar. Got mine used Mint for 399 canadian. Grabbing a strat next and am debating btwn the Mim player or G&L tribute legacy. Maybe one of those soon to be released 50s classic vibes thats gilmore black on black will be on the list too. Lots of great guitars just outside that inexpensive guitar price point.

I have an ESP LTD Tele and it’s, by far, one of the best playing telecasters I’ve ever played. Highly recommend!

Great series

Good job mate!!

I've actually just bought a Squier Bullet Tele for $289 here in Australia. $50 cheaper than the Affinity, and lighter in body.

Artist Tc 59 good value

Great video

The classic vibe is the only low price Fender I've ever owned. It's as nice as the 74 Custom I had back the 80s, which I foolishly sold. In fact, it was Shane's review that spurred me to buy it. It was a toss up between that and the G&L, but that one sold, so I bought the Squire. Great video man.

The SX headstock looks strikingly similar to a Brazilian brand called Tagima. that's sold here in the US Great guitars for the price point and their Strat style guitars are really good.

I recently got a Harley Benton te 80 and I live in Canada. It is about the same price as a squire classic vibe but I think it has better workmanship.

I own a USA made G&L Asat Classic. Pretty much the instrument shown in the picture. In Spanish Copper. Playing it now 100% of the time. It does it all. Just great Instruments. - And a great Video. Thanks a lot.

Ltd make some awesome and very popular T styles. Great list!

If you have something to add to this list please let me know. :-) Edit: Thanks for all the thumbs up! You guys rock! 😎❤👌👍

Not played the TE52 but my Harley Benton experience has been good 🌴

Thanks for the info. Have you done a comparison on the inexpensive SG style guitars?

My new favorite Channel good stuff bro I went to bed late last night because of you, but it was worth it learned a from gear like pedals cheap guitar and amps 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 thumps up

Very surprised that the Michael Kelly teles weren’t mentioned here. Absolutely phenomenal guitars

I didn't hear you mention the fact that the Affinity guitar has a much narrower nut makes it hard for people with larger hands to play

I just picked up a player series Tele and I’m blown away it far exceeded my expectations 🤷🏻‍♀️

Love the Squier 50s CV, though I completely understand where you're coming from about the neck. I've had a Les Paul and an ES with a fat 50s style neck, once you get used to it, it's hard to go back to thinner necks. For the longest time, the 50s CV Telecaster was the best guitar Squier was making. I'm very impressed with their recent CV Strats, they are some of the best guitars they've ever made.