So I want a tele, but there's a catch. . .

[HarlowTheFish]

. . . my main player is a CL6, my backup is an Ibby Prestige, and my jazz guitar is an Ormsby Hype GTR. You can see the pattern here. I'm looking for a modern take on a tele with a few requirements for a project I'm starting work on.

Has 2 Fender-style single coils, and the bridge has to be a tele pickup
Has at least a back contour
Thinner & wider than an old-school tele neck (42mm nut minimum)
Not super vintage sounding
Under $1000

What I'm looking for is a very modern take on the tele vibe, with a modern single-coil sound (I'm probably just gonna stick some noiseless Duncans or Dimarzios in there tbh, so really not a big deal) that works well clean or with medium levels of gain (if you guys know the bands Somos and Closure in Moscow, they're as heavy as I'd ever get with this).
I'm looking at the Chapman ML-3 Pro Traditional ($879 at GC, second choice), and the Ibby Talman Prestige (like $600 used but mint, $700 NOS, first choice), mostly. The Strandberg Salen would be awesome, but that's like 2 grand. The Fender stuff isn't the right vibe I'm going for without going into the newer American Elite or whatever they're calling it now and that's over budget, even used.
Doesn't have to look exactly like a tele, doesn't have to sound vintage, and I'm very willing to do some work on it as long as the body, neck, and frets, are good. All thoughts welcome.

[spudmunkey]

You should be able to fine a ton of Carvin TL60 models in that price range.

Has 2 Fender-style single coils, and the bridge has to be a tele pickup Many TL60 are two single coils...I don't know enough about tele pickups to say anything about if it would or wouldn't work)
Has at least a back contour Back, forearm, and neck-through smooth heel
Thinner & wider than an old-school tele neck (42mm nut minimum) I believe TL60 would have had a 42mm nut, but I can't say how the thickness compares to an old school tele...but the radius is flatter on the TL60, I'm almost possitive
Not super vintage sounding that'll depend on the pickups, I suppose
Under $1000 Tons out there.

Search reverb for "Carvin TL60" and every one of them is under $899 shipped.

[HarlowTheFish]

You should be able to fine a ton of Carvin TL60 models in that price range.

Has 2 Fender-style single coils, and the bridge has to be a tele pickup Many TL60 are two single coils...I don't know enough about tele pickups to say anything about if it would or wouldn't work)
Has at least a back contour Back, forearm, and neck-through smooth heel
Thinner & wider than an old-school tele neck (42mm nut minimum) I believe TL60 would have had a 42mm nut, but I can't say how the thickness compares to an old school tele...but the radius is flatter on the TL60, I'm almost possitive
Not super vintage sounding that'll depend on the pickups, I suppose
Under $1000 Tons out there.

Search reverb for "Carvin TL60" and every one of them is under $899 shipped.

My issue with the TL60 (the cheapest one I've seen being $849) is that after labor costs, not even counting the new parts, they end up being more than I'm looking to spend.

[Naked Ape]

I Got the Chapman ML-3 Traditional (First version). It has a Duncan Custom mini humbucker with coil tap and a Fender Vintage Noiseless neck pickup. I absolutely LOVE it! Jumbo frets with a 14 inch fretboard radius.
All the Tele Tones with a modern feeling neck.
Goes from Trebly Twang to Thumping Big Bang!

[arahobob]

I Got the Chapman ML-3 Traditional (First version). It has a Duncan Custom mini humbucker with coil tap and a Fender Vintage Noiseless neck pickup. I absolutely LOVE it! Jumbo frets with a 14 inch fretboard radius.
All the Tele Tones with a modern feeling neck.
Goes from Trebly Twang to Thumping Big Bang!

I just picked up the Chappty ML-3 Pro Traditional - bad ass tele machine.
Sounds like just what you're looking for. It's definitely worth a test drive.

chappy.JPG

[Doctor Doug]

$529. All you need is some tung oil and sandpaper.

https://www.kieselguitars.com/catalog/kits/tlk1

[GuitFiddle]

Though I've not played one, the Chapmans listed look like exactly what you're asking for. Don't compromise on the plate bridge and the Tele bridge pickup; it's a big part of the Tele sound. A TL60 or TLK1 will not get you there.

[ElfDude]

Oh no you don't! I had Tele GAS earlier this year. Don't bring it back!

[Doctor Turn]

You and me both... I made that whole thread about it, and managed to shake it off, but this thread isn't helping. But if I do a Tele, I'm going to want that classic Tele sound (kinda the point).

And yes indeedy, that bridge plate (and imho the barrel bridge) are indispensable parts of that Tele recipe that can't be done away with.

[HarlowTheFish]

Oh no you don't! I had Tele GAS earlier this year. Don't bring it back!

Sorry.
. . . but aren't they nice and simple and awesome?

You and me both... I made that whole thread about it, and managed to shake it off, but this thread isn't helping. But if I do a Tele, I'm going to want that classic Tele sound (kinda the point).

And yes indeedy, that bridge plate (and imho the barrel bridge) are indispensable parts of that Tele recipe that can't be done away with.

I really dig the 3-barrel ashtrays with the cutaway sides for both access and vintagey cred. Really wanna try one with a reverse-angled bridge pickup, I feel like that'd work a little better for me.
Then again I wanna drop a Fralin Split Steel Pole in it so I wonder how much it'll matter.

[UnexplodedCow]

$529. All you need is some tung oil and sandpaper.

https://www.kieselguitars.com/catalog/kits/tlk1

I was told "all you need is love." Guess I was lied to.

Back on topic, the kit is a fantastic idea, though getting the Tele sound might require a pickup swap. About the closest I've heard (thus far) to a Tele would be the Lithium singles, in a video recently watched. Additionally, the Tele has some of its sound come from the bridge and pickup combo at the rear. The front pickup isn't really a big deal, and that sound can be found with the regular Carvin/Kiesel pickups.

Tons of options if you're handy, and have tools. If not, well, I second the kit with some mods, or a used TL60.

[ElfDude]

Back on topic, the kit is a fantastic idea, though getting the Tele sound might require a pickup swap. About the closest I've heard (thus far) to a Tele would be the Lithium singles, in a video recently watched. Additionally, the Tele has some of its sound come from the bridge and pickup combo at the rear. The front pickup isn't really a big deal, and that sound can be found with the regular Carvin/Kiesel pickups.

You might be able to order the kit with Lithium single coils. And with the bridge-add switch that comes standard, you can get that front and rear pickup combo, no problem.

[UnexplodedCow]

Back on topic, the kit is a fantastic idea, though getting the Tele sound might require a pickup swap. About the closest I've heard (thus far) to a Tele would be the Lithium singles, in a video recently watched. Additionally, the Tele has some of its sound come from the bridge and pickup combo at the rear. The front pickup isn't really a big deal, and that sound can be found with the regular Carvin/Kiesel pickups.

You might be able to order the kit with Lithium single coils. And with the bridge-add switch that comes standard, you can get that front and rear pickup combo, no problem.

i actually meant that the Tele's bridge also holds the pickup (as a unit, basically), that does affect the sound.. It's a little harder to get without that, or I'm a firm believer in such. As for bridge and neck pickup; yeah, that's not a problem.

[ElfDude]

Back on topic, the kit is a fantastic idea, though getting the Tele sound might require a pickup swap. About the closest I've heard (thus far) to a Tele would be the Lithium singles, in a video recently watched. Additionally, the Tele has some of its sound come from the bridge and pickup combo at the rear. The front pickup isn't really a big deal, and that sound can be found with the regular Carvin/Kiesel pickups.

You might be able to order the kit with Lithium single coils. And with the bridge-add switch that comes standard, you can get that front and rear pickup combo, no problem.

i actually meant that the Tele's bridge also holds the pickup (as a unit, basically), that does affect the sound.. It's a little harder to get without that, or I'm a firm believer in such. As for bridge and neck pickup; yeah, that's not a problem.

Yeah... that weird Tele bridge is definitely a thing.