These are all American made, have heard that with a little modification the MIM teles aren't bad. I can pick a tele out from any other guitar on a recording, can also tell when I hear a strat.

Most country pickers play a tele because of it's sound, and I think it has something to do with the positioning of the pickups. The bridge pickup is very close to the saddles, and everyone knows how the tone of a guitar changes when you strum closer to the bridge with a pick. It sounds twangier, and a single coil pickup is usually more on the high end. I have different pickups in all of my teles, but they still sound like a tele.

The other country players like Brent mason, Johnny Hiland, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, just to mention a few use whatever the gig, or the recording calls for. Most of the time brent will play his modified tele, that's covered in smoke residue from all the bar gigs. Before Paul Reid Smith started their endorsement with Johnny Hiland, he always played a tele. The majority of the country lead, and solos today are recorded with a tele. Unless the song has blues feel to it, then they may go with a strat.

I'm thinking you're after the sound you hear in those hot solos by Brent, Brad, and Keith. I agree that you should play the guitar before you buy it, and on the 3 saddle thing you can always put a strat plus bridge on it with six saddles. I did that with my 93 tele, along with a few other mods.

Well that's enough out of me, I think I'll go pick on a tele for a while. Get ready for the gig tonight, hope everyone has a great weekend.

JD