He does like that tele look. And I like the idea of him playing that scale. Yes, TV Jones pups are a type of humbucker. And they would likely cost as much as a used squier thinline at least. But as shown in Jim's Twang King thread, they can be very versatile and have a great set of sounds.
I think the most likely alternative would be a Blacktop tele or other vintage modified Squier with a bucker. But then he would miss out on the lightening aspects of the thinline. It is one of the things he really likes about my buddy's Rickenbacker, how light it is. Tele's are not known for being real light, but I bet the chambered or thinline models are a bit lighter.
Steve Thompson
Sun Valley, Idaho
Guitars: Fender 60th Anniversary Std. Strat, Squier CVC Tele Hagstrom Viking Semi-hollow, Joshua beach guitar, Martin SPD-16TR Dreadnought
Amphs: Peavey Classic 30, '61 Fender Concert
Effects and such: Boss: DS-1, CE-5, NS-2 and RC20XL looper, Digitech Bad Monkey, Korg AX1G Multi-effects, Berhinger: TU100 tuner, PB100 Clean Boost, Line 6 Toneport UX2, Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff Pi, DuhVoodooMan's Rabid Rodent Rat Clone, Zonkin Yellow Screamer Mk. II, MXR Carbon Copy Delay
love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. . .
- j. johnson