A friend of mine (excellent player) did the same with Strats but also blinded for real (a mask on his eyes) and came up with a Japanese model up from all American series so I guess they're not really any rules just take what sounds the best in your hands is a great criteria

Did you had any Thinline in your collection of Tele's ? To me since I'm playing a Thinline Custom 72 (a year or so) I have hard times to go back to any other guitar even to my loved MIJ Esquire