telecaster help

I'm about to buy a new guitar and I really want to get a Telecaster, but my budget is no more than $500. I was looking at the Fender Blacktop Tele and I'm kinda digging it, but if there's anything else that you guys think I should consider a look at then please let me know.

It depends on why you want a Tele. I don't know of any blacktops that don't have an HH setup, and those don't sound like a Tele. If you want something that sounds like a Tele, I'd recommend something like a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster or an off-brand. That being said, there's nothing wrong with the blacktop.

Yeah, I don't like Tele's with HB pickups either. You should able to get a Mexican Tele for that sort of cash, and they're good guitars. You might even be able to afford to stick a couple of "texas special" pick-ups in it, or a Seymour Duncan Vintage 50's, but even standard, they're nice guitars. The HH thing just spoils a Telecaster though - it loses that brilliant "chiming" treble which is why so many players love them.

Personally, I kind of like the blacktops. But they're hardly traditional. What I'm thinking is...

Mexican Tele + Bill Lawrence's Keystones = Heaven for under $600.

I've never heard of those, are the straight single coils or stacked HB's? You're right though, a Mexican Tele with a nice set of PUP's - You have yourself a damn nice guitar for very little money.

Here you go...

http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_Keystones.html