I sure love my ESP Tele, but i can't say what you should go for. I spent about 1900 dollars for it and i guess i got what i paid for. You would find several variants of Fender American Tele's for much lower than that. One day i will own an Fender Tele as well as the ESP. Hard to tell friend. My ESP tele is very sensitive. It does not invite to pounding away. I heard a Fender Custom Shop Tele once (a relic actually whith this insane thick maple neck with lots of woodmarble in the grains of the maple, don't know how to explain this), and i have to admit it was amazing, and probably better than mine. Sounded just right out of the box. You sat ther mezmericed by just strumming one chord. So pure But it was about 2500 dollars +. That tele was fucking insane.