No money pit if you don't want it to be.
Will this be a traditional SS Tele?
Does it need to be high end and special, or is a good playing and sounding more basic Tele the goal?
The Fender, if you want it, hardware is not crazy expensive; bridge, control plate, neck plate, ferrules, etc.
There are some decent licensed necks out there from WD Music, Allparts, etc for around or under $200; check the specs carefully. You may have to settle for some spec. or detail vs. what are your must have specs. Or spend a little more to get more of what you want.
In any case you may need to do some fret dress work to make it the best player it can be.
Ebay has cheapy neck offerings that can be hit or miss, but lots of offerings in the $40 to $70. range.
Fender brand tuners are not crazy expensive, and the Musiclily PRO series ones I have used are very or at least pretty good (depending on what you are comparing them to), and at least as good as the ones used on the top line Squier guitars.
Pickups: consider Bootstrap. I have several different single coils sets and am very pleased with them, though I am not a Fender first player and have not played actual Fender Tele or Strat pickups. The only Tele set I have is in this guitar, the Extra Crispy set. They are around $55. shipped for the set. The wait time is 5 weeks or so, but worth it in my opinion.
I'm in for well under $400 total for the one I built recently and the only thing I could say is the final sanding on the body before the finish is a little rough. (It came finished).
But, it is a pine barncaster type deal and I love it.
I had some items on hand: pots and cap, saddles, knobs, strap buttons, nut blank, misc. screws, jack, etc.
The (used) Fender staggered tuners and the fall away cut nut slots negate the need for string tree(s).
This Well-Hung Bandito strap (while not specifically needed as the guitar is under 8lb. with no neck dive) really completes the deal for the Tele with No Name.
Wah Wah Whaaaaaaah.
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