This Telecaster Goes to 11
For Tele aficionados, the GT11 1963 Telecaster might just be the Fender Custom Shop’s greatest achievement. It all starts with a lightweight, roasted alder body — the epitome of balanced tone. A Sweetwater-exclusive 11"-radius fingerboard ensures effortless playability and laser-sharp precision. And no matter what you play, the GT11’s hand-wound ’51 Nocaster single-coil pickups will inject it with a jangly, smooth, sparkling character and a distinct twangy bite. Add in Fat ’50s wiring, and you’ve got a premium guitar that can tackle any style of music. A Relic body and neck combined with Closet Classic hardware give the GT11 Tele a vintage, worn-in look and feel with meticulous performance.
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You’ve never felt a Tele neck like this one
Some necks feel good, while others feel great. The GT11 1963 Telecaster goes way beyond great — you’ll feel an immediate personal connection to this guitar. The 11"-radius 3A rosewood fingerboard makes everything effortless. Play a chord by the nut or play a few licks at the 14th fret; it all feels the same — smooth and incredible. And the 3A roasted flamed maple neck features a ’60s-style Oval “C” shape that fills your hand perfectly, no matter where you’re playing. When we first got our hands on the GT11 here at Sweetwater, we were amazed at what a difference the 11" radius made — especially for players who were used to a radius flatter than the traditional Tele.
Hand-wound single-coil pickups dish out classic Tele tones
You're sure to cut through the mix, thanks to the GT11 1963 Telecaster’s hand-wound ’51 Nocaster single-coil pickups. These pups feature a period-correct design and exhibit the tight low end and clear, balanced midrange you'd expect from a vintage '50s Tele. And the bridge pickup twangs like it's nobody's business. Both of these single-coil pickups have been hand-wound to ensure the highest quality possible. The Fender Custom Shop wired the GT11 Tele with Fat '50s wiring, which loads the pickups slightly differently so that you can roll off the volume without losing high-frequency content along with causing a cool interaction between the volume and tone controls based on their individual settings.
Relic’d finish and hardware are packed with vintage appeal
The GT11 1963 Telecaster screams classic Fender. Its roasted alder body sports a relic’d nitro finish for the look of a vintage guitar that’s been played lovingly for decades. Many guitar collectors like the Relic look, but even more players get these guitars because they feel so comfortable and broken in. While the Relic look naturally calls for distressed hardware, many players prefer the smoother feel of Fender’s Closet Classic hardware for a slightly aged, vintage look. The GT11 Tele looks and feels like a well-worn instrument that will be comfortable and familiar right off the bat.
Fender Custom Shop GT11 1963 Telecaster Features:
- Sweetwater-exclusive Custom Shop Telecaster
- Handpicked roasted alder body produces a balanced tone with equal doses of lows, mids, and highs
- ’60s Oval C-shaped 3A roasted flamed maple neck fills your hand perfectly in all positions
- 11-inch-radius 3A rosewood fingerboard makes playing effortless
- Hand-wound single-coil pickups provide jangly, smooth, sparkling tones with a distinct twangy bite
- Reversed control plate for easier access to the volume control
- 3-way pickup switching with Fat ’50s hookup wiring
- Bone nut and '58-'63 Tele bridge ensure unfettered sustain
- Combines the well-worn feel of Relic wood with the newer feel of Closet Classic hardware
