The Fender Custom Shop GT11 Stratocaster – Only from Sweetwater

At Sweetwater, we had an idea. What if we took an extremely comfortable, worn-in guitar and modified it with upgrades and appointments that gigging players want? We did exactly that with the help of Fender and our guitar experts here at Sweetwater! To accomplish this, we made a list of everything we wanted and then worked with Fender Custom Shop to make it a reality. Presenting the GT11 Stratocaster.

From its handpicked roasted alder body to its roasted flame maple neck, the Sweetwater-exclusive GT11 Strat is loaded — and we do mean loaded — with everything a Strat aficionado could want: a unique, Sweetwater-exclusive 11-inch radius with either a rosewood or maple fingerboard, hand-wound single-coil pickups, custom wiring, and Closet Classic hardware. Get your hands on the GT11 Strat, and you’re guaranteed a one-of-a-kind playing experience.

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Exclusive 11-inch Radius & Roasted Tonewoods

The 11-inch radius is special in many ways, most notably that it’s a Sweetwater-exclusive size! Whether you play cowboy chords, solos on the upper part of the neck, or anything in between, you’re going to enjoy the feel of the neck. When we first got our hands on the GT11 here at Sweetwater, we were amazed at what a difference the 11-inch radius made — especially for players accustomed to a radius wider than the traditional Strat.

The GT11 Stratocaster’s standout feature is its roasted flame maple neck with the 11-inch radius. The roasting process that Fender applies to the GT11 makes the guitar lighter by drawing out water weight and more stable than unroasted necks. It’s a sure bet you’ve never felt one like it. It fills your hand perfectly, thanks to its ’60s-style Oval C shape, and its AAA rosewood fingerboard lends new meaning to the word “smooth.”

But don’t just take it from us — try this Fender Custom Shop GT11 Strat for yourself, and you’ll see why the experts here at Sweetwater think this is one of the best Stratocasters ever made.

But don’t just take it from us though, try this Fender Custom Shop GT11 Strat out for yourself and see why the experts here at Sweetwater think this is one the best Stratocaster ever made.

Mike Lewis-designed Single-coil Pickups

The hand-wound single-coil pickups in the GT11 Strat were custom-designed by Vice President of Product Development Mike Lewis. Mike sadly passed away in 2023, but these pickups embody everything he stood for: great, characterful sound that inspires even the most seasoned guitarists.

Dubbed “Sweet ’64s,” these exclusive pups were voiced especially for this model, and they sound sublime. Underwound for superior note separation and clarity, Sweet ’64s exhibit a full-range sound with fat lows, sparkling highs, and balanced mids. As for ice-pick frequencies, you won’t find any of those here — you’ll get nothing but smooth glassiness from this guitar. We tested the GT11 through clean and boutique amps and more than a few high-gain models, and it excelled every time.

Fat ’50s Custom Wiring

When Sweetwater custom-spec’d the GT11 Stratocaster, we loaded it with the features that players request most. Everything looks pretty standard with 5-way switching and one volume and two tone controls. But under the hood lurks Fender’s Fat ’50s wiring, which functions like a treble bleed to avoid tone loss when you adjust the volume knob. Beyond that, a Half Blender tone control blends the neck pickup into switch positions 1 and 2. You also get a master tone control. And like most modern Strats, the middle pickup is reverse-wound/reverse-polarity for hum-free operation in positions 2 and 4.

The Fender GT11 is Now in the Fender American Pro II Series

For those looking for a Fender Custom Shop-style guitar that is in standard production, the Fender American Professional II GT11 Stratocaster is here to blow you away! The American Pro II GT11 Strat has the DNA of the Fender Custom Shop GT11 with an 11-inch radius, roasted maple neck, custom wiring, and more at a price point that is worth drooling over. With this version, Sweetwater decided to take inspiration from the rock idols of the ’60s and equipped the GT11 Strat with a trio of Fender Custom Shop Fat ’60s pickups to capture warm lows, rich midrange, and mellow highs. Needless to say, this is a must-have for any guitarist looking to have one of the best-sounding Stratocasters ever produced.

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The Ultimate Stratocaster?

Is the GT11 the ultimate Stratocaster? Nearly everyone who’s picked it up seems to think so. The look, the feel, the sound — it’s got it all. If you’ve exhausted yourself searching for the perfect Custom Shop Strat, then you owe it to yourself to play the GT11. For most of us, it was one of those life-changing guitar-playing experiences.

The GT11 Stratocaster is available in multiple colors, and you’ll only find it at Sweetwater. Want to take it for a test drive? Call your Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700, and we’ll hook you up.
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