If you’re looking for a truly unique and eye-catching guitar, check out the Fender Tash Sultana Stratocaster! This article reveals everything that makes this axe a must-have, even if you already own a traditional Strat.
You can use the table of contents below to take you to the area that interests you. Click on the little box to open it and then click on the section of the article you want to read, or you can read from start to finish if you want the full Tash Sultana experience!
What Is The Fender Tash Sultana Stratocaster?
Tash Sultana partnered with Fender to design a Signature Strat that would meet the demands of the type of music she writes and plays.
It is finished in transparent cherry with a matching painted headstock and gold hardware to create its stunning look.
This guitar has the neck design, hardware, and pickups to make it play and sound as good as it looks!
The Yosemite single-coil neck and middle pickups give it clarity and sparkle, while the Double Tap humbucking bridge pickup provides a wide range of tonal options.
Tash Sultana Strat – Cheat Sheet
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ☆ 9.25 Out Of 10
Price $1,300 (Street)
The Tash Sultana Strat gives you classic 3 single-coil sound by tapping the bridge position humbucker. You can get a thicker lead sound with both bridge coils engaged.
The Fender Double Tap Humbucker pickup does not have an appreciable volume loss which switched to single-coil mode.
If you want to go directly to the guitar’s specs then click here.
PROS
✅ Stunning looks!
✅ Plays great
✅ Yosemite & Double Tap pickups sound excellent
CONS
❌ No hardshell case (comes with gig bag)
❌ No Contoured Neck Heel
❌ A little pricey for beginners
Design
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
9.2 Out Of 10
Overall Quality
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
9.5 Out Of 10
Functionality
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
9.8 Out Of 10
Price
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
8.5 Out Of 10
Fender Company Profile
Unless you just started playing the guitar today, you are undoubtedly familiar with the Fender brand. These guitars have literally helped define rock n’ roll and blues history. Their original factory was in Fullerton California.
Fender guitars are now made in many parts of the world, with the American-made and Custom Shop guitar lines still made with pride in the USA.
The Fender Broadcaster was first introduced in the autumn of 1950. It became known as a “Nocaster” after the Broadcaster label was removed from the headstock to avoid a trademark lawsuit from Gretsch over their “Broadkaster” drum set. The guitar was re-branded the Telecaster and the rest is history!
Fender has also led the way with amplifiers. Their “K&F” (Doc Kauffman and Leo Fender) series were the very first Fender amps, made by the K&F Manufacturing Corporation. These amps formed the basis of the Woodie, Tweed, Blonde, Brownface, Blackface, and Silverface series.
Fender makes an extensive line of pickups for all their guitars and bass guitars. Their Custom Shop pickups are hand-wired with hand-beveled magnetic pole pieces and period-correct wire and bobbins.
Who Is The Tash Sultana Strat For?
The Tash Strat is for players that want an axe that plays as good as it looks. It has a modern “C”-shape maple neck with a 9.5″ radius fingerboard and 22 medium-jumbo frets that make string bending a breeze!
The Fender Double Tap humbucker pickup lets you switch the bridge pickup to single-coil mode without losing volume, and it sounds fantastic in combination with the two Yosemite pickups!
The Transparent Cherry finish and gold hardware are sure to get you noticed!
Tash Sultana Stratocaster Specifications
If you have any questions, leave me a comment, and I’ll get right back to you.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Body | Alder with gloss polyester finish |
| Shape | Strat with front and rear contour |
| Colors | Transparent (see-through) Cherry with matching painted headstock |
| Neck | Maple 4 Bolt-on, Modern C shape, Satin Urethane Finish on Back, Gloss Urethane Finish on Front |
| Branding | “Metallic” Fender logo on the headstock |
| Fingerboard Material | Maple (one-piece neck) |
| Fingerboard Specs | 9.25 Inch fingerboard radius with 25.5-inch scale length & black dot inlays |
| Nut | Bone with a 1.650-inch nut width |
| Frets | 22 Medium Jumbo |
| Hardware | Gold Finish |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo |
| Tuners | Fender® Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered with a single string tree |
| Neck Plate | Custom Engraved Tash Sultana “Skull” Neckplate |
| Electronics | |
| Neck Pickup | Yosemite® Single-Coil Stratocaster® |
| Middle Pickup | Yosemite® Single-Coil Stratocaster® |
| Bridge Pickup | Custom Double Tap™ Humbucking |
| Controls | 1 x master volume, 1 x neck/middle tone, 1 x bridge tone Push/Pull Pot For Coil Split on Humbucking Pickup |
| Switching | 5-way blade pickup switch (all 3 pickups individually plus neck-middle and middle-bridge pickup combos) |
| Miscellaneous | Weight: Approximately 8 pounds Strings: Fender® USA 250L Nickel-Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges) |
| Pickguard | 3-Ply Aged Pearl Pickguard with matching tremolo backplate |
| Transport | Gig Bag included |
| Warranty | 2-Year Limited |
| Manufactured | Mexico |
| Cost | $1,300 (street) |
Features And Benefits
Check Out These Great Tash Sultana Strat Features!
Transparent Cherry Finish With Matching Painted Headstock
The cherry finish lets the grain of the alder wood body peek through just enough and looks stunning with the matching painted headstock!
Bone Nut
This Strat has a real bone nut for tone and sustain enhancement.
3-Ply Aged Pearl Pickguard
The 3-ply pearl pickguard is aged, making it blend exceptionally well with the pickups and maple neck. It definitely helps bring the whole color scheme together in an undefinable way.
Custom Engraved Tash Sultana “Skull” Neckplate
You will absolutely love the smoking skull with a sombrero on the 4-bolt neck plate! It’s just the coolest thing. The embossed figure gives the back of the guitar a splash of attitude, Tash-style!
“Old-School” Tremolo Action
The vintage-style synchronized tremolo gives you that “Old-School” Strat feel and sound that only the original bridge setups could conjure.
What I Like About The Guitar
There are so many things to like about this guitar, not just its good looks. Let’s take a look “under the hood” at some of the things that make it a real winner!
Yosemite Single-Coil Pickups
Yosemite pickups in the neck and middle positions give you Alnico 4 magnets in a single-coil design. They have increased output with a sound that is dynamic and captures every nuance of your playing with clarity and sparkle, even at low volume and gain settings.
The pickups blend exceptionally well with the Double Tap pickup in the bridge position, especially in single-coil mode! The neck-middle pickup selector position gives you a great slightly out-of-phase sound with loads of depth!
Double Tap Humbucker Pickup
The Fender Tim Shaw-designed Double Tap humbucker pickup was a wonderful choice for this guitar! It typically comes in chrome and black (exposed coils with the cover removed), but Fender made it available in off-white to match the color of the single-coil Yosemite pickups.
The pickup can be split to a single-soil configuration without appreciable volume loss via the second (bridge pickup) push-pull tone control. Additionally, the Double Tap humbucker can be combined with the middle pickup in both double and single-coil mode.
Double And Single-Coil Pickup Combinations
Using the split coil of the bridge pickup combined with the middle pickup gives you a very “Straty” sound with just the right amount of quack. The volume of each pickup is very balanced in both tone and volume.
Using both coils of the bridge pickup combined with the middle pickup gives you a “throatier” and more aggressive sound that is still very musical-sounding.
You can learn more about this pickup in the next section below.
9.5 Inch Fingerboard With Medium-Jumbo Frets
The modern C shape neck with a 9.5-inch fingerboard radius makes the neck easy and fun to play. The satin urethane finish on the back allows your hand to glide up and down the neck with ease.
The fingerboard’s gloss urethane finish and 22 medium-jumbo frets make string bending a breeze, even with thicker gauge string gauges and very low action.
Stunning To Behold!
No other guitar has the unmistakable look of the Tash Sultana Strat. The “deep” cherry red body and the matching painted headstock give it an elegant touch! If you like transparent finishes, you need to check out this guitar up close and personal!
What Is The Fender Double Tap™ Humbucking Pickup?
Fender claims to have achieved a “revolutionary breakthrough” in a humbucker technology with a system designed by pickup guru Tim Shaw. This pickup combines the “full-throated” sound of a humbucker with the “articulate nuances” of a single coil pickup while virtually eliminating volume loss while in single coil mode.
The design is based on a special Alnico 4 magnet with a coil DC resistance of 8KΩ that has a light wax potting to control feedback without compromising tone.
While not a perfect replacement for a single coil unit, the Double Tap pickup may offer you an excellent compromise.
I have not had a chance to audition this pickup, but I’ll update this article with my impression of its sound and performance when I do.
For more info, see Humbucker Pickups VS Single Coil – Improve Your Guitar Tone! and Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Pickups – Which Set Is Best?
What You Might Not Like About It
This will be very brief compared to the “pro” section above, which is a testament to this guitar’s overall quality and functionality.
Here are a few things you should consider before purchasing this guitar.
No Contoured Neck Heel
A contoured neck heel would have totally complimented the design of this guitar, giving it excellent access to the highest frets. It is available on some other Fender Signature guitars, like the Jeff Beck model.
No hardshell Case
The guitar does not come with a hardshell case, but a gig bag is included.
A Little Pricey For Beginners
To be fair, at this price you do get a lot for your money, but it will probably be out of the financial reach of most beginning guitar players. Guitars that are made abroad could be more cost-friendly but this Mexican-made beauty has the quality to spare!
If you totally love playing the guitar and have made it a serious commitment to your art, I recommend you save your money and eventually indulge your desire.
Is The Gig Bag A Deal Breaker?
I believe that all guitars that cost $1,000 and over should come with a hardshell case that offers the instrument good protection for gig travel, etc. “Back in the day,” you couldn’t buy a Fender electric guitar without a sturdy case.
If you plan on subjecting this guitar to the rigors of the road, then I would definitely get a sturdier case. Sometimes a music store manager may be willing to upgrade your purchase to a hardshell case (and even a guitar setup) at no extra charge to “seal the deal.”
So, no, the gig bag is not a deal-breaker, but it’s definitely something to think about.
Who Is Tash Sultana?
Tash Sultana is an Australian multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer-songwriter. She has been playing the guitar since she was three years old.
Tash began her musical career busking on the sidewalks of Melbourne and became internationally known for her hit single “Jungle” in 2016, which led to a sold-out world tour in 2017. Her videos have been viewed millions of times on YouTube!.
Sultana is known for her multi-looped performances. She adds intriguing melodic lines over innovative guitar harmonies and drum machine rhythms with keyboard or synth parts in the background.
Tash plays a variety of other instruments as necessary, including the mandolin, lap steel, saxophone, flute, trumpet, harmonica, oud, and panpipes! She is essentially a one-person band.
Studio Albums
- Flow State (2018)
- Terra Firma (2021)
Music Awards
- National Live Music Award
- 2016 – Live Roots Act of the Year
- 2017 – Live Guitarist of the Year
- 2017 – International Live Achievement
- 2016: J Award – Unearthed Artist of the Year
- 2018: ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album (for Flow State)
- Pop Award
- 2019 – Album Of The Year Award (for Flow State)
- 2019 – Emerging Artist Of The Year Award
So, Is The Tash Sultana Signature Strat Legit?
This guitar can easily cover all the musical genres that Tash is known for, including reggae, soul, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock, and neo-soul.
She wanted a guitar that was “really broad-spectrum and player-friendly.”
In addition, the Double Tap humbucker pickup gives it the power to play full-on rock and heavy metal. At the same time, the tonal versatility of the guitar makes it able to cover a variety of jazz tunes easily.
The transparent cherry finish and gold hardware give this Strat a stunning look, and the neck configuration makes playing fast passages and note-bending a breeze.
So, yes, this Mexican-made Strat is totally legit!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about how Tash creates her signature sounds and some of the equipment she uses in the studio and on-stage.
How Does Tash Achieve Her Signature Sound?
Tash uses a variety of digital and analog pedals to get her signature sound. She generally prefers Boss pedals.
She will commonly begin with a guitar rhythm part and add multiple layers of looped sounds, including various guitar harmonies and melodies, with a mixture of other instruments.
Tash also uses reverb, delay, drum machine, sequencers, and EQ pedals (typically the Boss GE-7 EQ) to round out her overall sound.
Add her unique talent for composition and performance to the mix, and there you have it.
What Does Tash Sultana Use To Loop?
Her looper of choice has typically been the Boss RC-30 Loop Station. All her instruments and sampled sounds can run through loopers and effects, but her vocals typically do not.
What Effects Does Tash Commonly Use?
Tash has used the following effects (this is by no means a complete list):
- Boss GE-7 graphic equalizer (up to three at once)
- TC Electronics Hall of Fame Reverb
- BOSS TR-2 Tremolo
- BOSS DD-7 Delay
- BOSS TE-2 Tera Echo
- EHX Soul Food Overdrive
- BOSS ST-2 Power Stack
- Dunlop Crybaby Wah
- BOSS AW-3 Dynamic Wah
- Beta Aivin OC-100 Super Octave Divider
What Synthezixers And Samplers Does Tash Sultana Use?
Tash has used the following equipment (not a complete list):
- Korg MicroKorg synthesizer
- NORD Electro 4 Synthesizer
- Roland SP-404SX sampler
- Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad (drum sounds)
- HandSonic HPD-15 Hand Percussion Pad (drum sounds)
What Other Guitars Has Tash Sultana Used?
Tash has used a variety of guitars in the studio and live, including (not a complete list):
- Fender Jazzmaster
- Fender Jimi Hendrix Signature Stratocaster
- Fender Ritchie Kotzen Signature Telecaster
- Fender Reissue Thinline Telecaster
- Epiphone Les Paul Custom
- Maton 12-string acoustic.
What Guitar Amplifiers Does Tash Sultana Use?
In the studio, Tash has used various amplifiers, including (not a complete list):
- Fender Deluxe Reverb
- Vox AC30
- Marshall JCM 2000 head with an Orange PPC212OB Speaker Cabinet
Tash does not use guitar amplifiers when playing live. All her sound goes from her looper and effects direct out through the house PA system, “it’s all digital.”
Final Thoughts
Tash Sultana is an incredible multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and multi-loop layering innovator. She plays music in various genres, including reggae, soul, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock, and neo-soul.
The Fender Tash Sultana Stratocaster is a very versatile guitar with stunning looks and great sound. An aged 3-ply pickguard looks fantastic with the matching color pickups and really makes the transparent cherry finish pop.
It features a unique combination of two Yosemite single-coil pickups and a Double Tap humbucker in the bridge position, which does not lose its volume when tapped.
The modern C Shape neck profile makes it comfortable to play, and the 9.5-inch fingerboard with medium-jumbo frets allows easy string bending.
Sultana’s signature Strat has a bone nut and a 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo to give it a sound that has just the right “old-school” charm.
The guitar comes with a gig bag, but consider getting a hardshell case if you’re going to gig this instrument.
All-in-all, this guitar is an excellent buy for all that you get, but it is a little pricey at $1,300 (street), especially for beginning players.
Tell Me What You Think
Please leave a comment below if you enjoyed this Fender Tash Sultana Stratocaster review, have any questions about this product, or want to leave your own review. I will be happy to help you.
- Have you played the Tash Sultana Strat? What do you think of the guitar?
- What do you like best about it? Any pain-points?
- Would this guitar cover all the types of music you play?
- After reading this review are you thinking of purchasing the guitar?
The truth is that the Fender Tash Sultana Stratocaster features an exceptional quality and it’s actually one of the best Mexican-made Strats in the world. Undoubtedly, it will be a great choice for a lot of guitarists.
Hi, Emmanuel
Thank You for your comments!
Assuming you are a guitar player, give the Tash Sultana Strat a try if you get an opportunity. It looks, plays, and sounds fantastic.
Frank
Thank you for your review. I know nothing about guitars, so this Tash Sultana post was enlightening. I didn’t know it was made in Mexico either. The design is beautifully ornate, and it scores high in the functionality department. The price, $1,300 is pretty steep. Is this guitar good for beginners?
Hi, Shalisha
Thank You for your comments!
The Tash Sultana guitar is an excellent solid-body electric! Most beginners will find it to be on the pricey side.
My advice to students just starting is to buy something less costly. There are many guitars in the $300-$400 price range that would be excellent choices. You can always trade up or buy a second guitar.
Beginners need to be careful not to buy a guitar that is “poorly playable” since it could create discouragement and a loss of desire to continue.
I recommend you give the guitar, or any other instrument you enjoy the sound of, a try and see where it takes you!
Frank
I liked the looks and specs and was enough for me to buy it before I knew who she was. It’s my favorite guitar. I like bling so I changed the tuner buttons to pearloyed, (spelling?)
Hi, Barry
That’s great, – Big Congrats!
It is an awesome guitar and it must look great with the pearloid tuner buttons!
Have fun with that Strat! ? ?
Frank