The scenic route type
What if “traditional” isn’t really your style?
You don’t have to flip something classic on its head to modernize it. Take a ukulele for example. It’s an instrument with instantly recognizable sound—crisp highs, warm mid-range tone, and a pleasant, mellow volume.
Of course, most people naturally think of the beach or a sunny meadow when they hear one.
And while you may envision live concerts instead, you’re probably not going to completely shred on a ukulele, although we’re SURE those videos exist somewhere.
But traditional ukuleles can use a little bit of that edge in their look to cultivate a specific style, so we entertained some ideas.
How would a reverse headstock with inline tuners work on a ukulele?
Could the position dots be used differently to add a subtle jolt of personality? A few tweaks and wow … things were looking sharp.
Our family business
We’re based in the small town of Gutenstetten, Germany. At Ortega Guitars, our family-owned business operates around the idea that classics are classics but there’s always room for fresh creativity.
Specifications:
| Neck & Headstock | Reversed headstock, 4 in line RUHZ-SBK, RUHZ-SFG: Okoume neck & headstock veneer, satin finish RUHZ-MM: Mahogany headstock |
| Body top | RUHZ-SBK, RUHZ-SFG: Okoume top, satin open pore RUHZ-MM: Mahogany |
| Back & sides | RUHZ-SBK, RUHZ-SFG: Okoume top, satin open pore RUHZ-MM: Mahogany |
| Body binding | Black ABS top, bottom & fretboard binding (RUHZ-SBK fretboard only) |
| Scale (mm/inch) | 376mm (14,8″) |
| Fretboard | Tecwood fretboard & bridge |
| Number of frets | 18 |
| Nut width (mm/inch) | 35 mm (1,38″) |
| Machine heads | Die cast tuning machines, black w/ black buttons |
| Tuning | G-C-E-A |
| Strings | Ortega Guitars UWNY-4-CC Strings |

YAMAHA YBB 632S NEO SEERIA BB TUBA SILVER PLATED
STAGG TRI4 TRIANGLE
FENDER HOT NOISELESS STRAT PICKUPS
MEINL STB45L 4 1/2" LOW CHA CHA COWBELL HAND BRUSHED STEEL
FENDER LSR ROLLER NUT
STAGG ACB-320 AKORDIONI KOTT
FENDER VENICE SOPRAN UKULELE CHERRY
MEINL 10" BYZANCE VINTAGE SPLASH CYMBAL
MEINL STB625 6 1/4" MEDIUM TIMBALES COWBELL HAND BRUSHED STEEL
MEINL NINOADJ2XS WOOD DJEMBE
YAMAHA TROMPET/KORNET VALVE PROTECTOR VINYL
ORTEGA HORIZON SEERIA KONTSERT UKULELE OKOUME MUST
IBANEZ GA5TCE KLASSIKALINE KITARR W/ PICK-UP
FENDER STANDARD SEERIA BASS BRIDGE SADDLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT SCREWS
YAMAHA FLÖÖDI PUHASTUSVARRAS PUIT
MEINL MSM4 SKIN MARAKAS
FENDER AMERICAN STANDARD KEEL GUIDES CHROME
DADDARIO KRDL KAPLAN PREMIUM ROSIN LIGHT
YAMAHA GL1 GUITALELE BLACK 