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 |

ELECTRO HARMONIX EL84 POWER TUBE
BOSS FZ5 FUZZ
LINE6 HX STOMP
MEINL SONIC ENERGY SOLFEGGIO CRYSTAL SINGING BOWL 10" D#4/Fa/639 Hz
EVANS 24 EQ3 RESONANT BLACK
MEINL DJEMBE BAG LARGE BLACK
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES STD ACRYLUX RESO 25PACK
PEARL PC100P CONGA STAND PRIMERO 10-INCH
EVANS 22 EMAD2 BATTER CLEAR
EVANS 20 EMAD BATTER CLEAR KICK HEAD
K&M 14761 GUITAR PERFORMER STAND
AMPEG ROCKET BASS COMBO AMPLIFIER RB-210
EVANS 10 J1 ETCHED
K&M CLARINET STAND BLACK FOR A AND B CLARINETS
DUNLOP CRYBABY GCB95
FENDER PINWHEEL ROTARY SPEAKER EMULATOR
EVANS 22 RETRO SCREEN BLACK
EVANS 22 GENERA G1 COATED
EVANS 18 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR BASSDRUM HEAD
YAMAHA C40 CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL
EVANS 22 GENERA G2 CLEAR BASS DRUM HEAD
MOOER HUSTLE DRIVE DISTORTION MDS2
AHEAD STICK TIP SAT
TAYLOR 314CE V-CLASS GRAND AUDITORIUM
AKG C1000S MK4
PROTECTION RACKET 9112 DJEMBE BAG
GRAPHTECH BLACK TUSQ XL PT-1215-00 BASS NUT CURVED BOTTOM SLOTTED 4-STRING
GIBRALTAR 5711S SINGLE PEDAL
K&M 20MM RUBBER FOOT FOR 21020,21060
YAMAHA CSAT924 MULTI CLAMP
GIBRALTAR 6711S SINGLE PEDAL
IBANEZ GSR205B-WNF 5 STRING ELECTRIC BASS WALNUT FLAT
K&M 18941 STACKER
EVANS 22 EMAD BATTER CLEAR
PEARL P3002D DEMON DRIVE
DUNLOP 6532 FINGERBOARD CONDITIONER
YAMAHA DFP 9500C
YAMAHA YFL-472 FLUTE
TAMA HH205 HI-HAT STAND
STAGG PHB-100 PICK HOLDER VARIOUS COLOURS
STAGG HARDSHELL CASE FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR SQUARE-SHAPED MODEL
FENDER AMERICAN STRAT BRIDGE SECTIONS
K&M 166 PIANO TUNING LEVER
SEYMOUR DUNCAN MARK HOLCOMB SIGNATURE OMEGA BRIDGE HUMBUCKER 6-STRING BLACK
E-BOW PLUS GUITAR EFFECT
ZOOM B1X FOUR BASS MULTI EFFECTS
FENDER CUSTOM '54 STRAT PICKUP
GIBRALTAR SC-BALRL
VIC FIRTH F1 WOOD TIP
SMT SPEAKON PANELMOUNT
PRESONUS QUANTUM 2
YAMAHA LP1WH PEDAL UNIT FOR P121, P125, P225, DGX670, P-S500, P-525 WHITE
PROSS KÕLAPLAAT D#2
MEINL MDOB DOUMBEK BAG MEDIUM
K&M 167 PIANO TUNING LEVER NICKEL
FENDER AMERICAN VINTAGE STRATOCASTER®-TELECASTER® TUNING MACHINES NICKEL
EVANS 22 EQ4 BATTER CLEAR
PROTECTION RACKET TIM14 TIMBA CASE
FENDER FB610 ELECTRIC BASS GIG BAG
VIC FIRTH T5 WOODEN TIMPANI MALLETS
VIC FIRTH CMN CLASSIC METAL NYLON TIP
STAGG TIKI SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIEH
YAMAHA HW 880 HARDWARE SET
BOSS GT1000CORE GUITAR EFFECTS PROCESSOR
GRETSCH G9110-L LONG NECK CONCERT UKULELE 