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 |

EVANS 24 EQ3 RESONANT BLACK
PROTECTION RACKET 9112 DJEMBE BAG
EVANS 22 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
MEINL FD16T FRAME DRUM
EVANS 20 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR BASSDRUM HEAD
IBANEZ GRG170DXBKN
FENDER PINWHEEL ROTARY SPEAKER EMULATOR
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
DIGITECH CABDRYVR DUAL CABINET EMULATOR
STAGG UT-30 TENOR UKULELE MAHOGANY WITH BAG
MEINL MDJBS DJEMBE BAG SMALL
MEINL MTB TIMBALE BAG
EVANS 18 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR BASSDRUM HEAD
EVANS 10 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
EVANS 22 GENERA G1 COATED
MXR M290 MINI PHASE 95
BOSS XS-100 POLY SHIFTER EFFECTS PEDAL
AKG PERCEPTION 420
YAMAHA EAD10 DRUM MODULE WITH MIC PICKUP
DUNLOP AALP02 ANIMALS AS LEADERS PRIMETONE GREEN GUITAR PICKS .73MM (3-PACK)
STAGG US80-SE EL/AC SOPRANO UKULELE 