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 |

KLOTZ TITANIUM PSP ANGLED 9M SUPREME GUITAR CABLE WITH SILENTPLUG
STAGG US-WHITE SOPRANO UKULELE
ELECTRO HARMONIX POG2 POLYPHONIC OCTAVE GENERATOR
ERNIE BALL 12 STRING EARTHWOOD PHOSPHOR BRONZE ACOUSTIC
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO GRAND CONCERT SELECT ALTSAX 3,5
K&M 19792 TABLET PC TABLE STAND
YAMAHA BB 234 RASPERRY RED
BO-PEP 751.260 FLUTE FINGER REST LARGE HANDS
MEINL MB20 16MEDIUM HEAVY CRASH
D'ADDARIO RICO ORGANIC SELECT JAZZ FILED 2SOFT SOPRANO SAXOPHONE (X 3)
ZOOM H1ESSENTIAL STEREO HANDHELD RECORDER
MXR M87 BASS COMPRESSOR
KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER ANGLED 3M
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 50E03 WOVEN GUITAR STRAP SAUGERTIES
ROLAND TR-8S RHYTHM PERFORMER
TAYLOR 812CE
SHURE MV88 MOTIV DIGITAL STEREO CONDENSER MIC
PRS SE-SANTANA YELLOW
STAGG PROFESSIONAL 12 X 11 TOM BAG
PEARL FLUTE 505 E QUANTZ
STAGG CTUC5BK CLIP-ON TUNER
EVANS EC1 COATED 12 INCH
K&M 16280 GUITAR WALL MOUNT BLACK
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO HEMKE ASAX 3
YAMAHA MG12 XU MIXING CONSOLE
ZOOM F1LP FIELD RECORDER AND LAVALIER MICROPHONE
K&M 211 BOOM ARM black
YAMAHA TRBX 174EW TBL
D'ADDARIO RICO ORGANIC RESERVE 2,5 SOPRANO SAXOPHONE REEDS (X 3)
K&M 15281 PEG ADAPTER BLACK
IBANEZ RGA42FM BLF BLUE LAGOON BURST
K&M 17513 GUARDIAN STAND FOR 3 GUITARS
GEWA CLASSICAL GUITAR PRO ARTE GC 75 II 3/4 SIZE
AKG PERCEPTION 220
YAMAHA YFH 631G FLÜGELHORN
MEINL SONIC ENERGY STDB STEEL TONGUE DRUM MALLETS
ELECTRO HARMONIX STEREO ELECTRIC MISTRESS
KLOTZ JOE BONAMASSA GUITAR STRAIGHT 6M
MOOER BLUES MOOD DRIVE
YAMAHA YTR 4435II C TRUMPET
KORG G1 B AIR BLACK DIGITAL PIANO
YAMAHA YTR 8345S CUSTOM Bb TRUMPET SILVER PLATED
ROLAND KC-L 88 NOTE KEYBOARD COVER LARGE
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES PWSHG01 GUITAR STRING HEIGHT GAUGE
STERLING SILO20BK
IBANEZ GRG170DXBKN
STAGG REPLACEMENT CORD FOR SPM NEW STYLE
STAGG SUS-PED5 SUSTAIN PEDAL
K&M 232 TABLE MIC.STAND
AHEAD STICK TIP BALL
KEELEY VIBE-O-VERB
TAKAMINE GD30CE-BLK
TAMA HP900RN
YAMAHA YSL 882O Bb/F CUSTOM XENO TENOR TROMBONE YELLOW BRASS BELL OPEN WRAP
ERNIE BALL STAINLESS STEEL POWER SLINKY
K&M 230/2 GOOSENECK XLR NICKEL
TAYLOR 312CE-N NYLON STRING ELECTRO ACOUSTIC NATURAL
YAMAHA YSL 446GE Bb/F TENOR TROMBONE GOLD LACQUER
YAMAHA PICCOLO FLUTE CLEANING ROD BMMCRODPC02
YAMAHA YTR 8345G CUSTOM Bb TRUMPET GOLD BRASS BELL
YAMAHA CLEANING SWAB FOR BASS CLARINET
STAGG WIS-A40 FLUTE AND CLARINET STAND
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO LA VOZ ASAX MEDIUM SOFT
WITTNER TAKTELL PICCOLO RUBY RED 834
JAHN 208567 PIANO REDUCTOR WOOD FLOOR PROTECTOR 80MM
ADAMS REVOLUTION TIMPANI 26 HAMMERED COPPER
STAGG NMC3R XLR CABLE DELUXE
LINE 6 POD EXPRESS BASS MULTI EFFECTS PEDAL
TAMA CM8P CYMBAL MATE
YAMAHA YFL212 FLUTE
K&M 101 MUSIC STAND NICKEL
K&M 23850 MIC.DESK ARM WITH CLAMP
YAMAHA PACIFICA 012RMII ELECTRIC GUITAR RED METALLIC
YAMAHA YTR 8345GS CUSTOM Bb TRUMPET GOLD BRASS BELL SILVER PLATED
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES SHINE PWPL03
STAGG US-NAT SOPRANO UKULELE 