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 |

VIC FIRTH AJ6 AMERICAN JAZZ
BACH TB501 Bb TENOR TROMBONE
MEINL MSTCJB CAJON BAG
YAMAHA LACQUER POLISH MMLPOLISH02
YAMAHA FLUTE CLEANING ROD PLASTIC
TAMA TW100 TENSION WATCH
KLOTZ M1 MIC CABLE 1M XLR-XLR
MEINL MCPTS PERCUSSION TABLE
PEARL EXPORT EXX705C STUDIO DRUM SET ARCTIC SPARKLE
YAMAHA TRBX304 BLACK
EVANS 10 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
ELECTRO HARMONIX SILENCER NOISE GATE
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES PICK
IK MULTIMEDIA IRIG PRE HD
SQUIER AFFINITY SERIES PRECISION BASS PJ PACK 3-COLOR SUNBURST
ELECTRO HARMONIX BASS MONO SYNTH
MEINL ARTIST SERIES 11 3/4-INCH LUIS CONTE CONGA REMO NUSKYN HEAD NATURAL
PEARL P2052B ELIMINATOR TWIN PEDAL BELT DRIVE
MEINL NINOSET012 RHYTM ASSORTIMENT
PEARL B250QB CONTROL CORE QUAD BEATER
FENDER TEXAS SPECIAL STRAT PICKUPS
ZOOM F1LP FIELD RECORDER AND LAVALIER MICROPHONE
EVANS EC2S FROSTED 8 IN.
IBANEZ GSR200B-WNF ELECTRIC BASS WALNUT FLAT
YAMAHA GL1 GUITALELE PB
KLOTZ KIK 1,5M INSTRUMENT CABLE BLACK
YAMAHA YFL 517
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES KEITH URBAN SIGNATURE PICKS MEDIUM
DADDARIO EZ910 85/15 BRONZE
KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER ANGLED 9M
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES AMERICAN STAGE PW-AMSM-25
ROLAND HP702 DIGITAL PIANO CHARCOAL BLACK
STAGG UT-30 TENOR UKULELE MAHOGANY WITH BAG 