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 20 EMAD2 CLEAR BATTER HEAD
STAGG KG356 GUITAR TUNERS
MEINL CTA2BBK TAMBOURINE
EVANS 20 EQ4 BATTER CLEAR
EVANS 10 UNO58 1000 COATED TOM HEAD
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES STD ACRYLUX NITRA 25-PACK
GEWA PIEZO-PICKUP WITH PLUG IN CABLE
MEINL SONIC ENERGY SINGING BOWL 1000G - UNIVERSAL SERIES
PROTECTION RACKET 9017 PERCUSSION BAG
K&M 124 TABLE MUSIC STAND NICKEL
PROTECTION RACKET CAJ2 CAJON BAG
FENDER PURE VINTAGE '74 JAZZ BASS PICKUP SET
BOSS GT100 GUITAR EFFECTS PROCESSOR
GRETSCH G2420T STREAMLINER HOLLOWBODY BRANDYWINE
BOSS M2 MULTI OVERTONE
PROTECTION RACKET 9110 DJEMBE BAG
STAGG ABS-W2 WESTERN GUITAR CASE
PROTECTION RACKET BOD16 BODHRAN CASE
PROTECTION RACKET SUR20 SURDO CASE
FENDER BASSMAN FUZZ PEDAL
K&M 16296 WALL MOUNT FOR ACOUSTIC GUITAR
FENDER VINTAGE NOISELESS STRAT PICKUPS
EVANS EC2S FROSTED 18 IN.
MEINL CONGA BAG 12 1/2 BLACK
FENDER TREAD-LIGHT WAH PEDAL
K&M 15250 FLUTE STAND
EVANS 22 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
EVANS 13 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
PRESONUS QUANTUM 2
MEINL 12-INCH PRACTICE PAD, BENNY GREB SIGNATURE
MEINL MCHB CHIMES BAG
EVANS EC2 COATED 13 INCH
K&M 17581 ELECTRIC GUITAR STAND CORK
EVANS 18 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
ELECTRO HARMONIX FREEZE
MOOER RAGE MACHINE METAL DISTORTION PEDAL
MEINL FD14BE BENDIR FRAMEDRUM
EVANS EC1 COATED 12 INCH
GIBRALTAR GCS-M CONGA STAND
MEINL MC-4 PERCUSSION CLAMP
GIBRALTAR 6711S SINGLE PEDAL
FOCUSRITE SCARLETT 2i2 STUDIO PACK 4TH GEN
FENDER FAT '50 PICKUP SET
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 50PLB01 PLANET LOCK BLACK SATIN
EVANS 20 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
MEINL MSTBB1 BONGO BAG
EVANS 10 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
EVANS 26 EQ3 RESONANT BLACK
PEARL HCL-205QR HI-HAT CLUTCH
STAGG SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIOH 