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 22 GENERA G2 CLEAR BASS DRUM HEAD
BOSS KATANA MINI
K&M CONDUCTOR STAND DESK 12338
STAGG SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIOH
YAMAHA FC7 EXPRESSION PEDAL
MEINL WHITE-FROSTED CRYSTAL SINGING BOWLS 16-INCH, HEART CHAKRA
PROTECTION RACKET CAJ1 CAJON BAG
YAMAHA CG 162S CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL SPRUCE SOLID WOOD
PROTECTION RACKET SUR22 SURDO CASE
MOOER TRELICOPTER OPTICAL TREMOLO
EVANS 24 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR KICK HEAD
MEINL 3-PIECE SPECIAL ENGRAVED SINGING BOWL SET 600/800/1000G
FENDER PURE VINTAGE 63 PRECISION BASS PICKUPS SET
FENDER LEVEL SET BUFFER PEDAL
EVANS 10 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
YAMAHA CG 182C CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL CEDAR SOLID WOOD
SEYMOUR DUNCAN MARK HOLCOMB SIGNATURE OMEGA BRIDGE HUMBUCKER 6-STRING BLACK
EVANS 12 J1 ETCHED
K&M 144/1 BARITONE SAX STAND
EVANS 22 EQ4 BATTER CLEAR
KLOTZ TITANIUM PSP 3M SUPREME GUITAR CABLE WITH SILENTPLUG
K&M 14330 ALTO SAX STAND JAZZ BLACK
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 25LB04 BEATLES STRAP
TAYLOR 812CE
MEINL MSTCJB CAJON BAG
MXR M152 MICRO FLANGER
YAMAHA PACIFICA 311H VINTAGE WHITE ELECTRIC GUITAR
MEINL MDOB DOUMBEK BAG MEDIUM
PEARL ADP-30 ADAPTER CLAMP
TAMA CB90R IRON COBRA RUBBER BEATER
MEINL STDJSTBK DJEMBE STAND
YAMAHA FC4A SUSTAIN PEDAL
ROYAL BY D'ADDARIO TENOR SAXOPHONE REEDS 1.5 (3 PACK)
STAGG BX BASS LIMITER
MEINL HE114 DARBUKA
BOSS M2 MULTI OVERTONE
TAYLOR 412CE V-CLASS
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO GRAND CONCERT SELECT TSAX 3
YAMAHA APX 700II BL
GIBRALTAR SC-0121 KEY SCREW
FENDER VINTAGE STYLE TUNING KEYS FOR STRAT/TELE
YAMAHA YW10T WIRELESS TRANSMITTER
BOSS OD3 OVERDRIVE
PROTECTION RACKET 9116 DJEMBE BAG
REMO 20EMPEROR CLEAR
SENNHEISER E865
GIBRALTAR 9608E DRUM THRONE
K&M 17541 ACOUSTIC GUITAR STAND BLACK
EVANS 18 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR BASSDRUM HEAD
K&M 15235 FLUTE HOLDER BLACK
DUNLOP BODYGLOSS 65 CREAM OF CARNAUBA
GRAPH TECH PT-4025-00 BLACK TUSQ XL BLANK
STAGG MUSA4BK FOLDABLE MUSIC STAND
DADDARIO WOODWINDS LA VOZ TENOR SAXOPHONE REEDS 5-PACK RKC05MH
MEINL NINOADJ4XS WOOD DJEMBE
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES STRAP PWSPL200
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO ROYAL TSAX 3
BOSS RC-505 MKII LOOPER EFFECT PEDAL
KORG EC5 PEDAL CONTROLLER
EVANS 22 EQ3 BATTER COATED
IK MULTIMEDIA IRIG ACOUSTIC
K&M 11581 MAGNETS
STAGG US-WHITE SOPRANO UKULELE
K&M 149/9 TROMBONE STAND BLACK
KALA MAHOGANY CONCERT UKULELE 