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 |

BLACKSTAR FS-11 FOOTSWITCH
GEWA 3/4 VIOLIN CASE ASPIRANTE
MOOER GROOVE LOOP X2 STEREO LOOPER / DRUM MACHINE EFFECT PEDAL
TAMA HT430B DRUM THRONE
ELECTRO HARMONIX BASS BIG MUFF PI
REMO 14 VINTAGE AMBASSADOR COATED
GEWA 523130 RECTANGULAR ELECTRIC GUITAR CASE ECONOMY
ADAM AUDIO T8V 8-INCH POWERED STUDIO MONITOR
MOOER RAGE MACHINE METAL DISTORTION PEDAL
BLACKSTAR POLAR GO MOBILE AUDIO INTERFACE
BOSS ME90 GUITAR MULTI-EFFECT PROCESSOR
REMO 16AMBASSADOR CLEAR
REMO 14PINSTRIPE CLEAR
REMO 14AMBASSADOR SNARE SIDE HAZY
REMO BATTER AMBASSADOR FIBERSKYN 13”
ORANGE CRUSH 20 GUITAR COMBO
FENDER PURE VINTAGE 65 STRATOCASTER PICKUPS
EVANS 20 EQ3 RESONANT BLACK
FENDER VENICE SOPRANO UKULELE SHELL PINK 