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 |

ERNIE BALL HYBRID SLINKY 09-46
YAMAHA TRBX504 BROWN
HOHNER BRAVO II 48 BLACK SILENT KEY
FENDER AMERICAN VINTAGE STRATOCASTER®-TELECASTER® TUNING MACHINES
BLACKSTAR HT-5R MKII COMBO
YAMAHA MG12
GRETSCH G6296 ROUND NECK RESONATOR FLAT TOP CASE BLACK
VIC FIRTH 2BN AMERICAN CLASSIC NYLON TIP
HOHNER MARINE BAND 1896 C-HARMONIC MINOR
PROTECTION RACKET 16X14 TOM CASE
ALESIS ACOUSTIC LINK
K&M 28308 PANEL 8XLR
ART HEADAMP4 AMPLIFIER
EVANS EC2S FROSTED 8 IN.
EVANS 10 UNO58 1000 COATED TOM HEAD
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES CUSTOM SERIES 15FT CABLE
PEARL PPBKCP5 DRUMMERS MAT
EVANS 10 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
MEINL 17BYZANCE THIN CRASH
EVANS 22 EQ3 BATTER COATED
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 50JS02 JOE SATRIANI STRAP UP IN FLAMES
THOMASTIK-INFELD 4/4 VIOLIN STRINGS 135W DOMINANT NYLON CORE SOFT
PROTECTION RACKET SUR16 SURDO CASE
KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER ANGLED 3M
YAMAHA GL1 GUITALELE 