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 |

AKG WMS40 MINI VOCAL SET ISM2
MEINL PROTON SHAKER BLACK
HOHNER BLUES HARP G-MAJOR
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO LIGATURE FOR TENOR SAXOPHONE, HARD RUBBER-STYLE LIGATURE & CAP SET RTS1N
GIBRALTAR S9608R STANDARD ROUND SEAT
EVANS 20 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
MEINL SYMPHONIC ORCESTRAL 18-INCH HEAVY SY-18H
YAMAHA WS860
NINO Percussion 10 Rope Tuned Synthetic Djembe Goatskin Head
YAMAHA DTX 402K ELECTRONIC DRUM KIT
VIC FIRTH CMN CLASSIC METAL NYLON TIP
YAMAHA HS1200D
FENDER CLASSIC SERIES CASE STRAT/TELE BLACK
TAMA HH205 HI-HAT STAND
EVANS 10 J1 ETCHED
EVANS 10 UNO58 1000 COATED TOM HEAD
GIBRALTAR GCS-LSP CONGA STAND
EVANS 13 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER ANGLED 3M
YAMAHA FX 370CBL
TAYLOR 812CE
HARDCASE 24"BASSDRUM CASE
GIBRALTAR GHBS HARDWARE BAG SMALL
EVANS 12 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
YAMAHA PACIFICA 212VQMCBR QUILTED MAPLE CARAMEL BROWN
FENDER 4-WAY TELE SWITCH
YAMAHA YCR 8335 CORNET
KLOTZ AY50300 Y-CABLE MINIJACK/2XJACK 3M
FENDER FE620 ELECTRIC GUITAR BAG
DADDARIO EJ44 PRO ARTE
ELECTRO HARMONIX B9 ORGAN MACHINE
SENNHEISER XSW 1-835
K&M 24035 DRUM MIC.HOLDER BLACK
STAGG GCA-WBK WESTERN CASE
HOHNER BRAVO II 48 BLACK SILENT KEY
MEINL PERCUSSION TMWB-S WOOD TEMPLE BLOCK C6 SMALL
MEINL HC1 HAND CASTANETS
HOHNER BRAVO III 96 BLACK SILENT KEY
PROTECTION RACKET 3005 SNARE CASE
EVANS 22 EMAD2 BATTER CLEAR
STAGG KIDS CAJON BLUE
DADDARIO ECG25 CHROMES
YAMAHA DZR 15D
YAMAHA SILVER POLISH CLOTH MEDIUM
MOOER THE WAHTER WAH PEDAL
YAMAHA BB 234 RASPERRY RED
EVANS 10 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
EVANS 13 GENERA G1 COATED TOM HEAD
GIBRALTAR GHBM HARDWARE BAG MEDIUM
GRETSCH G9110 CONCERT UKULELE 