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 EARTHWOOD PHOSPHOR BRONZE ACOUSTIC 12-54
BLACKSTAR UNITY 60
YAMAHA U1 SAW
JBL 306P MKII MONITOR
AKG WMS420 HEADWORN SET
ORANGE ROCKER 32 GUITAR TUBE COMBO
PAISTE 12 PSTX CAJON HATS
MEINL SBR SAMBA BELT RED
VIC FIRTH AJ4 AMERICAN JAZZ
PROTECTION RACKET 14X12 TOM CASE
HOHNER SPECIAL-20 CLASSIC A-MAJOR
ERNIE BALL HYBRID SLINKY 09-46
STAGG PSB-SET4 HARDWARE BAG
PRESONUS ERIS E66 HIGH-DEFINITION 2-WAY 2X6.5" MTM NEAR FIELD STUDIO MONITOR ( 1 piece)
EVANS 22 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
YAMAHA STAGE CUSTOM BIRCH 0F5RBL
YAMAHA TRBX505 WHITE
YAMAHA DTX10K-M BF ELECTRONIC DRUM KIT MESH HEADS BLACK FOREST
FENDER NYLON PICKPACK
VIC FIRTH AJ1 AMERICAN JAZZ
YAMAHA B2E SC3 SILENT PIANO POLISHED EBONY
PROTECTION RACKET 5028W HARDWARE BAG
FENDER DOG BONE AMP HANDLE BROWN
YAMAHA PIANO COVER S4
YAMAHA DTX10K-M RW ELECTRONIC DRUM KIT MESH HEADS REAL WOOD
BOSS SD1 SUPER OVERDRIVE
KLOTZ ATCJ0100 TWINCABLE 1m.
YAMAHA LC930A
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
KLOTZ M2 MIC CABLE 5M XLR-XLR
HOHNER MARINE BAND 1896 B-MAJOR
EVANS EC2S FROSTED 8 IN.
MEINL MDJBS DJEMBE BAG SMALL
YAMAHA CHH 930
TAMA HP900RN
STAGG HARDSHELL CASE FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR SQUARE-SHAPED MODEL
YAMAHA SILVERPOLISH CLOTH LARGE
YAMAHA YAH 203 ALTO HORN
PEARL P-930 DEMONATOR SINGLE PEDAL
PRESONUS ERIS PRO 6 HIGH-DEFINITION COAXIAL MONITOR
EVANS 18 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
GÖLDO STRAT PICKUP SCREW NICKEL
MEINL THBS HEADLINER BONGO STAND
EVANS 10 J1 ETCHED
DADDARIO PRELUDE J910 MM VIOLA SET MEDIUM
TC ELECTRONIC SPARK BOOSTER
YAMAHA YBL 822G Bb/ F&Bb/F/D CUSTOM BASS TROMBONE
GRETSCH GB4163S USA BROOKLYN SNARE 13X7 CHROME OVER STEEL
STAGG US-RED SOPRANO UKULELE 