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 |

DADDARIO WOODWINDS PLASTICOVER TENOR SAXOPHONE REEDS STRENGTH 2.0, 5-PACK RRP05TSX200
FENDER VINTAGE TWEED STRAP
YAMAHA REVSTAR ELEMENT LEFTY ELECTRIC GUITAR BLK
GRAPH TECH TUSQ LQ 6116 ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC GUITAR NUT FLAT SLOTTED 1 11/16" LONG
PEARL P2050C ELIMINATOR PEDAL
PROTECTION RACKET 9017 PERCUSSION BAG
STAGG SUS-PED5 SUSTAIN PEDAL
EVANS 12 GENERA G1 COATED TOM HEAD
GRAPHTECH TUSQ PQ-2200-00 F-STYLE GUITAR OR BASS NUT FLAT BLANK
K&M 15290 SOPRANO SAX STAND BLACK
EVANS EC2S FROSTED 18 IN.
EVANS 22 EMAD2 BATTER CLEAR
FENDER 4-WAY TELE SWITCH
EVANS 24 EQ3 RESONANT BLACK
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
K&M 10050 MUSIC STAND BLACK
MEINL MDJBS DJEMBE BAG SMALL
MEINL FD14BE BENDIR FRAMEDRUM
YAMAHA GL1 GUITALELE TOBACCO SUNBURST
PROTECTION RACKET SUR20 SURDO CASE
EVANS 16 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
STAGG US-WHITE SOPRANO UKULELE 