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 |

HOHNER BLUES HARP C-MAJOR
KLOTZ M1 MIC CABLE 3M FEMALE XLR-JACK
FENDER VINTAGE-STYLE TRUSS ROD NUT
MEINL 16BYZANCE JAZZ MEDIUM THIN CRASH
MOOER ENSEMBLE KING CHORUS PEDAL
KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER 6M
YAMAHA PCY 135A
GIBRALTAR GHLTB HARDWARE BAG 110CM WITH ROLLS
DADDARIO ECG23 CHROMES
YAMAHA TP70S 3-ZONE PAD
PEARL EXPORT EXX705C STUDIO DRUM SET ARCTIC SPARKLE
EVANS EC2 COATED 10 INCH
HOHNER SILVER STAR F-MAJOR
THOMASTIK-INFELD VIOLIN STRINGS 135 DOMINANT 1/8 MEDIUM
MXR M195 NOISE CLAMP
MEINL MCAJ100BKMA HEADLINER CAJON BLACK
KALA MAKALA SOPRANO UKULELE PACK WITH TUNER & BAG 