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 |

DUNLOP ULTRAGLIDE 65
FENDER CLASSIC SHELL 12PK HEAVY
EVANS 13 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
STAGG PP52 BASS PEDAL
REMO 14POWERSTROKE 3 COATED
AKG PERCEPTION 820 TUBE
EVANS 10 J1 ETCHED
YAMAHA HW 880 HARDWARE SET
EVANS 10 UNO58 1000 COATED TOM HEAD
EVANS 10 GENERA G2 CLEAR TOM HEAD
SUPRO DELTA KING 10 TWEED/BLACK ELECTRIC GUITAR COMBO AMP
K&M 3/8 THREAD BOLT
FENDER BLUES JUNIOR IV 30TH ANNIVERSARY GUITAR AMPLIFIER
EVANS 20 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
EVANS 12 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
EVANS 20 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR BASSDRUM HEAD
DIGITECH DOD GONKULATOR RING MODULATOR
STAGG TIKI SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIEH 