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 |

FENDER RUMBLE 200 V3 BASS COMBO
GIBRALTAR SC-BS4 BASS DRUM SPURS
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
EVANS EC2 COATED 13 INCH
EVANS 12 J1 ETCHED
EVANS 20 EQ4 BATTER CLEAR
MEINL NINO EGG SHAKER PAIR
EVANS 14 HAZY 200 SNARE SIDE
K&M 14315 CURVED SOPRANO SAXOPHONE STAND
GIBRALTAR SC-GCHML MEMORY CLAMP WING SCREWS
EVANS EC2 COATED 10 INCH
EVANS 12 GENERA G1 COATED TOM HEAD
K&M 167 PIANO TUNING LEVER NICKEL
MEINL NINO19R ABS BONGOS
TAMA DYNA-SYNC SINGLE PEDAL
EVANS 22 EMAD BATTER CLEAR
PROTECTION RACKET BOD16 BODHRAN CASE
MXR M152 MICRO FLANGER
EVANS 12 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
K&M 10065 MUSIC STAND BLACK
MEINL NINO562 WOOD SHAKER
FENDER 68 CUSTOM DELUXE REVERB 230V
ZOOM A1X FOUR ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT MULTI-EFFECTS PROCESSOR
KLOTZ TITANIUM PSP ANGLED 9M SUPREME GUITAR CABLE WITH SILENTPLUG
K&M 12297 LAMP FOR PIANO WHITE
MOOER SHIMVERB DIGITAL REVERB PEDAL
MXR M116 FULLBORE METAL
ORANGE CRUSH MINI 3W GUITAR COMBO
FENDER CLASSIC SHELL PICK PACK 12PCS MEDIUM
GRETSCH G9100-L LONG NECK SOPRANO UKULELE
PROTECTION RACKET CAJ1 CAJON BAG
GIBRALTAR SC-BDKR/L BASS DRUM ROD 4PCS
EVANS 16 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
EVANS EC2S FROSTED 8 IN.
MXR M148 MICRO CHORUS
FENDER '51 NOCASTER PICKUP
K&M 3/8 THREAD BOLT
KALA MAHOGANY CONCERT UKULELE
PROTECTION RACKET SUR16 SURDO CASE
STAGG TIKI SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIEH 