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 |

YAMAHA RYDEEN STUDIO BURGUNDY GLITTER WITH CYMBALS
EVANS 18 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
EVANS 20 EMAD2 CLEAR BATTER HEAD
YAMAHA STAGE CUSTOM BIRCH 2F5 NATURAL WOOD
EVANS EC2S FROSTED 14 IN.
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
GIBRALTAR GPDS DJEMBE STAND
TAMA HH205 HI-HAT STAND
PROTECTION RACKET 9114 DJEMBE BAG
ZOOM B1X FOUR BASS MULTI EFFECTS
VIC FIRTH RUTE505 BRUSHES
YAMAHA YBL 822G Bb/ F&Bb/F/D CUSTOM BASS TROMBONE
VIC FIRTH F1 WOOD TIP
STAGG NMC3XPR XLR / JACK CABLE
ROLAND HP704 DIGITAL PIANO DARK ROSEWOOD
YAMAHA BB 234 BLACK
THOMASTIK-INFELD CELLO STRINGS 147 DOMINANT 1/2
KLOTZ M1 MIC CABLE 3M MALE XLR-JACK
VIC FIRTH AJ4 AMERICAN JAZZ
EVANS 16 GENERA G1 COATED TOM HEAD
PROTECTION RACKET 2020 BASS DRUM CASE
VIC FIRTH 3AN AMERICAN CLASSIC NYLON TIP
K&M 14044 STOOL BLACK FABRIC
TAMA 5-PIECE IRON COBRA 900 HARDWARE PACK
EVANS EC2 COATED 13 INCH
STAGG SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIOH 