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 |

AHEAD STICK TIP MBT
SHURE SUPER 55 DELUXE
K&M 15250 FLUTE STAND
BOSS GT1 MULTI EFFECT
SMT XLR FEMALE PANELMOUNT
YAMAHA PACIFICA 012RMII ELECTRIC GUITAR RED METALLIC
PROTECTION RACKET SUR18 SURDO CASE
STAGG US80-SE EL/AC SOPRANO UKULELE
DUNLOP 87B ELECTRIC TRIGGER CAPO
AKG C520 PROFESSIONAL HEAD-WORN CONDENSER MICROPHONE WITH STANDARD XLR CONNECTOR
GRAPH TECH TUSQ LQ 1720 ACOUSTIC GUITAR NUT FLAT SLOTTED
GRAPHTECH BLACK TUSQ XL PT-1200-00 BASS NUT FLAT SLOTTED 4-STRING
GRETSCH G9100 SOPRANO UKULELE
STAGG SCL70 CLASSICAL GUITAR WITH SPRUCE TOP NATURAL SATIN
FENDER FGS5 GUITAR GLASS SLIDE FAT LARGE
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES KEITH URBAN SIGNATURE PICKS MEDIUM
YAMAHA BB 234 RASPERRY RED
AKG D7
YAMAHA TRBX505 BLACK
KEELEY BUBBLE TRON DYNAMIC FLANGER / PHASER
BLACKSTAR LT COMPACT BOOST PEDAL
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES GUITAR PICK 5-PACK MEDIUM
KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER ANGLED 6M
PROSS KÕLAPLAAT A2
GRAPH TECH TUSQ PQ-9210-00 CLASSICAL GUITAR SADDLE FLAT TALL
DUNLOP JOHN PETRUCCI JAZZ III PICK PACK
BOSS RC-600 LOOP STATION
TAYLOR 414CE V-CLASS
STAGG REPLACEMENT CORD FOR SPM-235 AND SPM-435 MK2 WITH MICROPHONE
DBX DJDI 2-CHANNEL PASSIVE DIRECT BOX
GÖLDO FOOTSWITCH FOR PEDAL 4-POLE
ORANGE AMP DETONATOR ABY SWITCHER
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 75M00 MANDOLIN STRAP
YAMAHA GL1 GUITALELE BLACK 