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 |

PROTECTION RACKET SUR20 SURDO CASE
YAMAHA YTR 8335GS CUSTOM XENO Bb TRUMPET GOLD BRASS BELL SILVER PLATED
YAMAHA YTR 8335LA CUSTOM WAYNE BERGERON Bb TRUMPET
REMO MF-1122-00 22 CONTROL RING
E-BOW PLUS GUITAR EFFECT
PEARL P-930 DEMONATOR SINGLE PEDAL
YAMAHA ACOUSTIC SILENT PIANO YUS3 SH3 POLISHED EBONY
K&M 25680 ONE-HAND-MIC STAND
ORANGE ROCKER 15 GUITAR TUBE COMBO
YAMAHA DFP 9500CL
VIC FIRTH AJ6 AMERICAN JAZZ
YAMAHA YCL CSGIIIHL CLARINET HAMILTON PLATED, PITCH CORR.
FENDER TEXAS SPECIAL TELE PICKUPS
YAMAHA TRBX504 BLACK
STEINBERG UR44C USB 3.0 AUDIO INTERFACE
EVANS 13 GENERA G1 COATED TOM HEAD
ROLAND RUBIX22 USB AUDIO INTERFACE
FENDER VINTAGE STRAT TREMOLO BRIDGE
ALESIS M1A 330 USB SPEAKERS (PAIR)
KLOTZ M2 MIC CABLE 10M XLR-XLR
YAMAHA CLEANING SWAB FOR OBOE
AKG WMS40 MINI VOCAL SET BD ISM3
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES FRET POLISHING SYSTEM PWFRP
ERNIE BALL 5-STRING SUPER SLINKY 40-125
MEINL NINOADJ2XS WOOD DJEMBE
KLOTZ M1 MIC CABLE XLR-XLR 3M
REMO FALAM PATCH SLAM
ROLAND HP702 DIGITAL PIANO LIGHT OAK
GIBRALTAR SC-GCSMC SUPER MULTI-CLAMP
ERNIE BALL POWER SLINKY 11-48
IBANEZ TS808 TUBE SCREAMER
IBANEZ UV70P-BK STEVE VAI 7-STRING
KLOTZ M2 MIC CABLE 5M XLR-XLR
FENDER KNOBS SET STRAT WHITE
SHURE BLX14/SM31 FITNESS HEADSET WIRELESS SYSTEM M17
STAGG US30 SOPRANO UKULELE MAHOGANY WITH BAG 