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 |

EVANS 13 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
PROTECTION RACKET 1422 BASS DRUM CASE
MXR M104 DISTORTION +
HOHNER BLUES HARP Bb-MAJOR
PROTECTION RACKET 9115 DJEMBE BAG
ERNIE BALL COATED SLINKY ELECTRIC 12-56
YAMAHA S6X POLISHED EBONY PREMIUM GRAND PIANO 212CM
ROLAND TD-07DMK V-DRUM SET
DADDARIO ECG23 CHROMES
PEARL PPBKPHD46W 46" HARDWARE BAG WITH WHEELS
AKG WMS420 HEADWORN SET
KLOTZ M1 MIC CABLE 1M FEMALE XLR-JACK
GRETSCH CM1-E825 SDCB CATALINA MAPLE DRUMSET CHERRY BURST
KLOTZ AS-MJ0090 MINI JACK-JACK
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
ROLAND RPB200PE PIANO BENCH POLISHED EBONY VINYL TOP
PROTECTION RACKET 9026 THRONE CASE
VIC FIRTH AJ3 AMERICAN JAZZ
STAGG KIDS CAJON RED
YAMAHA V5 SC VIOLIN 3/4
TASCAM DR-40X FOUR TRACK AUDIO RECORDER
HOHNER SPECIAL-20 CLASSIC F-MAJOR
EVANS 20 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
YAMAHA PICCOLO FLUTE CLEANING ROD BMMCRODPC02
EVANS 10 GENERA G2 CLEAR TOM HEAD
ERNIE BALL EARTHWOOD PHOSPHOR BRONZE ACOUSTIC 11-52
PROTECTION RACKET CAJ2 CAJON BAG
TAMA HS80W ROADPRO SNARE STAND
HOHNER BRAVO II 48 DARK BLUE SILENT KEY
K&M 15281 PEG ADAPTER BLACK
RODE RODELINK FILMMAKER KIT
PEARL RS505C/C ROADSHOW DRUMSET BLACK
STAGG ECO 14X6.5 SNARE DRUM BAG
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 50JS02 JOE SATRIANI STRAP UP IN FLAMES
SHURE VP83F CAMERA SHOTGUN MICROPHONE
LARSEN VIOLIN STRINGS IL CANNONE
YAMAHA STAGE CUSTOM BIRCH 2F5 NATURAL WOOD
EVANS 24 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR KICK HEAD
YAMAHA YTR 8310ZS03 CUSTOM Bb TRUMPET SILVER PLATED BOBBY SHEW
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES INJECTED MOLDED BRIDGE PINS WITH END PIN SET IVORY WITH EBONY DOT
STAGG NMC3R XLR CABLE DELUXE
YAMAHA RHH-135A
KLOTZ M1 MIC CABLE 7.5M FEMALE XLR-JACK
FENDER THUMB-REST FOR PRECISION BASS® AND JAZZ BASS
EVANS 22 EMAD BATTER CLEAR
ELECTRO HARMONIX BASS MONO SYNTH
IBANEZ GA5TCE CLASSICAL GUITAR W/ PICK-UP
EVANS EC2 COATED 10 INCH
KALA MAKALA SOPRANO UKULELE PACK WITH TUNER & BAG 