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 |

MXR 78 CUSTOM BADASS DISTORTION
GIBRALTAR SC-GCSAR RIGHT ANGLE CLAMP
EVANS 16 ONYX 2-PLY COATED
TAKAMINE EF381SC
KLOTZ AY10200 INSERT-CABLE 2M
FRAMUS MACHINEHEADS RIGHT (TREBLE SIDE) CHROME
EVANS 10 GENERA G2 CLEAR TOM HEAD
YAMAHA U1 PE
ERNIE BALL EARTHWOOD 12 STRING MEDIUM
GIBRALTAR 5608 DRUM THRONE
GIBRALTAR 6711DD-DB DOUBLE PEDAL
YAMAHA ATT 1510 TOM
PAISTE 08 FORMULA 602 MODERN ESSENTIALS SPLASH
DADDARIO EJ16 PHOSPHOR BRONZE
YAMAHA THR100H DUAL
K&M 18846 BAG FOR BABY SPIDER PRO
EVANS 16 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
STAGG PROFESSIONAL 10 X 10 TOM BAG
EVANS 22 GENERA G2 CLEAR BASS DRUM HEAD
AKG K271 MKII
PROTECTION RACKET 3007CS SNARE CASE
MXR M116 FULLBORE METAL
MEINL NINO37 HAND DRUM
MXR M77 CUSTOM BADASS OVERDRIVE
GIBRALTAR SC-1408BS LUG HOOP
YAMAHA PICCOLO FLUTE CLEANING ROD BMMCRODPC02
K&M 122E MUSIC STAND LIGHT BLACK
ELECTRO HARMONIX DELUXE MEMORY BOY DELAY
STAGG TIKI SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIAH 