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 |

DADDARIO EXL160SL
EVANS 12 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
DADDARIO SELECT JAZZ UNFILED ALTO SAXOPHONE REEDS 3 SOFT
MEINL FD18T FRAME DRUM
FENDER VENICE SOPRANO UKULELE CHERRY
EVANS 20 EQ3 RESONANT BLACK
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO LA VOZ ASAX HARD
STAGG US VIOLET SOPRANO UKE
ROLAND JC-40 JAZZ CHORUS
K&M 101 MUSIC STAND NICKEL
EVANS 20 EMAD RESONANT BLACK
EVANS EC1 COATED 13 INCH
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO 25BOX ASAX 2,5 SINGLE REED
EVANS 10 UNO58 1000 COATED TOM HEAD
TAKAMINE DH-90 HIRADE CLASSIC
YAMAHA CG-192S CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL SPRUCE SOLID WOOD
YAMAHA CG 182S CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL SPRUCE SOLID WOOD
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO GRAND CONCERT SELECT ALTSAX 3
KALA MAKALA SOPRANO UKULELE PACK WITH TUNER & BAG
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO JAZZ ASAX 3M UNFILED
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES PWSPA209 ACOUSTIC QUICK RELEASE STRAP
AHEAD STICK TIP TIP
EVANS 22 EQ3 RESONANT BLACK
EVANS 14 POWER CENTER REVERSE DOT CTD
EVANS 14 GENERA COATED SNARE HEAD
EVANS 14 GENERA G1 COATED 