Breathtaking Design. Maximum Playability.
Savings Opportunity
We are able to offer fully featured Conti Guitars at value pricing as they are only available direct from Conti Guitars. If our guitars were offered through the typical distributor/dealer network, the price would assuredly double, and in some cases actually triple. However, even at our value pricing, the cost may sometimes exceed one’s budget. To that end, we make efforts to discount guitars when certain events allow us to do so. On a random timetable, new guitars are played by Robert or one of his assistants at a variety of events such as:
- trade shows,
- educational videos, or
- selected live performances
Although we exercise great care in handling our instruments, they sometimes incur minor cosmetic surface scratches that are usually imperceptible after buffing. As a matter of common business ethics:
- Although demo instruments are essentially still new, we do not return those instruments into inventory as “brand new.”
- Although the subject instruments may have been played for only an hour or two, we always advise every potential purchaser of any scratches, nicks, etc.
Making our demo instruments available at a substantial price reduction (when we are able to do so) provides folks an opportunity to acquire a high quality instrument at great savings. These instruments receive the same quality control as new instruments, including a full pre-shipping inspection and set-up, and our signature personalized “owner introduction video” wherein Robert Conti actually plays and introduces you to your new instrument!
Missed this opportunity?
Black Entrada - $1,019
No Middle Men
Your dream archtop at any budget.
We don’t believe you can find a comparable feature rich guitar at this price anywhere.
The Entrada
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Laminate Maple Top
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Laminate Maple Back & Sides
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Wilkinson Imperial Tuners
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Maple Neck
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24 Fret Ebony Fingerboard
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Ebony Pickguard
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Kent Armstrong Humbucker
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Gotoh TOM or Ebony Bridge
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Floating Ebony Bridge Base
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Ebony or Gold Finger Tailpiece
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Quality Gig Bag (HS Case avail.)
The Heirloom
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Solid Spruce Top
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Solid Maple Back & Sides
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Grover Imperial Tuners
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Maple Neck
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24 Fret Ebony Fingerboard
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Ebony Pickguard
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Kent Armstrong Humbucker
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TonePros TOM or Ebony Bridge
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Floating Ebony Bridge Base
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Ebony or Gold Finger Tailpiece
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Quality Gig Bag (HS Case avail.)
" Three Conti " Club
Dr. Gary C Smith
Michael Simoni
Our Worldwide Owners
An instant success in 2009, the Conti is the go-to archtop for players around the world. And like our jazz guitar learning resources, we let our patrons do the talking. Take some time to read comments and see photos from a sampling of elated Conti Guitar owners worldwide. We hope to see your photo here soon!
Louis LaPaitra Jr Comments On His Entrada
Click Read More to watch a video from Louis as he comments on and performs with his new Conti Entrada archtop guitar!
Radiates that elusive jazz tone
Two thumbs up for Robert and his entire team! I just got this beautiful Entrada and have been floating up on Cloud 9 ever since I first touched it. The sound is simply amazing. It radiates that elusive jazz tone that one can spend years trying to find or create. Right out of the box the action was setup perfectly and required only a slight tuning of the strings. The neck of this guitar is slender and fits nicely in the hand from the bottom to the top of the fretboard. I agree with Robert when he says it “plays like butter”. I also like the balance between the headstock and the body so with or without the strap it doesn’t want to tip up or down. The entire experience from ordering to receiving this guitar has been great fun. Thanks again Robert, Steve and Mike! Dave Durward – Surrey, Canada
My Conti Equity goes on every gig
My 2012 Conti Equity in Blonde is right at the top of my favorite guitars of all time . . . and I’ve owned them all in 50+ years of professional playing. The fit and finish is exquisite, with action that provides just the right amount of “bounce” off the strings to make it a dream to play. As someone who plays barehand fingerstyle, two big features that my Conti shines at are pickup response and string spread in the right hand. The pickups have just the right amount of thump in the bass while giving me a smooth top end that is easy on the ears. String spread for right hand placement is perfect for a normal adult hand. I don’t have to be conscious of where my fingers are naturally laying. And with the single pickup I prefer, it nudges me to use the full range of the guitar through bridge to neck plucking. All in all, my Conti Equity goes on every gig, is a superb performer sonically, and gets lots of compliments for visual appeal. I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER! Wayne D Holt – Galveston, Texas
The Do It ALL Guitar!
“I’ve been playing professionally for over 30 years now, 20 of those as a Navy musician. In all my years of playing, I’ve longed for that one guitar that could cover numerous styles of music, and this is IT! This guitar can cover jazz, blues, rock, pop, country, you name it….. from a quaint solo/duo setting, a small jazz combo, to a blistering rock band, all the way to full big band playing Freddie Green style, this guitar can cover it all. Not only is this guitar versatile, but it looks and sounds amazing, and plays itself! That’s because this Conti Heirloom is made with the finest woods and electronics available today, the craftsmanship in the build is second to none, and they have a professional luthier that sets it up perfectly before it goes out the door. Then as one last step of quality control, and this is the coolest part, Mr. Conti makes you, the customer, a personalized video of himself playing your guitar which adds such a great personal touch to this whole experience. Thank you Mr. Conti and Mike for not only making this one of the most pleasurable buying experiences, but for delivering me my
Hadley Jones – Forster, Australia
Hi, Steve. I’d like to thank you again for your assistance. In all respects, this is far and away the most satisfying guitar that I have owned! Hadley Jones – Forster, Australia
More I play it, better I love it!
“Here is a picture of me with my new Conti Entrada. I have a 1951 Sunburst Gibson ES-175 I bought used around 1960 and a Blond Epiphone Emperor II Joe Pass model guitar I bought used in 2008. Buying an instrument sight unseen, is a daunting proposition. However, I must say that this guitar is everything you said it was. The action is perfect! The more I play it, the better I love it! I am still pleasantly surprised by how great the action is as I move up the neck. I kind of subconsciously expect more resistance with chords in the upper registers, and have to smile whenever I play chords in that area. It has such a great feel and very easy to play the way it is set up. Thanks much for Bob’s personalized video playing my guitar. It makes me feel like part of the family! Thanks for a wonderful instrument that I highly recommend!” Leonard Banaszak – Haines, AK
Louis LaPaitra Jr Comments On His Entrada
Click Read More to watch a video from Louis as he comments on and performs with his new Conti Entrada archtop guitar!
Radiates that elusive jazz tone
Two thumbs up for Robert and his entire team! I just got this beautiful Entrada and have been floating up on Cloud 9 ever since I first touched it. The sound is simply amazing. It radiates that elusive jazz tone that one can spend years trying to find or create. Right out of the box the action was setup perfectly and required only a slight tuning of the strings. The neck of this guitar is slender and fits nicely in the hand from the bottom to the top of the fretboard. I agree with Robert when he says it “plays like butter”. I also like the balance between the headstock and the body so with or without the strap it doesn’t want to tip up or down. The entire experience from ordering to receiving this guitar has been great fun. Thanks again Robert, Steve and Mike! Dave Durward – Surrey, Canada
My Conti Equity goes on every gig
My 2012 Conti Equity in Blonde is right at the top of my favorite guitars of all time . . . and I’ve owned them all in 50+ years of professional playing. The fit and finish is exquisite, with action that provides just the right amount of “bounce” off the strings to make it a dream to play. As someone who plays barehand fingerstyle, two big features that my Conti shines at are pickup response and string spread in the right hand. The pickups have just the right amount of thump in the bass while giving me a smooth top end that is easy on the ears. String spread for right hand placement is perfect for a normal adult hand. I don’t have to be conscious of where my fingers are naturally laying. And with the single pickup I prefer, it nudges me to use the full range of the guitar through bridge to neck plucking. All in all, my Conti Equity goes on every gig, is a superb performer sonically, and gets lots of compliments for visual appeal. I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER! Wayne D Holt – Galveston, Texas
The Do It ALL Guitar!
“I’ve been playing professionally for over 30 years now, 20 of those as a Navy musician. In all my years of playing, I’ve longed for that one guitar that could cover numerous styles of music, and this is IT! This guitar can cover jazz, blues, rock, pop, country, you name it….. from a quaint solo/duo setting, a small jazz combo, to a blistering rock band, all the way to full big band playing Freddie Green style, this guitar can cover it all. Not only is this guitar versatile, but it looks and sounds amazing, and plays itself! That’s because this Conti Heirloom is made with the finest woods and electronics available today, the craftsmanship in the build is second to none, and they have a professional luthier that sets it up perfectly before it goes out the door. Then as one last step of quality control, and this is the coolest part, Mr. Conti makes you, the customer, a personalized video of himself playing your guitar which adds such a great personal touch to this whole experience. Thank you Mr. Conti and Mike for not only making this one of the most pleasurable buying experiences, but for delivering me my
Hadley Jones – Forster, Australia
Hi, Steve. I’d like to thank you again for your assistance. In all respects, this is far and away the most satisfying guitar that I have owned! Hadley Jones – Forster, Australia
Set Up To Stringent Specifications
When you’re Robert Conti, you play a lot of notes.
When you play a lot of notes, you need a neck that plays like butter.
When you need a neck that plays like butter, you better have a good luthier.
Prior to shipment, every Conti Guitar is scrutinized by a highly qualified luthier with 30+ years of experience. Each instrument is set up to Robert’s specifications and fully inspected.
Personalized Pre-Shipping Video Intro
As an integral part of our First Class Owner Service, before your guitar is shipped, you will receive a personalized high quality video, wherein Robert Conti plays and introduces you to your new guitar – a truly, memorable and unparalleled service in the guitar industry.
Only The Most Desirable Features
We introduced the first generation Conti Guitar to be the most affordable, feature rich archtop on the market. However, we certainly understand that the solid wood model may still be out of reach for some aspiring jazz guitar students. As such, the laminate model is by no means stripped down. See info below for what we believe are the most important features that you’ll find on both the solid and laminate models.
(Mouse over images for info)
Ebony Fingerboard
MOP & Real Abalone
Output Jack Placement
Shallow Florentine Cutaway
Low Playing Action
Preferred Gauge Strings
If you can find a better looking easier playing more featured more affordable archtop, buy it.
The Journey
Through the course of many prior years, numerous guitarists have solicited my advice on how to find a great sounding jazz guitar with excellent playability at an affordable price. I’ve observed many aspiring jazz guitarists who have unknowingly limited their potential by playing an inferior instrument, almost always due to the constraint of high prices. On the other hand, I have also seen dramatic improvements in skill levels even when entry level guitarists begin using a quality instrument that is set-up to play easily. In 2006. . .
The Conti Archtop Jazz Guitar is the result of 55 years of on the bandstand playing experience.
Yes, We Really Mean 55 Years
(and still going strong!)
