Conti Guitar Worldwide Owner Comments
Enjoy this sampling of photos and commentaries from owners of Conti Guitars around the world.
Bob Roberts – Spokane, WA
I have been playing the Conti Guitar pretty much exclusively for jazz arrangements since I got it. I even use it for fingerstyle jazz arrangements because of the easy action and the access to the high registers. I own several other guitars (a couple of Taylor acoustics), but the Conti is my favorite archtop!
Bård Foshaug – Moen, Norway
NORWAY CALLING! The Conti guitar is amazing, the best guitar I have! Both I and the students are impressed by the quality of this instrument. The Conti Guitar is from this day, my main guitar. It took 5 days from USA to North Norway. Good service. The school and students are also impressed by the ingenious way Robert Conti teaches on the DVDs and books. When my students follow the video, they feel that Robert is in the classroom. So far north and we feel that Robert is in the community.
Joel Lackey – Las Vegas, NV
As a teenager, my first “real” guitar was a used Gibson ES-295. I played it to death and then very proudly bought a new 1964 “Barney Kessel” model. I have since owned every archtop Guitar in the Gibson catalog. My favorite being the L-5 Wes Montgomery model which I still own . Since I consider you my mentor, I decided to try the guitar that has been designed and produced by you. You really nailed it Bob. The Conti Guitar has captured the essence of the Gibson L-5 while expanding its capabilities and designing in extra added attractions that only a working guitar player can appreciate. For instance, the guitar meets the body at a different fret level allowing access to the upper register above the 12th fret, the relocation of the input plug in a different place so that you don’t wear out your cords AND pants with constant
Other guitars are now on probation…
“Case closed, this is the guitar of the future. The appointments far exceed all my expectations and make all of my studies pertaining to jazz guitar a monumental pleasure. Many bell-like tones, bone nut, perfect neck, solid woods. All my other guitars are now on probation. Once you get your hands on a “Conti/Equity” guitar, there is no turning back.” -Toby Tobias – Kingston, NY
Rex Goodell – Las Vegas, NV
My new Conti Equity guitar is awesome. The low action is the best I have seen. It weighs about half or less than my 335 type guitars. The tone is wonderful, having a lot of mellow acoustic qualities. If you think you like semi-hollow or hollow body electric guitars, then you absolutely must try the Conti Equity. You will not be disappointed. It is a dream to play, and you will say “This is one I have been looking for!
Bill Meacham – Aliso Viejo, CA
I wanted to say it was a pleasure to meet you and to thank you and Mr. Conti for taking the time and trouble to deliver my guitar. I’m back home and have had a chance to play it for a couple of hours. It sounds awesome through my Fender Deluxe Reverb and the neck and action really makes it easier to play. As soon as I get my Band-in-the-Box software working again, I’ll cut a video with the Equity. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you and Mr. Conti at the next NAMM show.
Michael Marks, DDS – Silver Spring, MD
My first impression of the guitar was WOW! It is truly beautiful and it plays like a dream. Smooth and sweet. The tone is gorgeous through both the Fender Princeton and the Johnson Millennium. I love it through the Roland 120 setting on the Johnson. But I am just using the Fender for practicing. It has a lot of great tonal variation. But playing it is phenomenal. The neck is absolutely the best I have ever played. I just tuned it up and it played perfect all the way up to 24th fret. Not a buzz and intonation is perfect. The neck has just the right spacing so the complex chordal inversions fall perfectly under my fingers and the single string notes just glide off the neck. It is fast and precise, just like Robert. With this guitar and the DVD’s I am actually able to execute the chops and
Carles Vidal – Barcelona, Spain
The Equity guitar arrived in just 2 days from Las Vegas, NV to Barcelona (Spain)!!! First consideration: it’s more pretty in direct, photos do not do justice. Second: I was pleasantly surprised by the great acoustic tone and volume unplugged. Third: plugged in my Acoustic Image Clarus 2R + Raezer’s Edge 12ER … the sound is superb, very impressive, warm and sweet. The volume and tone controls give much play to experiment with them. I love her neck and the shallow Florentine cutaway. I very much appreciate the work of Mr. Robert Conti offering such a high-level guitar at a very affordable price. Thanks again, Mr. Conti. Besides, I am lucky to have a guitar played by Mr. Conti himself. A little extra that makes me very happy. Thanks also for all the kindness shown to me by Mike.
Guy Guerra – Naples, FL
I received the guitar. It’s was delivered in perfect shape. It was seen and heard by virtually everyone at the [National Guitar Workshop] campus, about 300 people. I was excited about it, and carried it on my back or played it every night of the week. I would have put a www.robertconti.com sign on the gig bag if possible, that’s how much of a believer I am in his teaching, and how much I like the guitar!
Michael Canyon – Compton, CA
I’ve played the Conti Guitar in a big band setting (18 piece) playing 40’s swing and in a sextet. I really liked it for the longer gig because of its light weight; it didn’t dig into my neck after hours of playing. It is very comfortable. I like the feel of the neck and it is an attractive instrument. I own 26 guitars, both archtop and hard body and the Conti is in my top five to gig with. I have appreciated the professionalism Mr. Conti has shown with all of his products. (I’m a repeat customer, and proud of it!) I’ve met him at a couple of trade shows and he is warm, friendly and sharing. I may not be getting much better but I sure feel good about playing Conti’s songs, both from his books/tapes and from his Just Jazz Guitar submissions.
Peter Bas – Houston, TX
Unpacked it Friday, still admiring it, playing it, admiring it, playing it, etc. The Equity matches your description in all ways, the photos really don’t do the guitar justice. Came through in great shape, you guys know how to pack ’em. Also thanks for the DVDs and the tuner, much appreciated! Best wishes to all, continued success and thanks again.
Robert Mercer – Mason, OH
Received the guitar as you know and I love it! I raised at the bridge and still have the action set low at .01/.02 at one and .04/.05 at the twelfth. It is unlike any archtop I’ve played in that the combination of the scale and the 16 fret body make it feel like a longer scale which is most comfortable but of course it is shorter for efficient chords and increased warmth. Very nice. I am interested in what Mr. Conti’s set up is. Must be extremely low based on where this guitar was when I received it. I’d guess straight neck with .01/.02 or less at the first. .03/.04 at twelve? This will be my primary guitar for everything but finger picking.
Michael Hallberg – Bridgeville, PA
Mr. Conti, It was an absolute pleasure meeting you last week. I still can not believe you and Mike hand delivered the guitar to me in person at my hotel in Las Vegas, NV. I’ve had a few days to play it and the “Conti Guitar” plays like a dream and sounds as beautiful as it looks. Your guitar will be the standard I use to evaluate any other guitars I may play in the future. You got it right! The success of this guitar could only be limited by the level of promotion and advertising it receives. I’m a customer for life.
Voicemail from Paul McCormick
Please click “Read More” to hear Paul’s voicemail.
The Best Guitars In The World!
“I want to thank Robert Conti for his excellent products! The guitars (I have 3! 2 Equity Models and now an Entrada) amps(I have a Henriksen) and the educational materials! I brought my Equity models to a well known guitar technician in Southern California and he said, “I’ve never worked on finer guitars!!. He sets up guitars for all the studio pros in LA. My Entrada came out of the box and played perfectly, as did the 2 Equity models. I have all Conti’s educational materials and am looking forward to more. Thanks again!” -Dr. Gary Smith – Somis, California
Donald Grass – Beaumont, CA
Second Conti Guitar The Entrada just walked in the door! What a Beauty!! Mike, your the Best! Thank you, very much, for the care and handling it took to get it here. Very grateful to all involved. It’s a pleasure doing business with a first-rate outfit. Mr. Conti, thank you for taking the time to review my guitar. Your attention to detail is a hallmark of your playing and your business. Mr. Conti, Mike, et all, Good Luck and Good Health to you and your families. Very much appreciate it!! First Conti Guitar To all at RobertConti.com: What a pleasure it is doing business with a first class organization such as yours! From the initial contact to the final arrival (right on time!) of your beautiful instrument – the whole process has been flawless. The guitar is a work of art – fine craftsmanship. Tough to describe, like owning a
My gorgeous Heirloom..She’ll be my last
“You gave me lessons on the Gibson, my first guitar. Now fifty years later, I’m playing my gorgeous Heirloom. She’ll be my last. Always save the best for last….right? As you performed the Classics on the video, I knew this would be my last guitar. She’s even better than I expected! Every aspect of the guitar is exactly how it is described on your web site. Believe me folks, you will not find any guitar with the craftsmanship, precision and quality as the Heirloom for this affordable price. I am so pleased that I made the purchase! Could have spent 3x the amount and would’ve gotten much less. I opted for the gold finger tail piece and the gold knobs. You know you like it…I can’t put her down! Bob, thank you and your team for taking care of an old friend/student. You’re the best guitarist on the planet! Love
Already taken part in a jam session
I’m very happy to confirm that my Entrada arrived here in the UK yesterday afternoon and has already taken part in a jam session (this morning) with my fellow villager and guitarist friend Davey McCormack playing his new Conti Heirloom! I am really thrilled with the guitar and look forward to many hours of pure pleasure playing it. Can I also say how impressed I’ve been with all aspects of the buying process from the online chat with Steve and yourself before ordering; the personal video message from Robert himself; the incredibly fast order to delivery time (I placed my order on the 14th December and received my guitar on the 20th); and the follow up phone call from yourself this evening. I don’t think I have ever experienced such attentive service from any other company. In short – I am one very satisfied customer! Bob Burrell – Oxon, United
Nothing feels like an Ebony fingerboard…
I ordered 2 Entradas. These guys really make buying a guitar fun. They are eager to speak with you, answer your questions, and always get back to you if they have to check something out. Feels like you’re buying a guitar from an old friend. One Entrada was dead perfect right out of the box. Even in perfect tune!! It still has barely gone out of tune. The other needed a bit of tweaking to get it the way I like it, but nothing major. The surprising thing is that both of these played like butter right out of the box. It has what I would call Jazz Lights on it (11’s) but it feels more like it has 8’s or 9’s on it! The neck is THAT fast! And of course, nothing feels like an Ebony fingerboard, except an Ebony fingerboard. All in all, a most enjoyable experience. It’s
Feels like an old friend right away
““Wow, what a beautiful guitar”, was my first reaction when I unzipped the case. The bound ebony neck with inlaid fret markers, the gorgeous ruby red body, and…I always wanted a guitar with a Florentine cut-away. My wife soon commented, “Well, aren’t you going to play it?” The thin-line body and overall balance made it feel like an old friend right away. When I plugged it in the great jazz tone I had been trying unsuccessfully to coax out of my GS came quite naturally from the Entrada. I soon went back to “Ticket to Improv, Volume 1” and found my fingers were moving over the fingerboard with greater ease then before. But then, I did see Robert Conti put some mojo on it before it headed my way! All the best, John Martin – Modesto, CA
Terry Gillen – Tring, UK
Even though I own a Conti Equity archtop, I couldn’t resist the temptation to buy a honey blond Heirloom. Recognising an anxious customer, Mike ‘held my hand’ through the purchase and import process and FedEx did an excellent delivery job. As for the guitar, what can I say that hasn’t already been said by other ecstatic customers? It is visually stunning, the build quality is impeccable, the playing ‘feel’ is excellent (size and balance of the guitar, neck dimensions, profile and fretboard radius – how did you guys get it so ‘right’?) the set-up is spot on, even after a journey of several thousand miles, and the sound is crystal clear everywhere on the fretboard. The name Heirloom is apt because that is what it will become. It is a truly lovely guitar and, at this price, even after paying to import it, it’s a bargain. My sincere thanks to everyone.
Steve Negri – Summerville, SC
This year I gave myself a truly fine gift for my birthday. Witness my Ruby Red Conti Heirloom Guitar. It is the finest instrument I have ever owned, including a Gibson Gold Top Les Paul, a Gibson ES355TD, a Martin Classic O model, and a Johnny Smith model Gibson to name a few. The action is unsurpassed and the tone is mellow and superb. Such a pleasure to play and hear. Thus have I satiated my guitar lust for years to come. If I live another seventy-three years I may become its equal.
Dave Illig – Houston, TX
“Right out of the box the Entrada played perfectly. Low action with great tone. I am extremely impressed with the quality of the guitar. The ebony fret board is made with a very high quality piece of ebony, the grain is incredibly tight. I am very surprised that the bridge, tail piece, tuning knobs and even the nut cover are all ebony. I’ve seen guitars that cost three times as much as this one that don’t have that level of high quality accouterments. The machine heads are very smooth and have a very high gear ratio which allows for precise tuning. The playability and rich tone far exceeded my expectations. I have no idea how Mr. Conti can produce a guitar of this quality at such a reasonable price.” -Dave Illig – Houston TX