Conti Guitar Worldwide Owner Comments
Please enjoy this sampling of photos and commentaries from owners of Conti Guitars around the world.
Note: Items dated before October 2016 refer to the 1st generation Conti Guitar.
Wish I had discovered this guitar way back when…
I recently bought an absolutely stunning Conti Heirloom! I’ve been playing guitar for about 25 years. Like most guitarists, I’ve owned, sold and traded my share of guitars in an effort to find the most perfect fit. None have felt as smooth and easy to play as the Conti Heirloom. For me, the most important aspect of a guitar is the feel and intonation. The Heirloom action is surprisingly low, the neck shape is very comfortable (not too fat, not too narrow) and the intonation is stellar no matter where I am on the neck. I only wish I had discovered this guitar way back when. It would have saved years of trial and error trying to find the perfect fit. -Ian Leyland – Vancouver, Canada
Finest guitar I have ever played…
I took delivery of my sunburst Entrada with gold finger tailpiece about a week ago. From the day I ordered to the day I sat and watched Robert playing my guitar to it in my hands was five business days. Packing and shipping we’re phenomenal as the Guitar was heavily padded and packed better than any guitar I have ordered online before. Fit and finish is outstanding with details like triple binding. And fret work that is simply perfect. The action on my guitar was perfectly set to low action and the thing is a joy to play. I had a ES -125 TDC as a kid that I called the “pencil neck” and now at 65 years of age I know that my Conti Archtop Entrada is every bit as good or better than my 125! The point where the neck joins the body is as smooth as glass
Neck is amazing. . .Terrific Instrument
https://vimeo.com/680637523/e151e33a9dOk – I’ve had the Conti Entrada for a little over a week. A video review will do this guitar the justice it deserves but for now, I’m going to write out some bullet points to talk to later and to let Robert Conti know how things are going here. Packing and shipping: The guitar was meticulously packed both in the case and the case within the box. Great care went into packing the instrument. All that was needed out of the box was to tune the guitar and go. The service level at the company is impeccable. The instruments gets completely set up and then Uncle Bob takes it for a test run (which I have on video). A pro player’s hands are the last one’s on it before I take it and play it. Aesthetics: Looks matter to me A LOT because it goes to quality. No picture
Reminds me of my Benedetto Bravo without the sticker shock…
Finally had a chance to sit down with my new Conti Entrada guitar. After owning several hundred guitars since 1967, I have owned every kind imaginable. Here is my first impression: The guitar is very well designed and built. Nicely appointed, and the setup was spot on. The sound of this guitar, as with any good guitar is determined by the guitar itself but also what you drive it through. I usually play through a Fender tube amp like the Blues Junior. The sound of the Entrada Conti guitar is well balanced and very sweet, on the warm side. Amazingly sonic unplugged, and one of the best necks I have ever played on. Very light and easy to hold, and easily worth twice the asking price. This guitar reminds me of my Benedetto Bravo without the sticker shock Well done guys, well done. -David Maricle – Boise, ID USA
Guitar is very well constructed…
Yesterday I received my Entrada Guitar in best condition. Thanks for your care and very friendly support along the whole process. I appreciate that a lot, since it is not very common these days. The guitar is very well constructed, very light and resonant. And a real elegant beauty in any case. For my personal taste the action is a little too low, because I play a lot of fingerstyle and am used to a higher action on my steel strings. I add a foto today and will send a short video some days later, when I have the occasion to record something. Again – I´m very satisfied and happy with this purchase. Best regards from southern Germany! -Thomas Brenner – Mötzingen, Germany
Truly a joy to play!
I played my first gig with my new Conti Entrada last night. Truly a joy to play! The action was right where I expected it to be and the response over the whole fretboard was even. No “hot” or “dead” spots. I would recommend this guitar to anyone! Thanks for your personalized attention! -Dale Rawson – Sheboygan, WI
The Perfect Dream Guitar
Response to Pre-Ship Video: Thank you very much for this personal and detailed courtesy video! This is certainly the best customer experience I ever had! I was extremely excited and enjoyed listening to your playing. I almost felt bad taking the guitar away from you 🙂 I also enjoyed listening to all the details you provided. Your devotion, patience, and attention to details are admirable! The experience and passion that you present makes me positive that I’ll get the very best. I’m confident it will arrive safely. And I promise to update when it does arrive. Also, I wanted to thank your crew for their devotion. In particular, the technician for taking care to set up the guitar, and also Steve and Ann for helping me answer all the questions I had with great patience. Thank you! I wish you all good health, happiness, and all the best of everything
A Happy Owner
Nancy Powers from Jacksonville, FL shares a photo of herself with her new Conti Entrada Archtop Jazz Guitar
Michael Macklin – New Zealand
“The solid body has arrived safely and in good condition. All three are “different” but great instruments!” Michael Macklin – New Zealand
Great neck, incredible action!!
Here is a picture of the newest guitars for my collection. I can’t say enough about these two guitars, but let me say a few things. First of all, I have always wanted an Entrada with two pickups, and when this one became available, I had to have it. It plays like a dream guitar. Great neck, incredible action!! The Kent Armstrong pickups are very responsive and create a very warm sound responding to this body. The color of this guitar is amazing. I do not have this color on any of the guitars in my collection. This guitar is perfectly balanced and the gold hardware completes the package. My bandmates love the look and sound of this guitar and I couldn’t agree more. Now onto the solid body version. I had heard months ago that there might be a solid body Conti in the works, and when I received
Will become one of my favorite axes
The guitar arrived perfectly. In a first inspection there was a couple of notes that had a buzz in the fret, but it is already solved. My impressions: The design of the guitar is very nice. The combination of the black color with the gold pickups makes it look elegant and distinguished. It is comfortable to play and well balanced. The single cut shape makes all 24 frets accessible. The neck is excellent. As Robert Conti said in the video it is the same as that of Equity. It is one of the best necks I have ever played. Very low action and a flat fingerboard makes it a butter to play. The body of the guitar is very nice. It looks small but not as small as a Les Paul. As the whole body is mahogany, without a maple top, I think it influences (along with the pickups) that
Each note is tuned to perfection!
August 6, 2021 – Comments on Solid Body Prototype “This solid body guitar maintains the nuances of the archtop sound of the Heirloom and Entrada models. It sounds just as good or even better, I would say! Many other guitars with a similar output may cost a few thousand more dollars online or in guitar stores, but I can tell that this guitar is unique; it has been carefully crafted in both exterior design and pickup capabilities to optimize playability and the bright bell sounds of jazz. The high end sounds fantastic! The exterior design is marvelous as well, and I’m sure this will serve as my primary guitar for shows for the rest of my career. Thanks for everything that went into constructing this masterpiece! ” September 29, 2019 – Comments on Heirloom: “Thank you so much Mr. Conti. I am very excited to start practicing with this guitar
Nothing short of beautiful…
Received my new Entrada. Arrived safe and sound thanks to the great packaging. After opening, it was nothing short of beautiful. The action height, intonation & the neck was straight as an arrow. Bob and his crew do an unbelievable job on getting the instrument into your hands. Needless to say I was quite anxious to put it to work. I got the chance this weekend to do that with our group. I’m extremely pleased in how it worked out. While working I was not the only one impressed with the guitar. Some other guitarists happened to be there and they were wowed at its sound and beauty. Everyone wanted to know where I got it. But a word about Bob in that he actually plays it before shipping it out. He then sends a video of your guitar being played by him. That is no different than going yourself
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,
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
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
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!
Nothing better than a guitar designed by a player
The Road To Canada Is Paved With A Conti Heirloom! Having enjoyed his Conti Entrada archtop for the past year and a half, Tony considered acquiring a second Conti Guitar, and he had his eye on our top of the line Heirloom model, featuring solid spruce top with solid maple back and sides. During a recent one-on-one video session with Robert, Tony (a resident of Las Vegas) learned that we were now down to our last Heirloom in stock, along with the likely possibility of no new inventory for at least 6 months. Without hesitation, he asked if we could have that last Heirloom ready for him to pick up, on an upcoming trip to his second home in Canada. As indicated by the photo, Tony made a pit stop in East Idaho to take delivery of his gorgeous Ruby Red Heirloom featuring the exquisite gold finger tailpiece – thus becoming a
It plays perfectly every time…
What are the chances of another Robert Conti ordering a Conti Guitar! — The Entrada is excellent. I wanted to give it a fair bit of playing before responding in order to give my full thoughts. Right out of the box it’s marvelous to look at. I still sit and just stare at it from time to time simply to enjoy its beauty. It plays perfectly every time. No matter what style or manner in which I desire to play it, I can always customize the sound exactly to my liking. From the action to the resonance, every aspect of this guitar is exactly what I was hoping it would be. It takes the slightest amount of pressure to play any note, and my fingers bounce off the stings when I pluck as if they’re trampolines. I couldn’t have asked for a better instrument for a better price. And with
Love Our Entradas!
I’m Pete Sternloff the proud owner of a Conti Entrada. Thought you would enjoy this picture of the 3 Conti Entradas in Mercer County, West Virginia. Pictured is me on the left, Tom Janes in the middle and Vince Lewis on the right. We all, as I’m sure you might be aware, love our Entradas!
Ed Benson Acquires His 2nd Conti Guitar
The Entrada is visually stunning. Plays like a dream. Action is low and perfect. No buzzes. -Ed Benson – Savannah, Georgia USA
Will see many hours of playing…
Meet Vince Lewis, A Pro Player Extraordinaire! Growing up working in Music retail, I had the opportunity to play every major brand of guitar over several years. The experiences ordering, setting up and selling guitars from student through professional levels gave me a great appreciation for customer service as well as design and quality. From the initial contact with the folks at Conti Guitars, through the delivery date there was steady communication in regard to any delays and questions I had in regard to my purchase. I definitely felt that I had joined a new family of musicians and quality friends that will last a lifetime as will the guitar itself. When the guitar arrived, it is the first instrument that I ever felt comfortable taking out on a professional gig the next day without needing to adjust anything about it. The fretwork and action met my discriminating eye and
The guitar workmanship is exceptional…
Purchase Experience I first inquired about an Entrada guitar on the website Chat line and received quick responses from Steve. We then dialogued by Email until a guitar become available with my options a few weeks later. I paid for the guitar before shipping via PayPal – no hassles. Robert Conti did a final quality assurance check in a personal video “demoing” my guitar. This is not just a gimmick. It is very unique & informative, and great insurance protection in case of any in-transit damage or loss. The guitar arrived at my doorstep in London, Canada on October 1, 2022, less than one week after shipping via FedEx ground transportation (3,000 km). The packaging was secure, including a soft cover case, and the guitar arrived intact in excellent appearance and working condition. I am now allowing time for wood settling in a new environment (Fall weather, 50% humidity, temperature
Sounds as beautiful as it looks
I purchased an Entrada archtop jazz guitar from Robert Conti and it sounds as beautiful as it looks. I have been attempting to play jazz guitar for many years. I had excellent teachers, learned theory and chord melody. I would practice all the time and never feel comfortable playing or learning how to improvise. Then I found Robert on the internet and in just a couple of months I am shocked at how much I improved. His simple, straight forward method has helped open a whole new world of guitar playing for me. Just like many of his other students, I regret not studying with him years ago, but I’m here now and I’m getting better every day. -Fred Kofler – Boynton Beach, Florida USA
Magnificent jazz box…
Surprise, surprise. Miss Entrada showed up this evening. Wow! What an absolutely beautiful instrument. I am absolutely stunned at how beautiful this guitar is. But more than that, the strings are perfectly matched for a balance in tonal quality that you could only imagine. It’s lightweight makes it a dream to handle. I own a Fender Starcaster, it’s too heavy and doesn’t give me the sound I’m looking for. I saw and purchased a Washburn J7. It’s thick but the strings and action leaves something to be desired. The thick neck put stress on my finger/joints and you have to manhandle it. The Conti Entrada is a petite lady, beautiful visually and tonally. She’s going to get the best out of me. I think I’m in love. I could not be happier with the performance of this magnificent jazz box. The action and playability is unmatched. I got mine, better
The guitar I’ve been searching for!
I’m loving everything about my new Entrada. This is the guitar I’ve been searching for! Guitar arrived in immaculate condition. Action, feel and finish and the weight are perfect. I can’t wait to play it through my Henriksen amp later tonight. The video was way cool. Thank you Mike, Bob, and the entire team. You folks are a class act. Doug Coppess – Brookville, OH
Plays like butter…
This is the finest guitar I have ever owned or played. It was built in 2011 but it looks like it could have built yesterday. I have played this at home and publicly many times and it plays like butter. Thank you Robert Conti for the quality you keep maintaining. -Dave Richardson – Maud, TX
Look No Further
I received my Entrada the other day and have to say this is one beautiful guitar, sounds great, looks great and plays like butter. Anyone looking for a great archtop at a fantastic price, look no further than a Conti Guitar. Great people to deal with, thank you. -Alan Keish – Vero Beach, FL USA