Conti Guitar Worldwide Owner Comments
Enjoy this sampling of photos and commentaries from owners of Conti Guitars around the world.
Very deep sound even unplugged
Glad to tell you, I received my Conti’s Guitar this morning and I played the instrument right out of the box to see if everything was OK and all is perfect: an amazing instrument, light weight, easy to play, a very deep sound even unplugged. It has a very good sound and no fret buzz… and so, I am happy to receive this as a “gift from the travel gods!” I am proud to own this Conti Guitar which offers a such value for money. Having played classical guitar for many years, I discovered the world of the Jazz through Conti’s videos and now the pleasure to play on his guitar. MERCI and BRAVO to this great teacher Monsieur Conti and his N°1 team!
My Second Conti Guitar…Fantastic Instrument
Norway Calling, again! I bought my second Conti Guitar! New Blonde, fantastic instrument. I got my first in 2009. Since then, the Conti Guitar became my main guitar. The new one is just as lovely as the first. They each have their character in sound. I highly recommend this instrument. I also have the pleasure of owning a Henriksen Jazz Amp. This amp works very well with this guitar. Recommend it highly. What is so good with the guitar? Well, it is incredibly easy to play. It has a lovely sound, not to mention quality from top to toe. It has a reverberation that is amazing. Intonation and mechanics is certainly on par with everything else of top quality. My Gibson ES-175 has not been in use since 2009. My first Conti Guitar has just gotten better and better. The timber does not crack, and the neck and body are
Amazed at the action and playability
I am amazed that the action and playability of my new Conti Guitar is what it is. It is so much fun to play, I can’t put it down. When a guitar is easy to play, it encourages you to play more! It amazes me the value. I have spent a lot more money for guitars, and they did not play as well as my Conti. Thanks Robert for a great value!
The sound — “music to my ears!”
Dear Mike, Ann, and Mr. Conti: Thank you so much for your wonderful products and service. I am in receipt of the beautiful Ruby Red, and am thrilled with it. I admit that I had anxiety about buying a guitar without first trying it out. A guitar is a major purchase for my budget, and I was fearful of contracting a case of the blues — buyer’s blues. My wife thought me crazy to worry about buying something from Robert Conti. She knows first-hand how many hours, days, years (Yikes! Time does fly when you’re having fun!) of education and entertainment your products have given me. Ruby arrived safe and sound. It is as gorgeous to behold as it is comfortable to hold. And the sound — “music to my ears!” I wish to thank Ann and Mike for their excellent customer service and kindness. Also, thank you so much
This guitar elevated my playing immediately
It has been hard to wipe the smile off my face since I received the blonde Conti, so I pretty quickly decided to complement the blonde single-pickup with a sunburst double-pickup. I truly could not be happier with these guitars! I have owned some nice archtops and other electrics, but there was always something not quite to my satisfaction with tone, neck feel, etc. The Conti is just amazing in it’s tone, feel and playability. I put a couple of hours daily into practice time, and can honestly say that this guitar elevated my playing pretty much immediately. Thank you Robert and Mike for the most pleasant purchasing experience!
John Monllos – Newport, Rhode Island
I played the Conti Guitar for the first time on a live gig this past Saturday and the audience noticed a difference in my tone. One person told me all of the notes ring out like a church bell and yet the overall sound of the guitar is warm and jazzy. The lead singer in my band immediately noticed how even the response is from the lowest note to the highest; he said he liked how “well balanced” the sound was from the guitar. My weekly gig lasts for four hours and the guitar is very comfortable to play for long periods of time. The action on this fine instrument is very easy on my left hand and that really makes a difference on a long gig. The guitar is very stable and stays in-tune really well. I have 4 gigs coming up this week and the Conti Guitar will
Kwok-Wai Ng – Hong Kong
Just received my new Conti Guitar last night. It’s one of the most beautiful thing I’ve even seen, and it beats my Gibson ES-335 and Epiphone Broadway in every way. Being a small-handed player, it’s very hard to find a right guitar to play. The sound, design, hardware, finishing and craft are all in top-notch. Now, playing music with my new Ruby Red feels so effortless and enjoyable! I don’t think I can find any instrument with the same cost/performance value here in Hong Kong. Thanks again for providing such a great quality product for us.
Adam Hinchliffe – Huddersfield, United Kingdom
What a beautiful way to start the day, a brand new Conti guitar, just perfect out of the box. This guitar sings beautifully like a church bell. I opened the box and I found two complimentary sets of strings, a chord melody DVD, a tuner and a beautiful velvet cushioned gig bag. The guys at RobertConti.com really know how to blow you away, first a great guitar (that I am finding hard to put down, poor neighbours) and then secondly they even went above and beyond throwing in some goodies I didn’t expect. Well, what can I say about the guitar? I have to say when first holding the guitar I lit up like a Christmas tree, as you can see on this picture. Robert plays these guitars before sending them out to make sure they are up to his standards and apparently he didn’t want to let this one
Arnfinn Tangerud – Søgne, Norway
I am very happy for the Conti Guitar. It is amazing. It is a fantastic instrument and sounds perfect like I want it. The finish of the guitar is also perfect. I have have had many good guitars in my possession during my time as musician, but the Conti Guitar is really the best guitar I’ve ever played on. Thank you very much.
Randy Klingbeil, Austin, Texas
My first impression of the Conti Guitar was that it was thoughtfully designed, very different from any other guitar out there. The combination of the full 17″ lower bout combined with the thin body makes it very comfortable for my right arm to rest on the guitar and the resulting neck position makes for ideal left hand low stress positioning. The construction materials and components are top notch as well. I love the position of the input jack, it’s right where you expect it be, the first try. Super nice gig bag as well. Great job on a terrific instrument that I expect will get a lot of playing time.
Bruce Thomas – Lake Arrowhead, CA
Having recently purchased the Conti jazz guitar, I must say there is no equal. The innovative 24 fret neck challenges any jazz player to think beyond the traditional fretboard. The neck’s thin line construction gives the player an immediate fluid feel. Whether a flurry of notes or the strike of that unmistakable “blue note”, this guitar leaves you yearning for more. Warm tones, great action, and soft curves make this particular guitar potentially addictive. You won’t stop playing. Creativity will soar and passion will fill the air. People will notice that you are not just making music but making musical magic. Robert Conti clearly takes pride in his product. Materials and craftsmanship are of the highest quality. Articulate notation, strums, strikes, thumbing octaves and the like are so effortless on the Conti jazz guitar. My dollar investment will surely return 100 fold in terms of the sheer pleasure I will
Mike Setunsky – Woodbridge, VA
I received my Conti Guitar the day before yesterday. I had to break away to write this because I’m having a hard time putting it down. The guitar is “as advertised” and much, much more. I was a little hesitant about buying a guitar sight unseen, but Mike was very helpful and took the time to answer all my questions to my satisfaction. Thanks Mike! I tweaked the tuning and it was ready to go right out of the box. The guitar is flawless, plays like a dream and far exceeds my expectations. The action on this guitar is unbelievable. I own seven guitars by leading guitar manufacturers and none of them played like this guitar out of the box. It looks, plays and sounds better than guitars at twice the price. The Conti Guitar is easily going to become my favorite guitar!
Will Kriski – Sackville, Canada
I just received my Blonde Conti Equity Edition guitar. All I can say is wow, what a beauty! It arrived lightning fast, just a few days from the time of order, and played like a dream right out of the box! A work of fine craftsmanship from the solid spruce top, solid maple sides & back, to the Mother of Pearl/Abalone inlays and gold finish hardware. Then, when I started playing it, another couple of pleasant surprises: the action was already set nice and low just the way I like it, making it easy to play and the cutaway provides easy access to all 24 frets. Thank you Robert Conti, for creating such a quality instrument that I will enjoy every day for years to come!
Tim Cornelius – Chandler, AZ
My new Conti Guitar arrived today (Saturday) as planned and it looks and plays GREAT! I love it and it’s everything you said it would be. Here is a photo taken in my home music studio with the new Conti Guitar and the Henriksen JazzAmp 112. I love both and I appreciate your help and support with all the products I have purchased thus far. Thank Mr. Conti for providing such great educational materials. I reflect back to my early days when I first started playing guitar at 8 years old. My teacher taught me what he called melody chord arrangements which I still remember and can play today. However, he never explained why these chords were chosen for the melody, and now, after studying The Chord Melody Assembly Line and The Formula, much of this is coming into full view for me. Thanks also for the complimentary DVDs. As
Paul Pitt – San Diego, CA
Out of the box, the Conti is bright and jazzy (makes you feel good) not screechy like a rock guitar. The guitar is fast, low flat action, none of the usual buzzing from having been shipped and very easy to play. The frets have a nice feel and are easy on your fingers. What you play is what you get, even quickly when you change chords with each beat. Being solid wood makes it more tonal. In other words, the pickup is not the only thing affecting the tonal result. I got that as soon as I started playing it. The Ruby Red finish is awesome. Breathtaking, including the gold accessories. The gig bag is also nice. So there I sit with an awesome guitar in my lap, perfectly designed to play jazz. No matter what I learn or become, this guitar will be at that level. It is a
Michael Simoni – Lodi, CA
I want to thank you for yet another amazing guitar. The gorgeous Ruby Red Conti that I’ve added to my collection not only looks, but plays beautifully! And yes, the wife loves it too.
Jeffrey Krivis – Tarzana, CA
I have finally returned from lots of travel and had a chance to play the new guitar. First off, let me congratulate you and your company for doing such a nice job on the instrument. It is a pleasure to play and beautiful to look at.
Tonnie van der Heide – Bergen, Norway
I’ve had my Conti 7-String Equity Custom since May 2013 and I am very happy with this guitar. The neck is somewhat wider than most other seven string guitars. This is not unpleasant, but only takes a little while to get used to. The construction of the neck, where it “hits” the cutaway is very cleverly designed to facilitate playing in this area of the neck. I am very happy with only one pickup as I play mostly jazz and it gives the controls an uncluttered feel. As a contributing writer for Just Jazz Guitar magazine, I have been able to test and play many other guitars through the years, but this guitar is certainly one of the better ones I have played.
Hugo Ruys – Londerzeel, Belgium
I received my Conti Guitar yesterday and everything was more than okay. The box was in perfect shape and the FedEx guy was very careful during the treatment of my package. The guitar is fantastic, fits like a glove, is beautifully finished and really built for speed. I have been trying out the guitar directly through my mixer with tone controls nicely in the middle and the typical Conti sound was there immediately. I’ve played for several hours today and she becomes better by the minute. I play jazz guitar for 40 years now and I have had many good guitars in my possession during that period, but the Conti Guitar is really the best guitar I’ve ever played on. I have an immediate bond with this guitar and that is a very rare phenomenon. This is “THE GUITAR” I want to keep for the rest of my life. What
Tony Beltran – Columbia Heights, MN (Video)
I NEVER NEVER buy a guitar over the internet sight unseen. I waited years for an all-original Johnny Smith to show up locally. I bought my Conti Guitar sight unseen from you because I inherently trust you, and with good reason. I am surprised by your guitar, only because it exceeded my (already high) expectations, based on all your other products. You outdid yourself on this one. Thanks again so much for how you took such interest in making sure my new guitar was in my hands tonight. I must say that after talking to Robert on the phone (fascinating conversation), I got a chance to spend some time with the new guitar. It is amazing! I played it unamplified, which is what I normally do at home. I only tried it through my amp to make sure there wouldn’t be any “surprises” the next time the band gets together
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
Happy I chose a Conti Guitar. . .
What a treat! Please thank Robert for me. Never expected he would take 28 minutes of his time to personally play my guitar and explain why he is so proud of them. Says a lot about the instrument but more about the man. I’m happy I chose a Conti Guitar and am confident it will be every bit what Robert says it will be. PS- his song selection was spot on for me and his playing inspiring. The video will remain a valued keepsake- thanks again. -Mark Murret – Kenner, LA USA
Fr Ron Parker – Bryn Mawr, PA
“Like most professional guitarists, I have had a collection of fine guitars. Doing studio work in the 60s and 70s, I would sometimes go to the studio with five guitars: an arch top, flat top, acoustical, and solid bodies. One time I was evicted from an elevator on 56th street in New York – embarrassment! But now I have the guitar that does it all and sounds good playing jazz and rock. The Entrada fits with today’s sounds, the action is good and it fits under my coat. This is the guitar I have been waiting for. It’s got Moxi! I have been playing and teaching guitar professionally for at least 60 years. I was a studio guitarist for three hit shows. Sweet Charity, and Promises, Promises, played jazz guitar for Chico Hamilton, featured at the River Boat Restaurant in the Empire State Building, played a lot, learned a lot,
Providing fantastic playability . . .
“After few hours of settling down, my Entrada only required a little tuning and was ready to play… impressive. It is a superb instrument providing fantastic playability and offering excellent sound – I have the dual pickup model so I also tried the bridge pickup with some decent drive and man it is a great blues/rock guitar, hands down (btw the strings seem to be a perfect choice, too). Visually it is a sheer beauty, and the craftsmanship is excellent, too. The gig bag is quite decent and very solid, much appreciated. There is, however, one issue after all – and it is my curiosity about the solid wood model… hell, I started saving for it already (and my kidney is being considered to help here!) In summary – I am happy as a cat, and enjoy playing this instrument every minute regardless for how long I keep it in
You get what you PLAY for!
Jan 30, 2020 Update! As Paul was so pleased with his first Port Wine finish Conti Entrada, he decided to join the Two Conti Club and add a Natural Blonde, with a mix of black hardware and the elegant Gold Finger Tailpiece. Especially unique to this instrument, Paul obtained a custom P90 pickup directly from Kent Armstrong and we had our shop technician set up his new guitar with this great sounding pickup. See his new comments below: “I’m always trying to recreate the sound of a guitar from ‘back in the day’ and this new Conti with the Kent Armstrong P90 comes very close to those great sounds from the pre-humbucker era. This is really fun to play and just like the first one, the fit and finish are superb and the sound, at least to my ear, is quite different. Great job guys!” Paul’s Comments on his first
The guitar is perfect. . .
“Attached is a photo of me with my new Sunburst Heirloom and my original Ruby Red Equity. Besides the Equity, I have used many of the Conti teaching materials over these last few years, ever since I first encountered Bob in “Just Jazz Guitar” magazine. I appreciate the help and advice as I decided whether to buy the Heirloom. It arrived at my Oregon home in just two days. It was well packed and needed nothing but tuning to be play ready out of the case. The guitar is perfect. The finish is beautiful. The hardware is clearly high quality. I am impressed by the sound quality even when it is not plugged in. I am really pleased by the slightly smaller lower bout; it relieves some strain on my shoulder. Finally, the video of Bob playing my guitar and telling me about it just before it shipped was wonderful.