Robert Conti and the Conti Guitar
guyguerra
thought I'd add add an opposing view. I've played guitar all my life,
own a lot of guitars, played in bands since I was in my teens, have
taken and taught lessons thru all those years, and have used Bob
Conti's material for two years. Several years ago my band started
playing more dinner sets and light jazz, which wasn't my forte. Two
years ago I found Robert Conti online, and ordered his lessons by mail
and a few books. Two years later, my jazz playing has gotten a whole
lot better! I look forward to that part of our sets now. I bought one
of his guitars almost 2 months ago. I have other Jazz guitars, a
Gibson L-4, a Hofner Jazzica, and a Paul Reed Smith SCJ Limited. I
really like my Conti guitar. It sounds great, plays easier than either
of the others, and its nice and light. It's a wonderful guitar, and
not that expensive. I've dealt with his company for the last 2 years,
they are a great group of people. The instructional stuff he's
produced has taught me a lot. On top of that, he's seems like a guy
that really cares about other players. He's even returned my phone
calls and answered questions for me. My recommendation to anyone that
reads the negative posts is to look farther. He's a stand up guy, his
material is excellent, and, at least for me, I like my Conti guitar
and play it daily.
nqbqbep
Mr. Conti,
The main issue I have with you is that you're promoting yourself and
your products in ways which, in my opinion, insult the intelligence of
most of us. I mean, most of the "marketing techniques" you use are so
obviously fake, like for instance the "customer testimonial" you just
posted in this newsgroup, that you really must be thinking we're all a
bunch of idiots.
Truly great musicians don't need to, and in any case won't allow
themselves to, resort to such a crude, dishonest and insulting type of
self-marketing.
Marc Why
>
> The main issue I have with you is that you're promoting yourself and
> your products in ways which, in my opinion, insult the intelligence of
> most of us. I mean, most of the "marketing techniques" you use are so
> obviously fake, like for instance the "customer testimonial" you just
> posted in this newsgroup, that you really must be thinking we're all a
> bunch of idiots.
>
> Truly great musicians don't need to, and in any case won't allow
> themselves to, resort to such a crude, dishonest and insulting type of
> self-marketing.
Michael,
Help me out -- how do/did you know the OP is Conti?
Marc
nqbqbep
I don't - but from the overall tone of that post I would bet its him.
The post is also similar in tone to the other "testimonials" he has on
his website... Typical old-school-american-marketing fake
testimonials, similar to those I used to see in ab workout machine
"infomercials" back when I still owned a TV. Heck, if you go here
http://www.absrocketpro.com/testimonials.html and substitute "jazz
guitar chops" for "abs" and "Mr. Conti's books/DVDs" for "Ab Rocket",
it should almost read like Conti's testimonials.
Also note this poster has never posted anything else here... so he
joined the newsgroup just to defend/praise Mr. Conti? I know there are
lots of people lurking here, but they usually become active when they
actually have something to ask. Anyway, I don't have any proof the
poster is Conti, but my gut feeling says it's probably him.
Phil T
He doesn't. Michael's 'full of it'. The idiot he refers to in his post
is himself. Guy Guerra can be found on youtube. It's apparently a
legit post from a real person.
nqbqbep
So the post may (or may not) be from that guy on youtube - so what? My
main point is that he's overhyping himself to a point that I
personally find insulting. I don't doubt his instructional materials
might be good and might be helping people (as do lots of other
materials from lots of other people); it's the aggressive and
exaggerated marketing that annoys me.
Mark Guest
Can't believe I'm jumping in here. Conti is earning a LIVING in the
music industry. His marketing pitch(es) leave me cold, too. But maybe
we (you) should cut him some slack... I'm not shilling import guitars
with my name on the headstock, pitching lesson materials, etc.,
etc.... and my income is way down in this economy. Like Conti, my
income is based on my playing. He's making more scratch than me...
Maybe I'm doing it all wrong. Nqbqbep, do you have a day job? Would
you consider ditching it to earn your living from your music? Sad to
say, you may need to find an angle like Conti has done.
Most f/t musicians suck it up and do things they'd rather not. Why
pick on Conti?
All the best,
Mark Guest
Jazz Guitar
www.markguest.net
www.cdbaby.com/cd/markguest
Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do
without."
Confucius (c.551-479 BC)
pmfan57
No, your main point is a false accusation. Now that you are shown to
be clearly wrong, rather than admit it, you change what your point
was. You should not make these kinds of accusations. Mr. Conti is a
pretty busy guy and I'm sure doesn't have to post this kind of thing.
Or if he did, he would make it clear it was him.
And his materials ARE actually very good. The Formula is brilliant.
Five Sharp
websites by no name guys that actually post here? Would be great fun.
#####
VoidBrain
What's so insulting about it?
To be honest, complains like this tell more about the complainer than
the subject of the complaint.
TD
I am a no name, but I have a midget I carry around with me in a
shoulder bag. Man does he brag!
-TD
Five Sharp
#####
Mark & Steven Bornfeld
You can afford a midget? I have that "Pepe" thing with my hand like
Senor Wences.
Steve
--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
Joe Finn
"guyguerra" <guyg...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:741abdf6-bd36-4cec...@x37g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
Guy: Thanks for your remarks. I agree that Conti's instructional materials
are terrific and that he is a wonderful musician. I look forward to trying
out one of those guitars of his too at some point.
There are lots of testimonials on Conti's behalf floating around. He was
interviewed in JJG several years ago. The article included several quotes
from top players like Wilkins, Bruno, et.al. about what a great player Bob
is.
As far as your comment regarding "negative words" is concerned; you have
come to the right place. This is an unmoderated usenet newsgroup. Negativity
is the sp�cialit� de la maison. Anybody can post whatever they want here;
which is to say that we shouldn't take it too seriously. ...joe
--
Visit me on the web www.JoeFinn.net
Joe Finn
news:a0bab053-17f8-4e31...@c37g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...
It's just a sales pitch. Lighten up already. ....joe
Mark & Steven Bornfeld
TD
I tried that Pepe thing, I kept being asked to leave from fancy
restaurants. The midget and I barter.
Mark & Steven Bornfeld
In fairness, all his videos do seem to promote Conti. Personally, I
have no problem with that.
Mark & Steven Bornfeld
> On Sep 12, 10:55 am, Mark & Steven Bornfeld
> <bornfeldm...@dentaltwins.com> wrote:
>> TD wrote:
>>> On Sep 12, 4:43 am, "Five Sharp" <hjg.onst...@onsbrabantnet.nl> wrote:
>>>> Do you want me to compile a list of inflated and pretty idiotic claims on
>>>> websites by no name guys that actually post here? Would be great fun.
>>>> #####
>>> I am a no name, but I have a midget I carry around with me in a
>>> shoulder bag. Man does he brag!
>>> -TD
>> You can afford a midget? I have that "Pepe" thing with my hand like
>> Senor Wences.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> --
>> Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDShttp://www.dentaltwins.com
>> Brooklyn, NY
>> 718-258-5001
>
> I tried that Pepe thing, I kept being asked to leave from fancy
> restaurants. The midget and I barter.
I guess this wouldn't work in a venue with dwarf tossing.
Steve
--
Neil Sevenstring
for example) who may do some things that I never would ,don't approve
of, etc. but if they are making a LIVING from music I sure hesitate
to criticize ' cause they've managed to do something that's certainly
eluded me .
Neil
Paul Sanwald
it always seems like random people who never otherwise post start
posting about how great he is. this has been the case for many years,
not really sure why that is or what it is about him that inspires such
a rabid following.
--paul
guyguerra
Phil, Thanks for verifying that I'm a real person :-). I'm new to this
group, and am looking forward to participating. Thanks, Guy
guyguerra
Paul, you're correct that this is my first post to this forum. I
belong to a couple, but I'm not that active on them (mainly I use Reef
Central for my salt water aquarium stuff). I posted because I thought
I had a valid viewpoint on the subject. I don't want to come across as
"rabid" about it, but I do feel that the posts were very different
from my experiences with Bob Conti. I'm looking forward to being part
of this BB.
guyguerra
Steve, I agree that the videos I have on youtube seem to promote
Robert Conti. I didn't start with that intention. I was working on
some of the lessons, and thought I'd turn my icam on to see and hear
what I was playing to evaluate myself. After I did a few I thought I'd
post it for some of my other guitar player friends to show them what I
was working on. The only vid I did specifically to send to Bob Conti
was the one about the guitar, and I was very honest about it. Thanks
for the comment on the guitar collection. I'm not a collector, but I
do suffer from guitar acquisition syndrome, and have never been able
to part with one either.
Guy
thomas
>
> Phil, Thanks for verifying that I'm a real person :-). I'm new to this
> group, and am looking forward to participating. Thanks, Guy
Welcome aboard, Guy. This group gave Jimmy Bruno and Stanley Jordan a
tougher initiation flaming ritual than they gave you, so you're in
good company.
Paul Sanwald
> I had a valid viewpoint on the subject. I don't want to come across as
> "rabid" about it, but I do feel that the posts were very different
> from my experiences with Bob Conti. I'm looking forward to being part
> of this BB.
fair enough, and I certainly didn't mean anything personal. there has
just been a long history of random bob conti fans popping in on this
newsgroup and I have always found it strange. he's certainly a great
player and I have nothing against the guy.
welcome to the group!
--paul
Steven Bornfeld
I AM jealous about the hair.
Steve
thomas
wrote:
>
> I AM jealous about the hair.
It's major league hair, far and above the typically boring hotel
pianist hair. The Southern California grapevine was continuously
buzzing about "monstrous guitarist hair" when Conti began that hotel
gig. In the midst of this bustling business hotel, here was a solo
guitarist whose hair had an audience spellbound!
"Robert Conti has the best jazz guitar hair on the planet. He's a
monster hair grower, one of the best that has ever lived."
As clearly evidenced through voluminous press reviews and customer
comments, Robert Conti is the rare combination of well documented
world-class hair with the skill to peel paint off the walls. His hair
is in continuous demand at private corporate events and in five star
Las Vegas hotels and restaurants.
windcrest
> On Sep 12, 1:02 am, guyguerra <guygue...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I read the negative words about Bob Conti and the Conti Guitar, so I
> > thought I'd add add an opposing view. I've played guitar all my life,
> > own a lot of guitars, played in bands since I was in my teens, have
> > taken and taught lessons thru all those years, and have used Bob
> > Conti's material for two years. Several years ago my band started
> > playing more dinner sets and light jazz, which wasn't my forte. Two
> > years ago I found Robert Conti online, and ordered his lessons by mail
> > and a few books. Two years later, my jazz playing has gotten a whole
> > lot better! I look forward to that part of our sets now. I bought one
> > of his guitars almost 2 months ago. I have other Jazz guitars, a
> > Gibson L-4, a Hofner Jazzica, and a Paul Reed Smith SCJ Limited. I
> > really like my Conti guitar. It sounds great, plays easier than either
> > of the others, and its nice and light. It's a wonderful guitar, and
> > not that expensive. I've dealt with his company for the last 2 years,
> > they are a great group of people. The instructional stuff he's
> > produced has taught me a lot. On top of that, he's seems like a guy
> > that really cares about other players. He's even returned my phone
> > calls and answered questions for me. My recommendation to anyone that
> > reads the negative posts is to look farther. He's a stand up guy, his
> > material is excellent, and, at least for me, I like my Conti guitar
> > and play it daily.
>
>
> The main issue I have with you is that you're promoting yourself and
> your products in ways which, in my opinion, insult the intelligence of
> most of us. I mean, most of the "marketing techniques" you use are so
> obviously fake, like for instance the "customer testimonial" you just
> posted in this newsgroup, that you really must be thinking we're all a
> bunch of idiots.
>
> Truly great musicians don't need to, and in any case won't allow
> themselves to, resort to such a crude, dishonest and insulting type of
>
> - Show quoted text -
When I ordered materials from Conti, he threw in a couple of CD's for
free because they thought they filled my order too slowly (but the
order came in a week).
I have no problem with advertising, its inescapable anyway.
If you saw advertising from the 1890's it was really over the top, for
that matter 1950's advertising that explained every minute feature of
a toothpaste was fun too (maybe I'm weird).
I thouroughly enjoy reading Conti's web site because it is simply more
entertaining than manipulative to me.
Des Higgins
Hi Paul: Can I make a wild guess? A lot of people who end up using he
Conti stuff come across it while trying to teach themselves or from
teachers who use it as teaching material. It then seems like magic if
you absorb it. His arrangements are well done and the instructional
books (source code and formula) give some pretty clear and well chosen
examples to show how to stitch chords together to make nice
arrangaments. He also plays extremely well. All of that, to an
outsider (i.e. a hobbyist) is pretty powerful. To someone who has
been playing jazz guitar professionally for a long time, you can see
it is not magic at all and there is quite a bit of sales hype that
goes with it. Most of the regular posters here know not to hype the
stuff for these reasons although there are a few fans here (e.g. #####
said he used his stuff a lot and that Conti was extremely helpful when
contacted). So Guy probably is genuine and is simply a fan.
I found the Conti stuff to be useful for me and not so expensive as
long as you resist the temptation to buy dozens of arrangements. It
is more educational to try to arrange your own stuff at that stage.
Des
pmfan57
It may be in reaction to the people that post extremely negative
statements every time his name is mentioned. I can't figure out why
this happens.
pmfan57
> On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:15:04 -0700 (PDT), pmfan57 <jwrag...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
> >It may be in reaction to the people that post extremely negative
> >statements every time his name is mentioned. I can't figure out why
> >this happens.
>
>
> Conti's a good man.
> Jim
>
> from wiki
> Robert Conti (born November 21, 1945) is an American hard bop jazz
> guitarist.
>
> Robert Conti was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, first performing
> locally at age fourteen. In 1966, after four years on the road touring
> North America, he settled in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1970 he left
> music to pursue a career in the securities industry. In 1976 he began
> playing jazz again. In 1979, he was signed to LA based Discovery
> Records label. Conti released Latin Love Affair and a Direct To Disc
> recording titled Solo Guitar as his debut efforts as a leader in 1979.
> In 1982 he left music again for the business world. In 1985 he managed
> to released another album, and in 1986 he headlined the Florida
> National Jazz Festival, with Jimmy McGriff and Nick Brignola as his
> sidemen. In mid 1988 he was offered a position under filmmaker Dino De
> Laurentiis in Beverly Hills, California. After a lengthy recovery from
> a back injury in late '88, he was offered a position as resident jazz
> guitarist at the Irvine Marriott. He held that gig until mid 1998.
> Many of his most recent endeavors have been didactic in nature; since
> starting his website in 2000, he has released 27 educational DVDs on
> jazz guitar performance. On March 7, 2009, Robert Conti was a guest of
> the Las Vegas Guitar Club where he conducted a master class/clinic to
> a standing room only crowd at Sam Ash Music Store.
Absolutely. He has always been very generous and friendly to me. And
his customer service people are very nice as well.
Maj6th
the head. After all he calls himself, "the best guitarist in the world."
if we all are jealous perhaps you are intimidated.
Maj6th
.
"JimmyD" <jim.do...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:4aae0087...@news.eternal-september.org...
> On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:15:04 -0700 (PDT), pmfan57 <jwra...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
>>It may be in reaction to the people that post extremely negative
>>statements every time his name is mentioned. I can't figure out why
>>this happens.
>
windcrest
> On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:15:04 -0700 (PDT), pmfan57 <jwrag...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
> >It may be in reaction to the people that post extremely negative
> >statements every time his name is mentioned. I can't figure out why
> >this happens.
>
Nice list, I would add his contributions to NAMM.
thomas
>
> Why should anyone care if he calls
> himself the "best guitarist in the world".
You can see how such hyperbole might motivate people to set the record
straight.
The thing about hyperbolic and dishonest ad copy is that it brings in
the suckers, but it alienates the sophisticates. But all in all, given
the overwhelming ratio of suckers to sophisticates, you still come out
ahead in the end.
TD
P T Barnum was way ahead of his time.
-TD
Keith Freeman
No, and neither is Conti!
-Keith
Clips, Portable Changes, tips etc.: www.keithfreemantrio.nl
e-mail: info AT keithfreemantrio DOT nl