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OC Register – King Of The Eight-String
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When Robert Conti talks about performing a tune on his eight-string, he isn’t talking about a mandolin.
The Rancho Santa Margarita resident is acknowledged as a master of the eight-string electric guitar. In fact, in 1992 and 1993, Conti helped design the first eight-string model featuring a low B and F-sharp to double the sonic range of the standard six-string instrument. He can play melodies on the first six strings while using the two additional low-range strings to complete the bass line accompaniment; much like that achieved on a full keyboard.
Conti first began experimenting with new types of instruments in 199o, when he asked a luthier to custom-make a seven-string guitar featuring a low B string.
“In 1992, I was getting ready to have another seven-string guitar made and I started toying with the idea of an eight-string. But after six months, (I quit) when it became an engineering problem. But then one afternoon, a light bulb went off,” Conti recalled recently, noting that using the F-sharp pitch as the eighth string was instrumental in making the guitar practical to play.
“It’s an exquisite sound,” added the Philadelphia native, who has lived in Orange County since the mid-1980s.
Conti first won recognition for his mastery on the six-string jazz guitar in the 1970s, releasing his commercial debut “Latin Love Affair” (1979), “Robert Conti Jazz Quintet” (1981) and winning wider acclaim in 1984 with the release ·of ”The Living Legends,” featuring Conti and jazz guitar great Joe Pass.
Just as Conti’s abilities as a composer, arranger (he estimates his repertoire at about 3,000 songs) and virtuoso took on an added depth with the use of an eight-string instrument, his reputation as a musical pioneer were cemented when Bernie Rico- the founder of B.C. Rich Guitars – spotted him performing at the National Association of Music Merchants trade show in Anaheim in 1994.
“He saw the eight-string and was so taken by the sound and design, he elected to do a production model that I’ve played every year since at the NAMM show,” Conti said, adding the Robert Conti Signature Eight-String Guitar was officially released by B.C. Rich Guitars in 1995.
“You hear simultaneously the bass lines and beautiful guitar and it’s not overdubbed (in the studio). At one time, it can sound like three players with melody, chords and bass line,” Conti said of the technical abilities of the instrument.
“Bella Solo,” Conti’s first album to completely feature his work on the eight-string guitar, is set for release in early 2001. However, Newport Beach-based Pinnacle Records has recently begun to issue several of Conti’s best-known records, including “The Jazz Quintet” (1980) and Comin’ On Strong!” (1990).
I think what’s so amazing is as great as Robert is in the studio, people owe it to themselves to see him live. The visual impact is beyong stunning; it’s not to be believed,” said Keith Taylor, the owner of Fountain Valley-based Custom Taylored Studio, who remastered Conti’s debut for its CD release on Pinnacle Records.
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