Reviews

Worldwide Students Speak

4837 reviews
91%
(4390)
9%
(447)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
D
Entrada Archtop Guitar
David Harrison - United Kingdom
Found the perfect electric guitar…

The superb Conti Entrada was received extremely well packaged through FedEx International ahead of schedule. The supplied gig bag provided a safe and secure environment and the guitar was revealed in perfect condition.

Once tuned, the Entrada played perfectly, no adjustment was needed to the intonation or playing action. The fret ends and fingerboard were exquisitely finished as was the tailpiece and headstock. A nice touch is the volute on the reverse of the join between the headstock and the neck. A sign of a quality instrument.

The body finish is perfect with the stain revealing the attractive grain through the lacquer. Played acoustically, the tone is rich, consistent and surprisingly loud, very satisfying! Plugged in to a Roland Jazz Chorus combo, using the clean channel with no effects, there is a charming, well rounded acoustic feel which is perfect for the music I currently play (jazz vocal/guitar duo – Fitzgerald/Flack/Streisand style) in a lounge environment. It is particularly pleasing that the pick up voicing is perfectly adjusted for left handed use, so all strings sound at the same volume.

All in all I have found the perfect electric guitar after many years of searching. Many thanks to Conti Guitars.

Judge.me YouTube video placeholder
R
The Comping Expo
Robert Amster MD

Excellent, comprehensive explanations and insightful exercises to do.

U
Vol. 4 Satin Doll
User: Mitch on TrueFire
Information is timeless!

What a master! This course may be old - but the information within is timeless!

L
Entrada Archtop Guitar
Lonnie Smith - Canada
Far superior to a $5,000 archtop I sold…

Beauty, playability, consistency, quality and value all describe my two Conti Entradas perfectly, but not completely. The purchasing process was undoubtedly the most customer focused experience I’ve ever encountered (for any product purchase I’ve ever made). From working with Steve in finalizing the guitar options, Mike on the supply/shipping/delivery side, and finally Robert and his incredibly enjoyable and personal videos; just an outstanding effort by a highly professional team that places the customer first.

They are the finest guitars I’ve ever owned (far superior to a $5,000 archtop I recently sold). The craftsmanship and value of the Entrada make me question why anyone would purchase anything other than a Conti Guitar.

I’m also about a third through the Source Code family of videos and Robert’s instruction is concise, insightful and highly enjoyable; a tremendous teacher without peer.

My sincere thanks to the great Conti Team!

D
Entrada Archtop Guitar
David Skinner - College Station, TX
Wonderful instrument, superb buying experience

As with all things Conti, my new Entrada arrived on time, and the day after I watched the video of Robert ‘leading by example’ on it. As I got more used to the fingerboard and the balance of the instrument, my thought was that it plays itself! Notes just fly off. The tone is acoustic and warm, and the pickup worked great through my studio board (Audient preamp into a UA Apollo). I’ll use my Bose L1 compact at a gig tomorrow night…can’t wait! Thanks for a wonderful instrument and a superb buying experience.

D
2 Hour Lesson
David Skinner - Bryan, TX
A direction that will allow me to improvise lines easily...

What I learned in my first lesson with Robert is that he is as energetic and friendly as he is in his DVDs. I’ve watched hours of the DVDs and it was a privilege to be able to personally converse, for two hours. Within the first 15 minutes, Robert watched me play and asked a few questions, and then had his tech email me three pages, which we spent the remainder of the lesson on. During the analysis of those pages, he answered the question I had not asked, which was how do I apply the Etudes from The Precision Technique and the few lines I learned in the Jazz Lines to a song. By focusing me on Green Dolphin Street, he answered this question and gave me some wonderful homework. The most important impact of the lesson though, was that Robert has helped me integrate and focus all of the skills and knowledge I’ve developed over the years into a direction that will allow me to improvise lines easily. Handing someone a scale book or a list or arpeggios to learn is like handing someone a fishing pole and walking off without telling them to thrown the line in the water. Robert wants you to land a big fish…tonight at the gig.

Signature Chord Melody Arrangements Vol 5

Again an excellent and tastefully selected collection of standard melodies.
Very useful for gigs that involve background settings such as restaurants, wedding events and formal dinner settings where tasteful and unobtrusive music is required.
Can be played with a plectrum of fingerstyle as you wish-either one chord per beat as written or adapted to your own personal preferences.
Highly recommended for the chord melody guitarist,.

Vol. 4 – Ticket To Improv

$19.95

Subject Lesson Songs:

  • Days of Wine and Roses
  • Wave
  • Bluesette
  • Bonus Project! Georgia On My Mind

In stock

Or

Streaming Video Options (Info About Streaming Video)

Description

The time-tested and acknowledged pathway to become a skilled improvisor is to play your instrument at every jam session or other opportunity that becomes available. That’s exactly how the early greats learned their craft, simply by playing jazz, not wasting time talking about modes, scales or unimportant activities that prevented them from actually playing their instruments. As seen in 25 prior DVDs, the core success of the Robert Conti approach is his ability to teach the jazz language at the street level, where it actually began. Ticket To Improv will get you off the ground.

If you’re an entry level jazz guitarist such as a blues or rock player trying to make the crossover to jazz, Ticket To Improv will take you on one of most exciting and productive musical events of your life. Very soon, you will be impressing your friends with your new playing skills.

As in each of his learning products, once again, Conti delivers another “Motherlode!” How? By teaching you exactly how to start playing an arsenal of lines over the chord progressions to three “must know” tunes that are played in every real life jam session. More importantly, after you learn the first three tunes, he will also teach you how to quickly begin reshaping those lines for usage in other tunes.

Read a Review in Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

Volume 4 Subject Lesson Songs:

  • Days of Wine and Roses
  • Wave
  • Bluesette
  • Bonus Project! Georgia On My Mind

Ticket To Improv, Volume 4 Includes:

  • Printable PDF of lesson solos in notation & tablature
  • MIDI & MP3 files of single note solos & rhythm sections

DVD Running Time: 4 Hours 38 Mins

Customer Reviews

Based on 10 reviews
100%
(10)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
L
Lawson Stone - Wilmore, KY
Ticket to Improv - the genius of it...

(Excerpted from a jazz guitar discussion forum)

The genius of it, in my view, is that your fingers will say "Hey we've played this before" but your mind will be saying "But this is a different chord progression..." and you start seeing how licks and lines can be moved around. For a strong intermediate player or advanced player, these solos would not be very challenging; but for folks trying to learn improvisation using tunes, and for folks who also would like, as a secondary benefit, to actually end up with something they can play with friends or at pick-up jam sessions, it's quite helpful.

R
Rick Leichman - Mt. Mourne, NC
A desperately needed "jump-start"

Robert, I just wanted to thank you for putting all the patterns together, and providing a desperately needed "jump-start" to my single line soloing. After years of books and lessons, I finally am developing a platform for pulling it all together. Much gratitude for your guidance and looking forward to accomplishing more with continued work on your DVDs. Best wishes to you.

J
James Macneil - Fayetteville, NC
These products are top notch

I’ve already ordered a whole array of products from Robert. This recent order will complete the Source Code series and the Ticket To Improv series. These products are top notch. I have tried products from other players and I find them to be too time consuming for people with families and jobs. Robert’s products get you straight to the point. Yes, you need to put in the work, but the work you put in is directly related to real world playing. There are products available from players that Robert knows but their material isn’t presented in a manner that gets you up and running.

T
Tony Pereira - Las Vegas, NV
A must for the aspiring player

I have been playing guitar for many years and had many instructors along the way. I started with Ticket to Improv and got hooked. He has you playing lines right from the start and takes great pains to show you the simplicity in what he is doing. I would also suggest taking lessons with him. He goes into great detail and shows you his thought process. It’s a bargain, 2 hours with a master that is videoed and sent to you in a timely manner. His staff is courteous and responsive...couldn’t be better.

G
George Wrigley - Tucson, Arizona
Learning how to add beautiful single note solos...

I have been playing for over 50 years and this is the first teacher I have ever had that made single note soloing make sense. For the first time in my life I am now learning how to add beautiful single note solos to my chord melody arrangements. Everyone else I ever studied with or purchased their dvd's etc, always sounded like a bunch of notes, they never made any sense to me. I know all the scales, but I could never make them sound like anything other than scales. Thanks Robert Conti for your amazing products.

M
Mark Wilson - New Zealand
Like a kid in a candy store!!

Hello I have just received my package from RC and Pinnacle Group. Thank you for the speedy deliver and also the complimentary Ticket to Improv # and Chord Melody V2. A real blessing. I have just purchased all new equipment and recording gear so the timing is fantastic. My playing has been at plateau stage for a few years. But now I'm like a kid in a candy store!! Thanks again and keep up the good work. If ever in NZ or want free accommodation overlooking an incredible bay, just let me know. Mark Wilson New Zealand

D
David Brennan - Phoenix, AZ
Gotten more from Bob's material than...

Bob's DVD instruction is the best...period. I'm 60 years old and have been skuffling with this stuff for 40 years. I've gotten more from Bob's material than the room full of books I've managed to accumulate.

Streaming Video Option

DVDs are now available in an affordable, instantly available streaming video format. Videos may be watched on any device with an internet connection. Printable PDF download file is included.

Upon clicking the Streaming Video Options button, you will be directed to a checkout with two options:

  1. Streaming + PDF
  2. Streaming + PDF + Ship DVD

Note: You will be asked to create an account at checkout. The account to access your streaming video purchases is different than your RobertConti.com account. Please view our FAQ for additional information.