DONALD COLBY

OWNER LUTHIER

Luthier (LOO-ti-ər)a craftsperson who builds and repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box.

B.S. and M.I.S. University of Illinois

In 2021, after 13 years as Principle Bassist of the Idaho State Civic Symphony (ISCS) and Adjunct Instructor of Double Bass at Idaho State University, Donald retired and returned to his home state of Illinois. He began studying piano at the age of five. At ten he picked up a string bass and never looked back. He studied with professors at the University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and Warren Benfield, then Assistant Principle bassist of the Chicago Symphony. He has performed as a section bassist with numerous symphonies, and with Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Clark, Christopher Parkening and Bennie Goodman to mention a few.

Donald gained his basic luthier experience at the University of Illinois in the early 1960’s from his bass teacher Professor Ed Krolick . He reset his first sound post in 1962 and has been working on string instruments since. 

Donald has played and studied the bass for more than six decades and has five plus decades of luthier and teaching experience. “I understand the connection a musician has with their valued instrument and I am committed to help them both produce the best sound possible.”