David Wiebe

David Wiebe was born into a family in which music was important and every child was given lessons to play piano and a string instrument. David discovered the string bass in 6th grade school string program and fell in love with it. Simultaneously, his interest in woodworking and wood finishing brought him to an instrument repair man in a nearby town, who coached him in some minor work on basses. After David’s first year of college as a music major, he changed direction and instead went to the school in Mittenwald, Germany to study violinmaking. Upon returning to the U.S., David set up a shop for making new instruments back in his native Nebraska where he worked for approximately 30 years making all four instruments of the violin family. He was awarded two gold medals from the VSA. Working early on to develop personal models inspired by the great 18th century Italian Masters, David has since also has made copies of Stradivari, Amati and Goffriller instruments. He has sold instruments to soloists, professional orchestral and quartet musicians.   David found inspiration attending the summer Oberlin workshop for 6 years, expanding his knowledge and renewing friendships with colleagues.  In 2002, David moved his home and workshop to Woodstock, New York to join bowmaker Sue Lipkins, where he has continued making violins, violas, cellos, and a few basses.