ABOUT US
Nearly Three Decades Of Service In Denver's Bluebird District
Since 1998, Colfax Guitar Shop has been a cornerstone of Colorado’s music community, serving local players and touring musicians with expert guitar repair, restoration, custom guitar building, and instrument sales from its longtime home on historic Colfax Avenue in Denver. In an industry where shops often come and go, that kind of longevity means something—it reflects the quality, consistency, and craftsmanship that have built our reputation.
Built largely through word of mouth, Colfax Guitar Shop has become a trusted resource for musicians of all skill levels. Whether you’re picking up your first instrument or you’re an experienced professional, we’re here to help. From simple restrings to complex structural repairs, vintage restorations, and instrument sales, we offer comprehensive services to meet all your musical needs.
Christian Phillips
Owner/Luthier
Originally from Iowa, Christian attended the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix in 2006. Upon graduation, he followed his family to Colorado, where he began putting down roots.
In 2008, Christian began an internship at Colfax Guitar Shop under luthiers Scott Baxendale and his son, John Baxendale. He learned far beyond the basics of guitar repair, spending much of his time completely rebuilding guitars from the inside out in a process called “conversion,” as well as providing a wide range of repair services.
When Dave Dougherty purchased the shop in 2010, Christian stayed on as a full-time repair technician and continued to grow under the guidance of another experienced professional. With the rare opportunity of having worked under several highly skilled luthiers, Christian developed into a talented luthier in his own right.
In 2015, Christian was promoted to head of the repair department, where he managed workflow for all the luthiers in the shop. By consistently completing repairs ahead of showtime deadlines and delighting customers, Christian’s reputation for quality and professionalism continued to grow.
Not eager to sit still during the pandemic, in 2020 Christian began building guitars from scratch under the “Phillips” brand. His experience honed through repair work proved invaluable in creating world-class instruments that rival many boutique builders.
In 2022, Christian purchased Colfax Guitar Shop with the goal of honoring its rich history while continuing its tradition of exceptional service. Having repaired over 11,000 instruments and accumulated more than 45,000 hours of experience, Christian has found great joy in training the next generation of luthiers.
Christian currently devotes his time at the shop to a wide range of responsibilities. When he isn’t repairing guitars, he focuses on renovations to improve the overall experience for both luthiers and customers alike. Having laid much of the foundation for his vision of the shop, he is eager to return to building guitars and to explore new ways to engage with the shop’s wonderful customers.
In his free time, Christian enjoys spending time with his family, rafting, backpacking, cooking, and attending concerts. He is a voracious music listener with a vast collection of playlists that he one day hopes to turn into DJ sets as a retirement hobby.
Like everyone at the shop, Christian is friendly, approachable, and highly competent. Stop by and introduce yourself to Christian—you can feel confident you’ll receive sound advice and service from a seasoned professional.
Nils Barese,
Head Luthier
Originally from Connecticut, Nils Barese began his guitar studies at the Vermont Instrument School of Luthiery in 2012. After graduation, Nils was hired as a luthier for the Music Guild in Danbury, Connecticut. Having gained real-world experience, Nils’s passion for his craft grew, and his path as a luthier became clear.
In 2014, Nils moved to Colorado, where he continued his education at the Red Rocks Community College Luthier program. While in school, he also worked as a teacher’s assistant in the violin building program.
Upon graduation in 2015, Nils worked for Golden Music in Golden, Colorado, where he headed the repair department. While there, Nils was able to fine-tune his skills as a luthier, working on guitars as well as orchestral instruments.
During this time, his curiosity and desire to learn led him to attend several Guild of American Luthiers conventions, as well as NAMM. Equipped with a strong foundation of knowledge, Nils put his education to use and began making acoustic guitars in his free time.
In 2018, Nils started working at Colfax Guitar Shop. Coming to the shop with an extensive background in the field, along with a genuine excitement for guitars, Nils was a natural fit and quickly became a fixture at the shop.
During his time at Colfax Guitar Shop, Nils has gained a reputation for taking on “one-of-a-kind” custom work that many other luthiers would find daunting. He has proven to be a reliable asset as the in-house creative, drawing from a skill set that goes above and beyond the average repair work. Nils’s confidence in his craft, paired with his ability to communicate effectively, has made him the go-to person for bringing unique customizations to life.
Having proven himself as a talented and dedicated craftsman, Nils was promoted to head of the repair department in 2023. He currently manages workflow for all of the luthiers in the shop, as well as providing expert repairs. When needed, he offers guidance to other luthiers at the shop and serves as the right-hand man to Colfax Guitar Shop owner Christian.
Nils is a valuable asset to the shop and is always happy to assist with any questions or concerns. You can be assured that you will be met with the utmost courtesy, care, and experience when working with him.
Spencer Low,
Luthier
Originally from the suburbs of Seattle, Spencer began his education as a luthier when he attended the Galloup School of Guitar Building and Repair in 2021. After completing his master’s certification, he stayed on for an apprenticeship with the school, where he taught students while continuing to advance his own skills in repair.
In early 2023, Spencer was hired as a luthier at Colfax Guitar Shop. Throughout his time there, he has demonstrated a natural talent for understanding and executing the finer details of guitar repair. With a strong sense of pride in his craft and the work to support it, Spencer quickly became a respected peer at Colfax Guitar Shop, often offering valuable repair advice to more seasoned technicians.
Spencer has shown that he is capable well beyond his years, and through his example, he has made it clear that age does not determine skill or knowledge. He consistently takes on the more complex restorations that come through the shop and completes them with outstanding results.
Coming from a background in classical voice, Spencer enjoys singing with the Colorado Repertory Singers, where he was recently selected to join the chamber choir. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, Dungeons & Dragons, and video games.
Spencer is a truly talented luthier. While much of his ability comes naturally, an equal part is the result of hard-earned dedication to his craft. He is also friendly, professional, and always willing to offer thoughtful advice. These qualities have made Spencer a highly sought-after luthier at Colfax Guitar Shop.
David Hubbell,
Luthier
Originally from Texas, David Hubbell has been a musician for over 20 years and has spent nearly a decade building and repairing stringed instruments. Mostly self-taught, David began by learning how to perform maintenance on his own instruments.
After moving to Manhattan, Kansas, David’s focus as a luthier began to take shape into a fully fledged career path. In 2017, he was hired as a luthier at Manning Music in Kansas, where he honed his guitar repair skills for the next three years. In 2020, he was promoted to store manager while also heading the luthier department.
Having developed a strong passion for working on guitars, David decided to focus on expanding his skill set as a luthier. In 2022, he moved to Colorado, where he attended the School of Fine Woodworking at Red Rocks Community College. He served as both a student and teaching assistant there until earning his luthiery artisan certificate in 2024.
David joined Colfax Guitar Shop in July 2025. His strong talent in the craft, paired with his experience in customer service, has made him a valuable addition to the team.
In his free time, David enjoys building instruments, fishing, and backpacking. His most recent interest has been building tube amplifiers and effects pedals, which, knowing David’s talent, is something to keep on the radar.
Eli Acosta,
Luthier
A Denver native, Eli built his first flattop guitar at East High School in 2007 and soon after began a part-time internship at Colfax Guitar Shop under Scott and John Baxendale. In 2009, John Baxendale founded the Colorado Guitar Company, where Eli became his first hire. Under the tutelage of John—a master luthier in his own right—Eli honed his skills as a luthier while learning all facets of guitar repair.
In 2015, Eli was hired full time at Kolancy Music, where he quickly shifted focus to repairing orchestral instruments. He remained there until the shop sadly closed in 2023 after nearly a century in business. His time there proved invaluable, giving him an expansive knowledge of the orchestral world.
In 2024, Eli returned home to where it all began: Colfax Guitar Shop. The current owner had once been an intern alongside Eli back in 2008, and the two kindred spirits enjoyed working together again, reminiscing and catching up like the good old days.
Unfortunately, it was a short-term return, as Eli had planned to move into a full-time position at Ross Double Bass, which he has since done. If you want to repair or purchase an upright bass, be sure to talk with Eli at Ross Double Bass. Eli occasionally makes appearances at Colfax Guitar Shop to help out or catch up on an “as-needed” basis.
Mateo
Mateo is the best shop dog you could ever ask for. A Colfax legend in his own right, Mateo has responded to many names, such as Teo, Taters, Potato, Tater’s Precious, and Taters Gonna Tate. He loves saying hi to customers and offering moral support during tricky repairs. If you bring him dog treats, he will love you forever. If you want to come in just to see Mateo, that is totally fine—we won’t be jealous.
