Harry Dobbs (1916-1978) was a prolific modern English instrument maker from Sutton, Coldfield. He won first prize at the Watford Music Festival Luthier Competition in 1972, 1973, and 1974. Many of his instrument were made under different monikers or trade names; Dobbs worked under several aliases, including Gasparo Rochelle from 1950 until the time of his death, hoping to command better prices for the merit of his work and reserving his name for more meticulous and traditional contemporary work.

This cello crafted by Dobbs in 1969 presents in mint condition, with only a few signs of minor wear to the varnish commensurate with years of use. It features a beautiful two piece back of well selected maple of tight irregular flame, with matching ribs and headstock, and an even tighter medium grained spruce for the top. The scroll, well executed, as well as the f holes, purfling, and edge work, which terminates into a wider treatment for the corners. It retains it’s original bridge and has been setup with Larsen Solo A & D and Spirocore Tungsten G & C strings, a Wittner tailpiece and a carbon fiber endpin. 

Most pleasingly, it demonstrates an immediate response with a powerful voice of characterful depth that provides enough resistance to shape articulation and phrasing with the ease of basic intention.