Paul McCartney Reunited With Long-Lost Guitar That Was Stolen Over 50 Years Ago
Back in 2018, a grassroots campaign called The Loss Bass Project launched with a simple mission: to find Paul McCartney's long-lost H?fner bass guitar that was stolen in 1972 and hasn't been seen since. The search seemed futile, but renewed interest in the past year eventually led the sleuths to the instrument, and now, McCartney has been reunited with the Beatles relic.
"Paul’s 1961 H?fner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen in 1972, has been returned," McCartney’s website announced. "The guitar has been authenticated by H?fner and Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved."
The bass guitar isn't just an instrument that McCartney once owned; it's a part of music history. He used it to play on many famous Beatles tracks, leading some to hail it as the most important bass guitar in the world.
The Lost Bass Project first learned that it was stolen from the back of a fan on Oct. 10, 1972 in the Notting Hill area of London. They were able to track down the thief and find out who they sold it to, leading the team to the landlord of a pub in Notting Hill. "Looking into old records we established who that was and then gained further information about what happened next, who had the bass and what was done with it. We were able to trace the bass over the years,” the Project described the search.
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In September 2023, the Project published an article in the British press outlining the search and what they'd discovered so far. While they didn't expect it to lead to much, they ended up getting the tip that would change everything.
"As a result of the publicity someone living in a terraced house on the south coast of England remembered an old bass guitar that was in their attic," the team said. “They got this out and realized just what they had. Within days it was back with Paul McCartney!”
The 1961 H?fner 500/1 bass guitar was purchased that same year in Hamburg and was used in the Beatles' early recordings. This means it can be heard on hits like "She Loves You," "Love Me Do," and "Twist and Shout." Despite being missing for more than 50 years, the instrument remarkably only had some wear-and-tear and can be restored to its former glory.
"The bass is complete and still with its original case,” the Lost Bass Project noted. “It will need some repairs to make it playable again, but a team of professionals can easily carry these out.”
It seems like the guitar went on a long "Magical Mystery Tour" of its own.
