Stolen Paul McCartney Bass Returns After 51 Years
A Hofner bass guitar that once belonged to Paul McCartney and was used to record The Beatles’ initial two albums has been recovered after being missing for over half a century. The stolen instrument, considered the “most iconic lost musical instrument of all time” by The Lost Bass Project, has been returned following an extensive global search.
This bass guitar played a crucial role in Beatles singles like the 1963 hits “She Loves You” and “All My Loving”. This actually earned it the status of the instrument, that ignited Beatlemania. This was highlighted by Nick Wass, one of the founders of the Lost Bass Project.
Last year, The Lost Bass Project issued a public appeal that seemed to have done the needful. It said,” As a result of the publicity, someone living in a terraced house in Hastings on the south coast of England contacted Paul McCartney’s company and then returned the bass to them. Although the instrument was returned last year, the announcement was made public only recently.
the hofner is back home 🙂 pic.twitter.com/btVqTnwi8o
— di is playing #mindgames♟️ (@ceofjohnlennon) February 15, 2024
The theft of the guitar occurred in October 1972, when it was taken from a van in the Notting Hill area of London, according to information obtained during the investigation by The Lost Bass Project.
Hofner, the guitar’s manufacturer, has authenticated the recovered instrument, and a spokesperson from Paul McCartney’s website expressed gratitude to everyone involved in its return.
Despite some damage, including a cracked neck, a damaged bridge requiring replacement, and non-functional pickups, Nick Wass assured Reuters that the instrument could be restored to a playable condition. The bass guitar’s comeback is evocative of other comparable occasions in the music business, such as the $2.41 million sale in 2015 of a guitar that was stolen from John Lennon during the 1960s.41 million people live in Beverly Hills. The buyer at the time claimed to be unaware of its connection to Lennon when originally purchasing it.
