A worldwide search is currently underway for one of the most famous instruments in recent music history. With the “Lost Bass Project‘ Paul McCartney’s iconic ‘Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass’ is to be tracked down again – decades after its disappearance in 1969.
McCartney bought the instrument in Hamburg in 1961 for 30 English pounds (around 25 euros) and played it both in the studio and live for eight years. The “most important bass in world history”, as the “Lost Bass Project” calls him, can be heard on many Beatles hits of the ’60s, including “Love Me Do” and “Twist and Shout”.
The project is led by Nick Wass, author of a book about the missing instrument, along with two journalists. Wass, who works for the manufacturer Höfner, was approached by McCartney about the whereabouts of the bass guitar, which started the search operation.
The Lost Bass Project’s website states: “With a little help from our friends — from fans and colleagues to collectors and music stores — we can put bass back where it once belonged. Paul McCartney has given us so much over the past 62 years. The Lost Bass Project is our chance to give something back.”
It is assumed that the bass was stolen after the shooting of “Get Back” in 1969. “It is not clear where it was kept, who could have been there,” says Wass.
It’s not the only Beatles instrument to have been stolen in the past. John Lennon’s guitar also disappeared at the 1963 Christmas concert in Finsbury Park. The instrument reappeared 50 years later and was sold for 1.9 million British pounds (about 2.2 million euros).
The Lost Bass Project shared pictures of the original electric bass, along with details about the instrument from purchase to its disappearance, and tips on spotting fakes.
“Someone, somewhere, knows what happened to that bass and where it is now,” Wass said. “This information is available if only the right person gets in touch.”