Beatles Legend Paul McCartney's Stolen Guitar Found and Returned After More Than 50 Years
Paul McCartney's original bass guitar, played during The Beatles' early years, has been found and returned after being stolen over five decades ago. The guitar was discovered through a crowdsourcing campaign called The Lost Bass Project.
The Guitar is Found and Returned After More Than 50 Years
Paul McCartney's original bass guitar, which he used during The Beatles' formative years, has been recovered and returned after being stolen over five decades ago.
The 81-year-old musician was reunited with the stolen Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass, thanks to the efforts of its manufacturer and a husband-and-wife team of journalists. They embarked on a search in 2018, which later turned into The Lost Bass Project, a crowdsourcing campaign.
A statement on McCartney's website confirmed the discovery and return of the guitar, stating that it had been authenticated by Höfner and expressing McCartney's immense gratitude to everyone involved.
The Significance and Value of the Stolen Guitar
Originally purchased by McCartney in 1961 for $37, the stolen guitar is now estimated to be worth $12.6 million. It was McCartney's primary instrument during The Beatles' early performances in Hamburg, Germany, and was played on their first two albums and hit songs like 'Love Me Do,' 'Twist and Shout,' and 'She Loves You.'
McCartney explained that he fell in love with the instrument because, as a left-handed musician, it looked less awkward due to its symmetrical design. The guitar was initially thought to have been stolen during the recording sessions for The Beatles' final album, 'Let It Be,' in 1969.
The Lengthy Search and Emotional Reunion
The search to recover McCartney's stolen bass guitar began in 2018 when McCartney asked Höfner for assistance. The Lost Bass Project started, but progress was slow until 2022 when a journalist and his wife joined forces with Höfner executive Nick Wass to generate more media attention and involve the public in the search.
Their efforts paid off when they received numerous emails containing crucial information. One email came from sound engineer Ian Horne, who had worked with McCartney's band Wings. Horne revealed that the bass had been stolen from his van in London in 1972.
Ultimately, the guitar was traced back to the Guest family, who had received it in exchange for a small sum and some beers. It had been stored in their attic for years and was recognized as McCartney's missing bass. The instrument was returned to McCartney in December and officially authenticated two months later.
