Paul McCartney's Lost Bass Found After 51 Years
Image Source: Guitar Player
A legendary musical artifact has been found after 51 years! Sir Paul McCartney, most famous for being the bassist of The Beatles, has famously used a Höfner 500/1 violin bass on and off since 1961. However, the one he currently brandishes in concert and recordings is not his first one. The bass he currently uses is the 1963 model, but the first one he used was one he bought two years earlier in 1961. That bass was used from 1961 to about 1963 when it became relegated to a backup bass after the musician had purchased a new one. The bass would still make appearances later in The Beatles’ career such as in the music video for the song “Revolution” and in the Let It Be film.
However, it was stolen in 1972 and has been lost until now. Fans helped to track down the elusive bass, launching the “Lost Bass Project” with Höfner historian Nick Wass and later joined by journalist Scott Jones. After many years of dead ends and leads that went nowhere, the bass was found in someone’s attic after being sold to pub landlord Ronald Guest and passed down through the Guest family until it was inherited by Cathy Guest’s son Ruaidhri Guest. Nick Was said that McCartney “was excited as a school boy” when he was reunited with such an important instrument. Furthermore, McCartney does not want a factory restoration but rather just wants it fixed up so that he can play it again. McCartney’s website released the following statement when news of the bass being found hit:
“Following the launch of last year's Lost Bass project, Paul’s 1961 Höfner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen in 1972, has been returned. The guitar has been authenticated by Höfner and Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved.”
The famed musician seems eager to play it again, so we may see it on a future recording down the line. This is a historic find for McCartney and Beatles fans everywhere!
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