The Paul McCartney Stolen Beatles Höfner bass has been returned after 50 years. The 1961 model was stolen from a van in 1972 after being last used in the band for the Get Back/Let It Be sessions.
Paul McCartney reunited with stolen Beatles Höfner bass
The story all broke out this week via a social media post on X/Twitter. Where 21-year-old film student Ruaidhri Guest posted on 13 February to share photos of a Hofner bass with the following message – ‘To my friends and family I inherited this item which has been returned to Paul McCartney. Share the news.’
Then on 14 February, he added a photo of himself holding the bass. This is the bass that was used on Love Me Do and She Loves You.
McCartney Statement
McCartney says he is “incredibly grateful” for the return of the 500/1 bass that he used in the band’s early years. He has confirmed via a spokesperson that he’s been reunited with his lost bass which is believed to have originally been stolen from the back of a van in London in 1972. It was reunited with McCartney in December.
“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.”
McCartney originally purchased Höfner bass while in Germany during the Beatles’ Hamburg years.
BBC Report
BBC News had the following details;
Speaking to BBC News, the team behind the Lost Bass project said they were thrilled to solve the case they dubbed “the greatest mystery in the history of rock and roll”.
“There were no leads, no evidence really where it might be,” said journalist Scott Jones, who alongside his wife and fellow journalist Naomi last year joined the search headed by Höfner bass expert Nick Wass.
“To have found it quite quickly is amazing and we’ve heard how thrilled Paul McCartney is to have it back.
“That’s just the icing on the cake to know that bloke we all love is smiling tonight because his old guitar is back.”
Where had it been?
During their investigation, the team received tip-offs about the theft from the back of a van in Ladbroke Grove in October 1972.
They found it was then sold to a landlord of a pub in the area before it made its way to Sussex, where it was sitting in a family’s attic.
According to the BBC report the guitar was retrieved in late September and verified by experts to confirm it is genuine. Luckily the bass was complete and still with its original case, but will need some repairs to make it playable again.
