An international search has been launched for the bass guitar that Paul McCartney recorded early Beatles hits with, more than 50 years after it went missing.
McCartney bought the Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass guitar in Hamburg in 1961 for £30 and used it on songs such as ‘Love Me Do’, ‘She Loves You’ and ‘Twist And Shout’. It was then seemingly placed in storage in 1969 and has not been seen since.
The search is being conducted by Höfner’s Nick Wass in partnership with journalists and TV producers Scott and Naomi Jones.
"It's not clear where it was stored, who might have been there”, Wass tells the BBC. "For most people, they will remember it - it's the bass that made the Beatles”.
"Paul said to Höfner 'surely if anyone can find this guitar, it's you guys', and that's how it all came about”, adds Scott Jones. "Now we're working together on this. Nick has more technical knowledge about this guitar than anyone on the planet, and me and Naomi are bringing some investigative skills”.
Wass has worked with McCartney on a number of projects in the past and he has written a book about the missing Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass.
Calling on McCartney fans to join the search, a statement on the website for the project says: “You can be part of the Lost Bass project and the research work we carry out - supporting our mission and sharing your information about the bass. As the search unfolds you can be our ‘eyes and ears’ in key locations around the world. And this will be an adventure to enjoy; a magical mystery tour, with stories and updates along the way”.
“We especially want fans of The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Wings to join the Lost Bass”, it goes on. “This is a global project with the chance to unite fans from all over the world around one great mission - reuniting Paul McCartney with his original Höfner bass. [He] has given us all so much over the last 62 years. The Lost Bass project is our chance to give something back”.
Find out more about the search and its progression below👇
