Paul’s Original 1961 Höfner 500/1 Bass Guitar Has Been Found!

[cliftdean74]

Thanks. Must be some other guitar I read was stolen during Get Back and conflated with Paul's bass.

You’re not wrong. That was the prevailing thought that it was stolen sometime during the Get Back sessions. I thought that too for years until I saw the post from the 1972 Daily Mirror.

[Mr Bump]

There has long been a rumour that it was taken during Get Back. Macca will have packed it away afterwards - he only kept it as a back-up, prefering his 63 model if ever he used a Hofner. So it was out of the public eye - but the story concerns the same instrument.

[Tex]

Wasn't there a Beatles guitar stolen in 1963 or 1964 or am I a victim of Mandela Effect?

[Mr Bump]

OK, I'm calling it out as fake news. Tell me I'm wrong. Apart from the fact that the bass in the news story looks small and flimsy, not like a real Hofner, I can see the bridge is in the wrong place. I don't believe it's the same instrument.

bass.JPG (145.57 KiB) Viewed 681 times

[ksantus]

The Bridge is movable

[cliftdean74]

OK, I'm calling it out as fake news. Tell me I'm wrong. Apart from the fact that the bass in the news story looks small and flimsy, not like a real Hofner, I can see the bridge is in the wrong place. I don't believe it's the same instrument.


bass.JPG

The bridge on the Hofner 500/1 isn’t fixed. You can move it anywhere you want between the tailpiece and the pickup. It’s held down by the strings only.

[Mr Bump]

Damn. Thought I'd cracked it there.

[cliftdean74]

Today’s news makes this February 2024 cover story very timely.

[MP3J]

hxxps://www.paulmccartney/.com/news/stat ... ofner-bass

[Lord Reith]

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.

Holy cow! Result!

Paul must be one happy man today!