How Paul McCartney's Bass Was Found | The History of his Hofner Bass

How Paul McCartney's bass was found: the history of his Hofner Bass 500/1. For years we thought his first Hofner bass was stolen in 1969 but only recently we learned the truth and in this video we'll cover how Paul got the bass, what it was stolen, and how it was found. #thebeatles #paulmccartney #vinylrewind
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Works Cited
The Lost Bass Project, thelostbass.com/
mccartney2, www.thecanteen.com/mccartney2....
Dekker, Chris. “Paul McCartney's First Höfner is back! - deBassist.nl.” De Bassist, 15 February 2024, www.debassist.nl/muzieknieuws...
“Höfner thief found? - The Daily Beatle.” webgrafikk.com, 29 January 2024, webgrafikk.com/blog/news/hofn...
Jones, Scott. “Paul McCartney: Global search launched by fans for lost bass guitar.” The Telegraph, 2 September 2023, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023...
Kwai, Isabella. “How Paul McCartney's Lost Bass Guitar Was Found Five Decades Later.” The New York Times, 16 February 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/ar...
Lewisohn, Mark. The Beatles - All These Years - Extended Special Edition. vol. Volume One: Tune In, Little, Brown UK, 2013
MELLEY, BRIAN. “Got back! Paul McCartney's stolen bass is found and returned to the Beatle after more than 50 years.” AP News, 16 February 2024, apnews.com/article/paul-mccar...
“Paul McCartney Reunited With His Stolen Bass Guitar 50 Years Later.” Billboard, 18 February 2024, www.billboard.com/music/music...
Reed, Ryan. “When Chas Newby Was With the Beatles for Two Weeks.” Ultimate Classic Rock, 17 December 2015, ultimateclassicrock.com/chas-....
Rhoden, Andre, and Sean Seddon. “Paul McCartney reunited with guitar stolen 51 years ago.” BBC, 15 February 2024, www.bbc.com/news/uk-68312355
Scapelliti, Christopher. “"Do you know what happened to my lost bass, the one that got pinched?" How Paul McCartney's simple 2019 query over coffee in a studio led to a forensic hunt for the iconic Höfner 500/1 violin bass.” Guitar Player, 2 February 2024, www.guitarplayer.com/players/....
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Why Paul Started Playing Bass
02:33 Buying the Hofner 500/1
04:00 The Search Begins
05:22 False Lead
05:51 Big Break in the Case
06:49 Where The Bass was all these years
08:08 A Prototype Bass?
09:40 What's Next for the bass?

[@johnhutchison9782]

The thief could never sell it, the bass was too well known. Crazy how it finally saw the light of day again. Amazing! 🤘😛🤘

[@bpabustan]

I read somewhere that when the thief found out that it might be Paul's bass, he decided against selling it knowing it is a hot item.

[@carlrudd1858]

Says right in this video that the thief SOLD it to the owner of the Pub.

[@stevenadams200]

​@@bpabustan😊

[@mazda9624]

There have been so many junk AI videos in my feed lately covering this story. It's so nice to see you covering it in great detail.

[@mnbv990]

agreed.

[@Andy-ri1ns]

So nice of Paul to not put his name against the theft

[@kingofallwhites]

The statute of limitations was probably long up.

[@mjh5437]

@@kingofallwhites We don`t have that in England.

[@sammcbride2149]

This video was so well done and the story so well told that the 10 minutes flew by like 2 minutes. Excellent work. And thank goodness they found the bass.

[@Robutube1]

Not just "the most identifiable instrument in the Beatles" - I would argue that Paul's Hofner bass is the single most recognisable instrument in the world.

[@paolobenmore3504]

I would say your right there.

[@multiversogeek142]

Ringo's drum is way more recognisable

[@sloansarabia]

WOAH -YEAH!

[@ernestschultz5065]

Stu Suttcliffe's true calling was painting. His work is terrific and he was about to break out on the art scene in a big way but tragedy struck.

[@labajadaman]

This is the best video I have seen to date regarding the recovery of Paul’s bass. Most others include stock photos of McCartney with both his original ‘61 along with pictures of his later ‘63 bass adding confusion to the story to anyone not knowledgeable about the differences of the two basses. Also most have some incorrect or misleading information, muddling the story. This video is done very well. Thank you for posting it!

[@MichaelNoone-qc8ed]

great comment ! completely agree

[@BuffaloC305]

Well, not HIS bass, though. If HIS bass was so well known, so would the unique rounded back. And Hofner certainly didn't want this (error? more expensive build feature?) known - they wanted (WANT) to sell Paul Model basses forever.

[@sidemann8593]

Countless articles, news stories, and YT videos about the return of Paul's bass, and this relatively short vid was more informative and better presented than all of them combined! Subscribed.

[@TheMusicalElitist]

THIS! SO MUCH THIS!

[@SpeedOfThought1111]

the most bizarre part to me was that Paul didn't offer up the information of when and where it was stolen when he asked the question of where his original bass is. it took decades just to reach that point and surely he would've remembered that.

[@machiel5888]

Paul probably didn't even realize when it first went missing

[@LatakiaSmkr]

Actually, withholding this piece of information could be a way of authenticating any eventual finding! If some bass shows up with the famous history, then it would be a fake. The real one should in some way match the unknown version of the theft (which Paul would know for sure).

[@josephblue4135]

It's fantastic that Paul finally got it back. 😮

[@thegreatdonato478]

Paul McCartney died in 1966. The bass got stolen after William had entered.

[@fenderjazz6213]

🤦

[@orangetweleve]

Can't wait to see Paul use this to fight Thanos in Avengers 6: Beatlemania

[@WalnutAnimations]

I love that people were so dedicated about thus

[@jessefillmore]

I believe the thief's WHOLE family knew , even his wife . Men who steal like to brag and I'm sure after a few glasses of beer he would spew off his mouth . When you steal a person's instrument , you are cursed the rest of your life or until you make it right .

[@ricknorris1466]

Apparently the Bass was re strung right handed so it was probably played for some time. I doubt if those who played it, possibly in public would have been aware that it was such a famous Bass. That would have been risky. The dad was obviously a schmuck but his sons and possibly the dad himself may have been totally unaware of it’s origins. When the dad finally sold it to the bartender he apparently did not get much at all for it. Supposedly he used it to pay off a drinking debt.

[@sophiaevans9908]

Well that just shows you don't know the family then 🤷🤷

[@jrstafford5821]

Well they do live in Hastings….

[@hatednyc]

Stop making assumptions. The best criminals ever are people you’ll never know existed. Generalizations are nonsense.

[@BuffaloC305]

The thief had to steal more than one item. If he was clearing out whole trucks, he and his pal might have a hundred or three hundred or maybe only 50 dust-collectorss. At some point, the thief might not even know what he has: "Can I get more money for this than that?" And a decade or three later, he's probably remember Paul's Bass as a big deal - which doesn't get any smalller - IN HIS MIND - if he's aware of the bass's owner. But maybe more frightened to confess. Leaving it in an attic is NOT the sign of an aware or smart collector, either. His need to brag about Paul's Posssion now being HIS possession might be great for his bar-buddies, but it might not herald his esteen to his family. He might find it very easy to SHUT UP and not confess he's a thief and possessor. So eventually, his family never knows.

[@c.syde65]

As pleased as I am that Paul McCartney's 1961 Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass Guitar has been returned to him, I hope that he continues to use his 1963 Höfner bass guitar as his main instrument, since it would have become his main Höfner bass guitar instead of the 1961 one for a reason. The 1963 one also looks better in my opinion. As it has that large violin/small cello/double bass look that I love. And now that he has his 1961 one back, he's probably going to start using it in live concerts again.

[@DiegoAlejandro-iw3fp]

Mission accomplished! I'm very happy for Paul! Now, that's said, let's find James Jamerson's Funk Machine!

[@fenderjazz6213]

​@@thegreatdonato478🤦

[@thedude4065]

"and here's a little clue for you all ... the Walrus was Paul ... "

[@pasi8800]

The whole story is just so crazy. But I'm beyond happy for Paul. Can't imagine how it must have felt to finally have the bass back after all this time.

[@mjanovec]

Paul still tours with his 1963 Hofner, which has appeared on more Beatles recordings than the 1961 has. The 1963 bass was also used during many iconic performances… Ed Sullivan, Shea Stadium, Hollywood Bowl, Candlestick Park, and the Apple rooftop. If he’s willing to take that bass on the road, I don’t see why he wouldn’t take the 1961 bass on the road.

[@luizansounds]

He may use it in studio for the emotional attachment, but in the road is really improbable he will use as you said

[@ramencurry6672]

If the bass feels as comfortable as his usual bass, he might play it at least a little bit. But then perhaps not if he’s already used to his usual touring bass and don’t want to be bothered making adjustments in EQ settings due to different pickups.

[@TheMaddogMiner]

Saw the articles come out on this but decided to wait because I knew for sure that you would cover it!

[@johnbiles419]

Great episode; I love when you delve into music history things.

[@calebwright6151]

I’m so glad that Paul got his beloved bass back. That instrument is part of rock and roll history.

[@DJ-hv4ju]

Just wait until the tax man comes for the taxes on the increase in value from 72 to 2024!

[@wgb01001]

Excellent job summing up the story. Clear and informative!

[@andrewelder2739]

Really enjoy your coverage of the story, and your presentation and setup is GREAT!

[@mr.dr.prof.patrick7284]

i’m just shocked paul hasn’t posted anything about it… i know he most likely 100% doesn’t run his social media account alone so you’d think the mccartney team would have made some kind of announcement

[@anamathouse8461]

What a great storyteller you are!

[@arlyon]

Great video. You really know your stuff. Too many other videos posted by other youtubers end up showing the wrong bass instead of the 61. Excellent. Your content is always top notch. It would be great if the moment Macca got his original bass back was filmed. Would love to see THAT moment. Maybe there will be a documentary about this story? Cheers

[@ricknorris1466]

Paul will PR this at some point. And deservedly so.

[@thedude4065]

betcha Paul brings his '61 Hofner out in the middle of a concert to surprise his audience

[@buzzawuzza3743]

Well done video. You said it all.

[@DrMurdercock]

Your film set is one of the best I've seen on all of YT. Bonus points for them Sansui's bro

[@seanhallahan14]

Very nice! Well done! Thank you.

[@aldiakaroofus]

All stuff I didn't know about! Very interesting video!

[@thomasnegovanonline]

Fantastic video!

[@brawdygordii]

I'm a lifelong fan of the Beatles since the early mid sixties. I've learnt more in the last ten minutes than in the past 35 years! Well done for being a Beatlemaniac!

[@trupax2210]

Now I’m all caught up! Thanks.

[@iSam3000]

Awesome episode

[@westfield90]

Great video.

[@whenifeellow]

so awesome! glad they found it!

[@beanotraffini681]

Great Story, my man: essential and interesting update for any and all of (us) Beatles and Maca fans out here-Cheers!😊

[@BA-vv4jy]

*macca*

[@beanotraffini681]

@@BA-vv4jy Apologies for the misspelling of the great man's nickname!

[@smokin714]

This reminds me of the story with Randy Bachman's Gretsch

[@thejasonknightfiascoband5099]

Still can't believe that this channel doesn't have a million subs 🤷

[@AshRecordReview]

Me neither 😢

[@timvanboening9432]

Great video. I hope it gets played on the new album. Also, seeing him play it would be equally awesome.

[@palemale2501]

Good work.

[@NVRAMboi]

Thank you. It's nice to see a credible "bow" put on this story. Well done sir.

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@sloansarabia]

Paul, "That's my bass" when he saw the photos of the recovered bass. He is the ultimate expert!

[@CosminNeagu]

The theft was reported in newspapers in 1972 but for some reason nobody remembered or checked that. Everybody assumed it was stolen in 1969 since it's featured in a handful of scenes in Let It Be, near the beggining of the sessions. Paul retrograded the bass as his number 2 since 1967 though and that's why it vanished.

[@LapsangTe]

The thing is that the newspaper stories back in 1972 didn't specify what instrument had been stolen, so I guess everyone thought it was just some old guitar that didn't matter that much since Paul had plenty of other guitars.

[@CosminNeagu]

@@LapsangTe yes but not that often a theft involving Paul's instruments happened. So I think it would've been obvious and easily searcheable in libraries. Local newspapers would've been a safe bet in pinpointing certain details but I guess asking the people who took care of the instruments was way easier and better in every regard. They had no idea where it happened and when, kinda curious that Paul had a faint recollection of the event.

[@ricknorris1466]

I studied the few photos of Sutcliffe holding his Bass for photo shoots and it looks like the heavier E and A strings are on THE BOTTOM in 2 of those pictures. The string ends around the tuning pegs are very long and sloppy too. Since the photos are not absolutely clear I might be incorrect in what I see but if so maybe Paul did get his way and did change or replace the strings to be left handed. That would have meant that the nut would have been cut to accommodate the change but that would not have made it impossible to re string the Bass back to being right handed. There is one photo where Paul has his new Hofner and Stu is holding his Hofner. It isn’t clear enough to see if Sutcliffe’s Bass is possibly re strung back to right handed in that photo.

[@boneappletea3858]

YAyyyyyy!!!! I always wanted it to be found. Surprised I just found this out.

[@user-si8fb3jb8d]

Well done. I'm amazed that Paul didn't get a second bass guitar ---of any kind until 1963. Left-handed basses were VERY uncommon in the early 1960's. If his only (left-handed) bass had been lost or broken in , say, London or Stockholm, there might have been a chance of finding another left-handed bass in the hours before a gig. However, in some of the other places they played in those years, such as Aberdeen , Scotland, the chances of finding a substitute left-handed bass would been very slim indeed.

[@ryanellis4474]

EXCELLENT VIDEO! I would love to interview you one day if you’re amenable to that! Do you like the blues? Do you like jazz? Do you like Motown? Who are The Beatles to you? Keep being you! I will pray for America. Please pray for me. God Bless you.

[@lemontiki]

Amazing research! Great job!!

[@vbgfcdrtdggtfjhugyufry]

cool video

[@reghunt2487]

I'm confused. If it went missing in 69 but got stolen in 72, where was it those 3 years? Or did Paul actually still have it until 72, and why did everyone think it went missing in 69? I'm missing a piece here.

[@vayabroder729]

I agree; the Hofners were definitely out of the picture when he started Wings; same with the Vox AC30 amplifiers that were reportedly stolen along with the bass from the equipment truck.

[@soarel325]

The funniest part is that Paul's bass was in the attic of a college student who makes Doctor Who fan films

[@fourthtunz]

Thank you for the great story I have a question! One of Paul’s Hoffner’s he got From Stu Sutcliffe, When Stu won an award and the Beatles asked him to buy a bass is this the same bass or is it different bass?

[@vayabroder729]

Different one; Stu’s was a Hofner President Model.

[@richardrangel9704]

Love your collection on the back wall of oversized US Beatles LPs. Where did you score them?

[@xavsmash]

This is crazy ❤

[@albertochalico7906]

Como todo acontecimiento que rodea a la historia de the Beatles, fascinante y misteriosa ✨

[@deengew]

you have the best set in the game

[@Jpw824]

VERY hopeful he uses it again

[@TheHylianBatman]

I just hope that we get to see Paul playing the bass. I just want video of him holding it. Let alone playing it live or recording with it again! I'd also like to see his Rickenbacker, I feel like that one's been MIA for a bit.

[@theoccupier1652]

That's great news :)

[@bwithrow011]

Great story

[@tomschrein417]

After being stored in an attic presumably for years. It seems like the bass would need a complete restoration. Warped neck, fret sprout, delaminating wood, joints coming apart etc. It doesn’t take much neglect to ruin a hollow body guitar.

[@rexertek]

I agree the timeline is a bit odd regarding when it was returned and then given to Paul. Also, my understanding is it was the son of the person that had the bass that first stated (via x/twitter) several months after returning the bass that the bass had been returned, . Why didn't either Paul or his group report this info first?

[@Tonetwisters]

Sure wish my 1954 Stratocaster with a Jazzmaster neck would get "found" ... I've only been waiting for it since July of 1965.

[@1ralton1]

I'm sooo happy for Paul that he's finally reunited with his bass. It's a great story though.

[@Danjoker.]

I had no idea his bass was even stolen 😂

[@MrDlt123]

When I started playing in the early 80s, my first bass was a replica of Paul's because I was a lefty too, and didnt know any other lefty bass players. I was more of a Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden fan, but still, its Paul McCartney. Still have mine, but its probably worth about $5. 😅

[@AI_guy63]

This was some great news!

[@applesforakbar]

A ton of his tracks were actually recorded with his rickenbacker

[@MrsJan1967]

That guitar may be one of the highest priced collectable ever in the future

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci

[@NatalozGayming]

As a left handed person, I can't see myself playing a left handed bass. I'm too used to the right handed ones.

[@chrisst8922]

There is a lifelong career waiting for you in any one of thousands of Beatle trubute acts.

[@ungmd21]

Is this the bass on early recordings like I SAW HER STANDING THERE and I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND and SHE LOVES YOU ?

[@hatednyc]

I love that jacket.

[@annamariaisland1960]

I'm a bit confused. Was this the bass featured in the Get Back session where Paul is writing the song "Get Back" right in front of our eyes?

[@DuckyMan0220]

I just found out “yesterday”

[@danielwilkins7509]

I have it, on the BEST Authority, that paul McCartney's bass was found, Gently Weeping. Keep up the good investigative reporting!🙂.

[@aum3.146]

Happy for Paul. I know he said he would like to know where it had gone.

[@DrMurdercock]

Imagine having a priceless bass and just toss it in your humid/cold attic

[@kunaikai]

I was just wondering how Paul got into Hofner basses and why he chooses to play them

[@DiegoAlejandro-iw3fp]

Well, there are a number of reasons for that. Back then, Fenders were very expensive and you couldn't find left handed basses. Hofners were cheaper, they were made in Germany (where the Beatles cut their teeth) and the symmetry of the violin model bass body appealed Paul.

[@PrankZabba]

That's crazy that it would be a total 1 off. But that makes sense. Especially if it's the first custom order. Now wonder Paul would want it to be 100% real deal, and then get it fixed up. Of course ya want to play it. Not sure what the biggest gear heist was but there's that time Sonic Youth had their entire sound truck on tour stolen. They have managed to get some back. But good luck with that. Their webpage has a decent archive all about it with photos and more info.

[@crusherbmx]

Wow, a cutom, 1961, left handed, carved back protoype Hofner bass, I bet it's worth a fortune.

[@deltaflyer9078]

Glad it got back to where it once belonged!!😁

[@aaronvicente5028]

*YES*

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Next up, "Beano" Les Paul!

[@abomarsyr103]

nice classic decor though

[@billy38010]

Paul said in an interview,...He Had "a couple of em (Bass's) Nicked," during the filming of "Let it Be."

[@subtlebluntduality5997]

When Paul went out on tour in 1989, he brought back the Hofner bass to use on the tour and compared it to Charlie Chaplin's cane, saying that you just expected to see it.

[@andywarholsfavoritewig3050]

One of the kids of the family was ‘given’ a three bedroom house in Brighton after the bass was returned. Whether it was given by PMcC or bought with any reward I don’t know. Apparently someone is making a film about the story of the bass and how it was returned.

[@MrGlorpington]

can we get a update for buddy holleys electric guitar?

[@BARTFUNKBASS]

❤❤❤

[@AllenPendleton]

He needs to ditch the Hofners and get the Rickenbacker back out. That was the bass I remember growing up on the Wings era Mccartney.

[@joe6096]

I’m sure Paul will have it insured by Sothebys. And I doubt he’ll tour with it. Can you imagine his current road crew if he did? They’d all be standing on stage right next to him with white velvet gloves and satin pillows in case he dropped it.

[@bwtv147]

Now that Paul McCartney’s bass is solved, how about Junior Brown’s guit-steel. It would be impossible to sell and it couldn’t be shown in public. What would anyone do with it?

[@garylee3685]

Huh, I knew it was stolen from a van in 1972. Dunno why you guys thought otherwise. The story of John's acoustic stolen in the sixties and showing up in a San Diego pawn shop recently is a fascinating thing too.

[@sixouncepotato5554]

Correction: the most recognizable Beatles' instrument was Ringo's exercise bike.

[@philovance1940]

Stealing from others is like a national pastime in the UK.

[@sidemann8593]

I think that's what Harold Wilson said.

[@jpalberthoward9]

I'm just glad to see him get it back. being ripped off blows, no matter who you are or how much you have.

[@eranzilber1]

that bass sounds like thunder! listen to the beatles first albums. so fat and punchy!

[@kevinericsongs]

if paul never officially reported his guitar as stolen,does that mean that the family who had the bass in their attic could have legally sold it?