Paul McCartney’s lengthy misplaced bass, the well-known Hofner 500/1, has lastly been returned to the Beatle after being lacking for over 50 years.
“Following the launch of final yr’s Misplaced Bass venture, Paul’s 1961 Hofner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen in 1972, has been returned,” an announcement on McCartney’s web site reads. “The guitar has been authenticated by Hofner and Paul is extremely grateful to all these concerned.”
McCartney initially bought the instrument in Hamburg, Germany, in 1961, utilizing it typically for stay performances within the early ’60s in addition to on the Beatles’ first few albums.
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“For about £30 [$37.79 USD], I discovered this Hofner violin bass,” McCartney mentioned to The Guardian in 2023 when the search was launched. “And to me, as a result of I used to be left-handed, it appeared much less daft as a result of it was symmetrical. I obtained into that. And as soon as I purchased it, I fell in love with it.”
McCartney continued utilizing it till the band’s breakup — it was final seen throughout classes for Let It Be.
Discovered Protected and Sound
That’s, till now. Throughout investigations, the Misplaced Bass venture obtained ideas indicating {that a} theft had taken place within the Notting Hill space of London in October of 1972. From there, they have been in a position to monitor down not solely who initially stole the instrument, however to whom it was then bought and so forth. Ultimately, it was found within the attic of a person dwelling in Sussex.
“The bass is full and nonetheless with its authentic case,” the Misplaced Bass Challenge wrote on their web site. “It is going to want some repairs to make it playable once more, however a crew of execs can simply carry these out.”
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Gallery Credit score: Michael Gallucci
