Paul McCartney's 1961 Höfner 500/1 Bass

McCartney bought the bass at the Steinway music shop in Hamburg in 1961, for about £30. He played it on the Beatles' first albums, Please Please Me and With the Beatles, recorded at Abbey Road. From early 1964 he mostly used a newer 1963 Höfner, and the 1961 bass was repainted in a red sunburst after a repair. In 1972, while McCartney and Wings were moving between studios, it was stolen from a van in Notting Hill. In September 2023 Nick Wass, a former Höfner developer, launched the Lost Bass Project; the publicity led a family on the south coast of England to find the bass in their attic. Its return was announced in February 2024, after authentication by Höfner. Restored by Martin Harrison, it was played on stage again at the O2 in London on 19 December 2024, the last night of McCartney's Got Back tour.

1. 1961

   Bought by Paul McCartney at the Steinway shop in HamburgC

   For about £30.

2. 1963

   Played on the Beatles' first two albumsC

   Please Please Me and With the Beatles, recorded at Abbey Road.

3. 1972

   Stolen from a van in Notting HillC

   While McCartney and Wings were moving equipment between studios.

4. 2023

   Found in an attic after the Lost Bass Project appealA

   Launched by Nick Wass in September 2023.

5. February 2024

   Returned to Paul McCartney, authenticated by HöfnerB

6. 19 December 2024

   Played on stage at the O2, LondonA

   The final night of the Got Back tour.

Owned by · 1961–1972, 2024–present

Paul McCartneyC

Associated with · 1961

HamburgC

Used by · 1961–1964

The BeatlesC

Associated with · 1972

WingsC

Made by · 1961

HöfnerB

1. A

   Wikipedia, 'Höfner 500/1'

   ↗ View original record
2. B

   PaulMcCartney.com, 'Statement on Höfner Bass'

   ↗ View original record
3. C

   PaulMcCartney.com, 'The Lost Bass: How the 1961 Höfner Bass Found its Way Home'

   ↗ View original record