Paul McCartney’s Long-Lost Höfner Bass Gets Its Own BBC Documentary
Last year, one of the biggest mysteries in music gear was solved when Paul McCartney was reunited with his long-lost 1961 Höfner 500/1. Now, the tale will be told in film.
BBC Arts has commissioned a documentary entitled The Beatle and the Bass, which will dive into the bass’s disappearance and the fan-powered movement to find it over five decades later. The Fab Four bassist bought the instrument new in 1961 during the band’s time in Hamburg. It was a key part of The Beatles’ sound as he used it on the group’s first two LPs and all the way through Let It Be. It was stolen in 1972.
“I think anything that’s nicked, you want back, especially if it has sentimental value,” McCartney says. “It just went off into the universe and it left us thinking, where did it go? There must be an answer.”
Of course, we now know that it was stolen and sold to a pub landlord, given to a friend, and then placed in an attic where it lived in obscurity. Höfner expert Nick Wass and two journalists launched The Lost Bass Project in 2023. It was their efforts and publicity that eventually found the priceless instrument.
The Beatle and the Bass will tell the story with exclusive interviews with all those connected to the case.
“The film is a rock ‘n’ roll detective story featuring new interviews with Paul McCartney and many others who are personally connected to the bass,” the BBC states. “From Paul’s brother Mike McCartney, friend and artist Klaus Voormann, and roadies and collaborators such as Elvis Costello, to the fans, experts and journalists behind The Lost Bass Project, their memories are by turns funny, moving and surprising that help tell a compelling story about fandom, creativity, love, loss, memory and the transformative power of music.”
The Beatle and the Bass will debut this fall as part of BBC’s Arena documentary series’ 50th anniversary. We’ll keep you updated with more details as they become available, but until then, you can read up on the story from our past reports.
McCartney had the bass put back into working order and quickly put it to use. It made its grand return on December 19th, 2024 during his “Got Back” tour stop in London. You can see the historic moment here:
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
That’s a cool tale. I’ll be watching the documentary when it’s released for sure. One thing I can’t abide is a thief. It’s amazing the Höfner was found and could be restored after being neglected for 50+ years. I wish I could afford a ticket to Paul’s tour stop in Des Moines next month to enjoy hearing this beauty in person.
I declare that Paul McCartney’s use of left-landed Hofner bass guitars has made them the most well-known left-handed product in human history.
Joe Bonamassa was integral into the finding the bass. He better be in the documentary.
Now where does that come from? You’re probably confusing with Rick Beato’s story about his uncle who had a bass that ended up in Joe Bonamassa’s collection. He eventually sold it back to Rick.
Bonamassa had absolutely nothing to do with finding Paul’s bass.
So wh’appen to the mother of pear scratch plate?!