In the early 1960s, a young Paul McCartney bought a Höfner 500/1 “violin” bass guitar in Hamburg for just £30, little knowing it would become one of the most recognizable instruments in rock history. That bass accompanied him throughout the Beatles’ meteoric rise, from their early days in Hamburg and the Cavern Club to the recording of their first two albums. It became inseparable from McCartney’s sound and style. Fans and fellow musicians alike came to associate the distinctive shape and tone of the Höfner with the energy and innovation of the Beatles’ music.
But in 1969, the bass mysteriously vanished, disappearing from McCartney’s collection shortly after the “Get Back” sessions. Over the decades, its absence grew into one of rock’s most enduring mysteries, leaving fans and collectors to wonder if it would ever be found. After more than 50 years, the instrument finally returned to its rightful owner in 2024 through a dedicated search effort called the “Lost Bass Project”, and Variety reports that its remarkable journey will soon be captured in a documentary.
‘The Beatle and the Bass’ Chronicles McCartney’s Lost Guitar
According to Variety, the extraordinary tale of Paul McCartney’s stolen bass guitar is set to be the focus of a new feature-length documentary directed by Arthur Cary, known for his work on “Surviving 9/11” and “The Last Survivors.”
Source: Jeff Gross/Getty Images
The film, titled “The Beatle and the Bass,” is produced by Passion Pictures, the BAFTA-winning studio behind “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” which received universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike, was named one of the top five documentaries of 2024 by the National Board of Review, and won multiple accolades
This production will explore the decades-long journey of McCartney’s original Höfner bass, an instrument that accompanied him through the rise of the Beatles and vanished in the early 1970s. The story combines elements of a detective narrative and a musical odyssey, tracing the efforts of fans, journalists, and experts involved in The Lost Bass Project, who ultimately helped locate and restore the legendary guitar.
In addition to McCartney himself, the film features interviews with key figures connected to the bass, including his brother Mike, artist Klaus Voormann, and collaborators such as Elvis Costello. The documentary promises insights not only into the instrument’s disappearance and recovery but also into the personal and historical significance of the guitar within the broader story of the Beatles’ rise to global fame.
