McCartney's Lost Bass Guitar to be Searched Worldwide: Disappeared in 1969

Global searches have begun for one of the most famous musical instruments in history, Paul McCartney's Höfner bass guitar. The search is part of the Lost Bass project, which gathers information about the potential whereabouts of the instrument, dubbed “the most important bass in history.” McCartney purchased the guitar in 1961 in Hamburg for $38 (which is over $1,000 today), but it mysteriously disappeared eight years later in 1969.

The hunt for the lost guitar commenced after McCartney requested Karl Höfner to search for his beloved instrument, resulting in an organized search by the company. The guitar was last seen before The Beatles' breakup 50 years ago. “I bought this Höfner bass for about 30 pounds,” said the 81-year-old McCartney. “And for me, being left-handed, it was more comfortable because it was symmetrical. I fell in love with it immediately after I bought it.” To assist those searching for the lost instrument, the company has released photographs of the bass guitar, along with information about where and when the instrument was from the day of purchase until its disappearance, as well as instructions on how to identify a fake.