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Paul McCartney's Stolen Bass Guitar Recovered After 50 Years

3/30/2026

38 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

In 2024, Paul McCartney's 1961 Höfner bass guitar, bought for £30 in Hamburg, was recovered thanks to Nick Wass and Steve Glenister.
The bass went missing for over 50 years after an early-1970s theft from a Wings roadie van, with Hawkwind suspected.
The documentary presents a cheerful narrative but omits the theft's poverty-related consequences.
Ultimately, the thief handed the bass to a pub landlord, underscoring a mundane, painful reality.

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Story summary

In 2024, Paul McCartney's 1961 Höfner bass guitar, bought for £30 in Hamburg, was recovered thanks to Nick Wass and Steve Glenister.
The bass went missing for over 50 years after an early-1970s theft from a Wings roadie van, with Hawkwind suspected.
The documentary presents a cheerful narrative but omits the theft's poverty-related consequences.
Ultimately, the thief handed the bass to a pub landlord, underscoring a mundane, painful reality.