Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy recently enjoyed a relaxing beach day in St Barts during their annual Easter getaway. The couple were seen heading to the beach, with Paul sporting colourful swimming shorts and Nancy in a pink printed swimming top. They made the most of the Caribbean sunshine by strolling into the ocean for a swim. The 81-year-old musician showed his generous side by giving a family a five-figure sum to thank them for returning a £10 million guitar that was stolen in the 1960s. The instrument was a distinctively shaped Höfner bass that Paul had used during his time with The Beatles.
The guitar had been missing for 54 years, and it was recently found in Cathy Guest’s loft. Negotiations between Cathy and Paul’s music publishing company MPL resulted in a deal where Cathy was given a significant thank-you fee. Paul expressed his gratitude for the return of the guitar, and Cathy stated that the amount she received would not change her lifestyle. The guitar was an iconic piece of Paul’s musical history and had become synonymous with the versatile musician during his time with The Beatles. Paul had previously mentioned that he had ‘fallen in love’ with the guitar because of its symmetrical shape, which made it suitable for him as a left-handed player.
The search for the missing instrument was helped by Höfner, the German brand that had been the preferred choice for McCartney throughout his career. Höfner created the hashtag ‘tracingthebass’ to assist in tracking down the missing guitar. They also authenticated the instrument upon its return, confirming that it was indeed Paul McCartney’s 1961 Höfner 500/1 bass guitar. The musician had owned four Höfner basses since 1961, and he still plays one of the basses given to him by the company. The instrument can also be seen in the Peter Jackson documentary ‘Get Back’, which was released in 2021.
McCartney briefly put the instrument aside during his time in The Beatles but picked it up again for recording sessions when the group was working on their final album, ‘Let It Be’. The bass guitar holds sentimental value for Paul and has played a significant role in his musical career. The return of the guitar after being missing for over five decades was a heartwarming moment for McCartney and his fans. The story of the missing guitar and its return showcases the enduring importance of musical instruments in the lives of artists and the impact they can have on their creativity. Paul McCartney’s gratitude towards the family who returned the guitar exemplifies his generosity and appreciation for his fans.
