Paul McCartney reunited with beloved bass guitar at gig 50 years after it was stolen
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BEATLES legend Sir Paul McCartney strummed his beloved bass guitar for the first time in more than 50 years at a gig this week. Macca wowed fans as he bashed out Get Back alongside Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. At the finale of his world tour at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday he told how he was reunited with the four-string Höfner earlier this year.
![[Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr reunited on stage as The Beatles legends performed together in London]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sir-paul-mccartney-sir-ringo-958606559.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Sir Paul, 82, explained: “I had a bass that was stolen 50 years ago. I got it back, and here to make its first stage appearance in 50 years is my original bass. “I haven’t played it in 50 years . . . it sounds like a bass. “And what’s more we’ve got a special guest for you here — Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood.”.
![[Sir Paul was thrilled to be reunited with the bass guitar that was taken from him 50 years ago]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/mpl-communications-mj-kim-pa-958783887.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Macca later performed Beatles songs Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Helter Skelter with fellow moptop, drummer Ringo Starr, 84. In February we revealed the remarkable story of how the bass — Macca’s favourite guitar — had been returned to him.
He bought the Höfner 500/1 electric bass for £30 in Hamburg in 1961. Macca used the bass on tracks including Love Me Do and Get Back. The instrument, now worth up to £10million, was stolen from a van in London’s Ladbroke Grove in 1972 and later sold to a pub landlord for “not much money plus a few free pints”.
It was later given to the late husband of Cathy Guest. The 53-year-old, of Hastings, East Sussex, found the bass guitar while clearing her loft last year and realised it was Sir Paul’s after spotting an online appeal for its return. Macca later wrote a thank you note to Cathy and paid her a six-figure sum as a reward.
