world hunt has been launched to seek out The Beatles’ legend Sir Paul McCartney’s lacking bass guitar - which he purchased for £30 however may now be price over £10 million.

McCartney usually took the violin-shaped Höfner 500/1 electrical bass on stage from 1961 to 1963 till it disappeared simply earlier than the band broke up on the finish of Beatlemania.

McCartney, now 81, bought the instrument whereas the band had been in residency in Hamburg, Germany.

He beforehand mentioned he “fell in love with it” as a result of its form appeared extra symmetrical as he performed left-handed.

It was final seen within the days earlier than McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison climbed on to the roof of their Savile Row places of work in 1969 for a remaining efficiency.

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Ever since, the Help! famous person has been on the hunt for the Höfner.

Though he briefly put it to 1 facet throughout his time within the band, he picked it up once more for recording classes in London when the group had been recording hit Let it Be.

The guitar will also be noticed in Get Back, Peter Jackson’s documentary launched in 2021.

Now, Höfner have stepped in to assist the musician along with his determined seek for the instrument, which is now valued at round not less than £10m attributable to its in depth musical historical past.

The search has been launched on-line with the hashtag #tracingthebass inviting folks from all over the world to assist observe it down.

Höfner govt Nick Wass advised the Sunday Telegraph: “I’ve worked closely with Paul McCartney’s team over the years, and when I’ve met Paul we’ve talked about his first Höfner bass and where it could be today.

“Paul said to me, ‘Heh, because you’re from Höfner, couldn’t you help find my bass?’ And that’s what sparked this great hunt.”

Rumours fluctuate from a thief taking the bass from a closet at Abbey Road to a narrative that it vanished from the basement of the Beatles’ Savile Row places of work.

Mr Wass added that the bass could possibly be valued “more like a Van Gogh or a Picasso than just an instrument”, including: “This is the bass Paul played in Hamburg, at the Cavern Club, and at Abbey Road.

“Paul would be so happy, thrilled, if this bass could get back to him.”