Paul McCartney: Beatles legend's long lost bass found in Hastings

The historic bass guitar, the first ever owned by the Beatles legend, was re-united with the star after it was reportedly stolen in London's Notting Hill in 1972.

After a search was launched more than half a decade ago a group leading the charge to find the guitar say it was found in an attic in East Sussex.

A spokesman for The Lost Bass Project said the former Beatle was “incredibly grateful” for those who were involved in helping to locate the Hofner bass guitar.

A post on Sir Paul’s official website read: “Following the launch of last year’s Lost Bass project, Paul’s 1961 Hofner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen in 1972, has been returned.

Sir Paul McCartney

“The guitar has been authenticated by Hofner and Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved.”

The Lost Bass team, which included Nick Wass from Hofner and husband and wife team Scott and Naomi Jones, received more than 100 leads which they used to help track down the missing guitar.

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Among the tip-offs, the project said they were given information that claimed the guitar had been stolen from the back of a van in 1972 in Notting Hill in London.

The bass had been purchased for £30 in Hamburg, Germany, in 1961 by Sir Paul and was used during his time with The Beatles.

It still comes complete with the original case but will “need some repairs to make it playable again”, the Lost Bass Project said.