The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: Chris P. on August 02, 2019, 01:57:54 AM
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https://www.hofner-guitars.com/lost-bass
Höfner and Macca started a campaign together to find the missing '61.
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Chances are slim. If it still exists, the person who has it might not know what he has. You never know, though.
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I'd ask Geddy Lee first!
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For some weeks there was a lot to do about this. I was even called by Dutch national radio and I did an interview for the radio news on two channels, talking about the missing bass. This was early September. After that it went a bit quiet again.
There is some news though: the bass wasn't stolen in '69, as everybody thought, but in '72 in Notting Hill: https://thelostbass.com/news
I'm always positive, but realistic too. I agree with Dave: a small chance it will be returned.
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It either doesn't exist anymore or the person owning it has no financial pressure to ever release it no matter how much he is offered.
I don't believe in the "attic treasure" theory. Raiders of the Lost Arc.
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I reckon Mal Evan's accidentally crushed it while moving an amp or organ, given the habit of scattering guitars all over the floor seen in the Get Back footage. He probably quietly took it home and burned it, or put it in the Abbey Road bins.
I also think the missing bass is a bit nasty looking. Anybody else?
(https://thelostbass.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A2177E28-306B-4E23-B033-B45691AE46CB_1_201_a-1024x711.jpg)
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Well it's back. I knew it on october but I had to keep it secret:) At that time I had an interview with Nick Wass about the whereabouts, getiing it back, and authenticate it. I posted it in English and Dutch. Here's the English one.
https://www.debassist.nl/muzieknieuws/artikel/2-29077/paul-mccartneys-first-hfner-is-back
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It's an amazing story.
I'm surprised the bass actually still exists.
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Well it's back. I knew it on october but I had to keep it secret:) At that time I had an interview with Nick Wass about the whereabouts, getiing it back, and authenticate it. I posted it in English and Dutch. Here's the English one.
https://www.debassist.nl/muzieknieuws/artikel/2-29077/paul-mccartneys-first-hfner-is-back
Great interview, Chris! :toast:
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Amazing story. I'm quite taken with how mundane it all is! The bass wasn't stolen by a Canadian art collector and buried under a swimming pool, just tucked away in an attic for decades.
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First I have to say I had lots of fun posting here and on social media answers like: 'They will never find it!' on any post about The Lost Bass, while I knew it was back :mrgreen:
It is a great story and almost a disappointment it wasn't in a vault in China, at a private collector's in Abu Dabhi, owned by a friend of Joe Bonamassa, what Alanko says about being buried under a swimming pool, or whatever, haha. The bass didn't made many miles.
I was honoured Nick Wass trusted me and told me the whole story back in October 2023. As Basvarken mentioned on social media: names are known now. Nick promised to give no names and I promised Nick to wrote it as he told me - and he is a great story teller! So I keep it as it is without any names.
And thanks, guys!!
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Thanks for sharing this Chris. Paul was the first bass player i was really aware of back in the mid/late 70s.
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What a great end to the story ! Makes me really happy. Great article Chris!
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I need to set aside some time to read this...thanks for posting!
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Thanks guys! Nick Wass is the expert who co-wrote the 500/1 book, he also helped 'building' Macca's #2: and old bass that had to sound as much as Macca's original, and he was asked by Macca to find the bass. I am the only person he told all the nerdy bass facts to, so I'm quite proud of this worldwide scoop.
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It is a fantastic article, and it discloses more of the story than I thought would be made public. Very interesting!
An article on the 'tear down' of Hofner restore the bass would be equally interesting. It is interesting that luthiers could take such liberties in the '60s. Presumably Jim Burns was just asked to make the bass like new? Hence the heavy poly sunburst, oversized pickup chassis, etc. John Birch was apparently notorious for going well beyond the scope of work required; replacing fretboards and shaving necks, refinishing everything in poly when the guitar was booked in for a fret replacement, etc.
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Nick thinks it's most likely Macca wants a sympathetic restauration, as they call it in car world. So no complete overhaul or refin, but just making it playable and sounding well again. If Höfner gets the job, I get the info and pics.
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Well it's back. I knew it on october but I had to keep it secret:) At that time I had an interview with Nick Wass about the whereabouts, getiing it back, and authenticate it. I posted it in English and Dutch. Here's the English one.
https://www.debassist.nl/muzieknieuws/artikel/2-29077/paul-mccartneys-first-hfner-is-back
I get an Avast warning and block when I try to access this link. Is there a problem with it?
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worked fine from Canada
Edit … on a tablet
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I get an Avast warning and block when I try to access this link. Is there a problem with it?
Yes there is one virus scan which thinks we are affected. We fight it for over ten years now. We get in touch, they check it, they say there's nothing wrong... ....and they still block it. Drives me insane. Maybe try it on your phone, tablet or other computer.
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Why was it widely assummed all these years that the bass was stolen from a studio locker in 1969, and only recently it was discovered that the bass was stolen from a padlocked truck in 1972 — the breakthrough that led to finding it — when this was published in the Daily Mirror in Oct. 12th, 1972?
(https://scontent.ftlv19-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/428391712_10159919615722776_7691940038631415896_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=iKPmfFG5USMAX9wfEgL&_nc_ht=scontent.ftlv19-2.fna&oh=00_AfCWc8xiDnMjV0LD1axGx_JcwdCWWv22r4qXvcKIPgdOtQ&oe=65DA27DE)
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That's the one million dollar question. I guess those roadies don't visit the bass nerd websites and forums
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Yes there is one virus scan which thinks we are affected. We fight it for over ten years now. We get in touch, they check it, they say there's nothing wrong... ....and they still block it. Drives me insane. Maybe try it on your phone, tablet or other computer.
Weird. I've tried it in three browsers, and those which don't flag it as virus say the page cannot be reached.
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Very strange, cos we have tens of thousands of hits. Send me your e-mail address and I'll send you the text