Did Paul Actually Own this Bass?

[simer4001]

Check out this aucton.

http://www.macca-central.com/macca-news/MoreNews.cfm?ID=1675

[kog]

I've read about this bass in several places, most notably in Babiuk's "Beatles Gear" book. It does say there was a gold-plated bass presented to Paul, and he has mentioned in interviews that he had received one, but there is no evidence that he ever played it either in concert or on a recording. Babiuk speculated that perhaps it was presented to him for publicity and then carted off somewhere. He does mention the story of the one from Jim Marshall's music store and of the boy that ended up with it....but there was apparently no direct evidence that this was actually the same bass presented to Paul. And even if it was, it was never played by him.

Also, the gold plating was very weak -- you certainly can't see it in that pic on the website. So, who knows? Anybody got half a million to spend on it?

[apollo11]

A more realistic price would be in the $10,000-20,000 range, sold as a Hofner one-off with slight Beatle connections. It probably was supposed to be presented to McCartney, but there is no proof that McCartney ever even saw it, let alone played it. Even if there was a picture of him holding it for publicity purposed before it left for an advertising campaign, maybe $50,000 would be a fair price. Everyone is cloudy on the whole issue, including McCartney. They are pricing it like it was a lesser-used Beatle guitar.

The Harrison rosewood Telecaster from the Let It Be days sold for $400,000+ last year at one of the major auction houses. That was a sure-bet guarantee.

[jingle_jangle]

Going by Andy B's book, this guitar's connection to Macca is approximately that of the wrapper that his veggie dog came in, minus the mustard stains.

[rickfan63]

Yeah, I read that McCartney has denied ever owning the bass or ever using it, even though it was made for him. A screw-up between Selmer and Hofner kept the bass out of McCartney's hands, or so I've heard.

[jingle_jangle]

This story rated a sidebar in the latest edition of Beatles Gear. And that;'s apparently hoe it shakes out.

But you know auction houses...

[RutleDirk]

I was thinking about Paul McCartney the last time I played my bass.

Do you think I can get $250,000.00 for it?

[simer4001]

I think you can get more now that we've read that you were thinking about him!

[route66guitars]

They offered it to me for $150,000.00 last year. Any idea if someone went for it? The 'bidding' ended in February.

Sj

[dan_powell]

This should come as no suprise...look who's selling it!!!

[jingle_jangle]

What am I bid for this bass with three certified Paul McCartney fingerprints on the upper bout?

Seriously, having been run around by auction houses on some artwork I auctioned, I can tell you that there is no honor among thieves. The "average" person equates Sotheby's and other class "A" auction houses, with absolute integrity. Nothing could be further from the truth. They play fast and loose with provenances and it takes a good deal of research to separate the truth from hyperbole.

I think that Andy's book is probably the best story, especially where $150K or so is concerned!

[route66guitars]

They are selling it themselves, not through an auction house. That page indicates that the opening bid they were accepting was $475,000.00.

$150,000 was the price Justin quoted me last year.

Andy has his agenda as well. The whole story seems to be a combination of the info from several sources, which shouldn't be a surprise...

Scott

[jingle_jangle]

Right. I thought it was through Sotheby's or somebody.

The only thing that should count is whatever Mr. McCartney says about it, although there's another agenda there as well, I'm sure.