YES, MAYBE WE’RE ALL AMAZED!
Paul McCartney & The Hofner Violin Bass

James Paul McCartney... three words; one name.. yet, they have yielded thousands of books,
photos, songs, articles, film ,movies, TV specials, interviews, stories, and countless hours of
memories and joy for the whole world to enjoy forever. So much from one man; perhaps the
most famous person in the world. His life with The Beatles; Wings, and his Solo work, is almost
unbelievable; Legendary indeed. Here’s a few hints to the piece:
The Guitar: McCartney had 4 of these Hofner 500/1 L’s. Their individual stories are told in each
of the 4 bass strings. The outer edge of the bass has the Beatle Albums with the UK on one
side,& US on the other. The edge of the pickguard lists some of his many awards; as do the
bridge and the spot where the strings are secured. The lower “pick-up” is the guitar’s specs .
The upper pick-up is the inventor Walter Hofner, and some other info particular to the bass. The
pick up is divided into the 3 main entities of work that he has done: Beatles - Wings - and Solo.
They read from bottom to top of the fretboard..The outer edges of the fretboard are McCartney
& The Beatles major influences and close friends & associates. The “Fret Bars” are other
associates and key people in the Beatles and McCartney’s life. The 4 circles along the fretboard
are the 4 years of each of the basses: The 61, The 63, The QE 2 Jubilee, and the 67.
The Faces: The left Paul is a little older than the right Paul. You’ll see song & album titles, and
lyrics that have something to do as to where they are. Eye stuff: (“looking glass eyes”).. hair
stuf.: (“losing my hair, many years from now”) mind stuff : (“Memory Almost Full”) .nose stuff,
(“I can smell your breath a mile away”) and mouth/lip stuff: (“Your lips are moving”.) That’s the
fun part. So.... go buy a magnifying glass and have a “Magical Mystery Tour” !!