“We’re doing what we can.”
Revolution, The Beatles
MEET THE TEAM
Nick Wass, Naomi Jones and Scott Jones
Nick, Naomi and Scott are leading the global search for the Lost Bass. Together, these three bring four things to the project; research expertise, media expertise, a lifelong love of The Beatles, and unrivalled knowledge of Höfner and McCartney’s missing bass. Nick is the world’s number one expert on both.
The team is carrying out targeted research based on existing information and insights – and they are responding to new information and insights, shared with the project by people around the world.
Follow the project @tracingthebass
NICK WASS
Höfner and Lost Bass expert
Nick was the marketing manager and electric guitar developer at Höfner GmbH in Germany for 12 years. He has worked closely with Paul McCartney’s team over the years, supplying expertise, parts and basses.
Nick co-wrote the definitive book about the Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass – ‘The Complete Violin Bass Story‘ – and he has extensive knowledge about Höfner and the missing bass. Nick has published several articles about Paul McCartney and his use of Höfner basses from 1961 onwards, and he has given lectures on the subject.
Now 69, Nick is semi-retired – but still doing some work for Höfner. Nick instigated the search for The Lost Bass and has now partnered with Scott and Naomi to bring their research and media skills to the project.
“The Beatles have been the soundtrack to my life. So the 1961 bass means the world to me. When I’ve met Paul, we’ve talked about the first Höfner that he owned and played. Paul and Höfner have been together for over 55 years, but the original 1961 bass will always be ‘the one’. With all the peace and love and goodwill that surrounds Paul and The Beatles, I hope we can find the bass and get it back to Paul.”
Nick Wass
SCOTT JONES
Journalist
Scott has written for national newspapers including The Telegraph and The Mail On Sunday for more than 15 years. For ten years he was a Producer at the BBC, working in News, Documentaries and Current Affairs.
His investigation into the death of The Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones led to the first police review of the case, and made headlines around the world – in The New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine, the BBC, CNN, Die Zeit, Le Monde and more.
Born in 1966, Scott is fascinated by the Sixties; from the creativity and the music to the cultural and social change. Scott is bringing his investigative journalism and his media expertise to help trace the bass.
“Tracing the bass is the most exciting challenge I’ve ever faced, given the bass could be anywhere in the world. In many ways, we’re searching for the Holy Grail of Rock ‘N’ Roll. But with a little help from people around the world, who love The Beatles and Paul McCartney, I know we can find the Lost Bass. That’s the inspiration behind this project; tracing the untold story of this iconic bass, and, after 55 years, bringing it back home.”
Scott Jones
NAOMI JONES
TV Producer
Naomi trained and worked as a History teacher before moving into television 20 years ago. She brings both curiosity and clarity to the stories she develops and tells. Her work is investigative and History-based.
Naomi has developed and led the research on a number of major documentary projects at the BBC and at Channel 4, including Dispatches and the BAFTA-winning drama-documentary Dirty Bomb. She is known for developing original documentary ideas, building clear and powerful storylines, and using her love of History to look at stories from all angles.
Born in 1973, Naomi is a lifelong Beatles fan. She is bringing her research and story development expertise to help trace the missing bass.
“Paul McCartney’s missing bass is a missing piece of history. This guitar is a symbol of the incredible change, the cultural and social revolution, that The Beatles created in the early 1960s. The research we are carrying out takes us back to Spring 1961, when Paul McCartney walked into the Steinway shop in Hamburg to buy his first bass. At that moment, who would have thought that this teenager, and this violin shaped guitar, would change the world.”
Naomi Jones