The guitar, a Höfner 500/1 electric bass, was purchased by McCartney for around $37 in 1961 from a shop in Hamburg and said to be his “favorite,” according to The Lost Bass Project, the group ...

The Hofner 500/1 guitar is a precious part of Beatles lore. It can be heard on recordings of hit songs including “Love Me Do,” “She Loves You” and “Twist and Shout.” ...

McCartney bought the left-handed Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass for around £30 — about £550 ($585) today — in Hamburg in 1961, during The Beatles’ four-month residency at the Top Ten Club.