Bill Hart and the Paul McCartney signed copy of one of his guitars _460

A BASS guitar once played by Sir Paul McCartney will take pride of place in a planned art installation to celebrate 50 years of Merseybeat.

The Mersey Sound Wave is the dream of musician-singer-songwriter Bill Hart, who is aiming to collect 100 guitars which have been played at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club.

These will then be suspended from the ceiling to create a wave effect.

Since the proposed artwork was first publicised in the Daily Post last month, Mr Hart has been inundated with promises of donations.

But the “jewel in the crown” was the offer of a Hofner Violin bass, signed by Sir Paul during his famous homecoming gig at the Cavern in 1999, and now on display in the Cavern pub.

Former Wings member and McCartney sideman Denny Laine fully endorsed the Mersey Sound Wave project when he made his own appearance at the Cavern for a live recording with his band last night.

He said he would try to donate one of his own guitars to be included in Mr Hart’s exhibition, adding: “I admire what he’s doing. It’s an artistic endeavour, it’s different and it’s ambitious, and I’m into anything like that..

“The Cavern has been the church of northern music, and anything associated with that is great.”

Mr Hart, 62, is hoping to gather together enough guitars to create the artwork by 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of the birth of Merseybeat.

They can be of any value, type or condition but must have been played in public at the Mathew Street venue.

He has already won the backing of the Cavern club who have said they will help contact musicians, both famous and unsung, who have played there in the past.

Mr Hart said: “Things have happened so fast since I first revealed the project that it’s been difficult to draw breath.

“The Cavern is the centre of the popular music universe for me, so to get their support is great.

“The idea of the wave came from the fact that the music arrived in the late 50s and early 60s via the Cunard and merchant ships bringing R&B records to Liverpool from New York. I also want to involve the local schools and colleges by holding an Open Day at the Cavern.”

Ray Johnson, events manager at the Cavern, added: “I think the Mersey Sound Wave is a great way to commemorate and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Merseybeat, and I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to get 100 guitars together.”

* IF YOU have a guitar which could be included in the installation, Mr Hart can be contacted on 0845 0948795.

alanweston@dailypost.co.uk