Gibson Mary Ford Les Paul Standard Gold Top Cherry Back

Born Iris Colleen Summers on July 7, 1924, Mary Ford was an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, and actress who was among the biggest recording artists of the early 1950s. Through her career in country music and her connections with Gene Autry and Eddie Dean, she developed a musical partnership with Gibson icon Les Paul that led to their marriage in 1949. In 1951 alone, the duo sold over six million records, and between 1950 and 1954, they recorded a string of 16 top-ten hits that showcased Mary’s rich, smooth voice, complex, perfectly executed harmonies that she sang along with herself through multi-track recording and overdubbing (a groundbreaking recording technique for the time), and versatile guitar playing that seamlessly blended country, jazz, and pop.

In 1951, Mary and Les influenced the design of the ES-295 hollowbody with a custom order, which Mary often used. In 1958, it is believed that one Les Paul™ Goldtop model with an ES-295-style floral pickguard and matching armrest was made at the request of Mary Ford. Now, Gibson is proud to release the Mary Ford Les Paul Standard, based on that one-of-a-kind original. The Goldtop finish is accented by a Vintage Cherry back—a rarity for a Goldtop model. In addition to the cream and gold floral pickguard and armrest, it also features a mahogany body with a maple cap, a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard and SlimTaper™ profile, and is powered by a pair of Burstbucker™ pickups, with a Burstbucker 2 in the neck position and a Burstbucker 3 in the bridge position. A hardshell case completes this offering that honors one of the most beloved and innovative artists of the 20th century.

Specs 

Body Shape: Les Paul

Body Material: Mahogany

Top: Maple

Binding: Single Ply; Top and Fretboard

Body Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Profile: SlimTaper

Scale Length: 628.65 mm / 24.75 in

Fingerboard Material: Indian Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius: 304.8 mm / 12 in

Neck Material: Mahogany

Fret Count: 22

Frets: Medium Jumbo

Nut Material: Graph Tech

Nut Width: 43.053 mm / 1.695 in

Inlays: Acrylic Trapezoid

Joint: Glued In, Set Neck

Finish: Nickel

Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic

Tailpiece: Aluminum Stop Bar

Tuning Machines: Vintage Deluxe with Keystone Button

Pickguard: ES-295 Style, Cream with Gold Floral Design

Truss Rod Cover: Black 2-ply; Blank

Control Knobs: Gold Top Hat with Dial Pointer

Switch Tip: Amber

Switch Washer: Cream

Jack Plate Cover: Cream

Mounting Rings: Cream

Pickup Covers: Nickel

Neck Pickup: Burstbucker 2

Bridge Pickup: Burstbucker 3

Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone; Hand-wired with Orange Drop Capacitors

Pickup Selector: 3-way Toggle

Case: Hardshell