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. 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.

FEATURES

• Mahogany Neck with a SlimTaper Profile
• Burstbucker 2 and Burstbucker 3 Humbucking Pickups
• Non-Weight Relieved Mahogany Body with a Carved Maple Cap
• Rosewood Fretboard with Acrylic Trapezoid Inlays and 22 Medium Jumbo Frets

SPECIFICATIONS

BODY 

Body Style : Les Paul
Body Shape : Les Paul
Body Material : Mahogany
Top : Maple
Binding : Single Ply; Top and Fretboard
Body Finish : Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Weight Relief : None

NECK 

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
End Of Board Width : 57.404 mm / 2.26 in
Inlays : Acrylic Trapezoid
Joint : Glued In, Set Neck

HARDWARE

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 : Adjustable
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
Strap Buttons : 2
Mounting Rings : Cream
Pickup Covers : Nickel

ELECTRONICS

Neck Pickup : Burstbucker 2
Bridge Pickup : Burstbucker 3
Controls : 2 Volume, 2 Tone; Hand-wired with Orange Drop Capacitors
Pickup Selector : 3-way Toggle
Output Jack : 1/4"

MISCELLANEOUS

Strings Gauge : .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Case : Hardshell
Accessories : Gibson Accessory Kit