Last September we featured a listing for a legendary Les Paul guitar, a Gibson Les Paul 25/50, one of the 100 so-called flame-top guitars in existence. We thought we hit the epitome of Les Paul collectible guitars when we featured it, since it was so rare. So when we ran across today’s remarkable listing for sale on the site, we were surprised and excited to highlight another piece of Les Paul history.
Up for auction is none other than Mary Fords Personal Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar.
For those of you who don’t know, Mary Ford was Les Paul’s wife and musical partner. According to Wikipedia, they formed the husband-and-wife musical team Les Paul and Mary Ford, which was very successful in the early to mid-1950s. The artists’ success was immense: in 1951, they had more hits than singers Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and The Andrews Sisters combined. Their career continued to skyrocket throughout the ’50s, when they had both radio shows and later TV shows bearing their names and showcasing their music. Ironically, it was the advent of rock ‘n’ roll, music inspired by the very instrument Les Paul invented, the electric guitar, that led to the downfall of their musical careers. The couple divorced in 1964 in a less than amicable proceeding.
Mary Ford’s guitar has a lot of history, and the item comes with some interesting papers from the Les Paul estate. The guitar and the papers ended up for auction on eBay after they appeared on an episode of the History Channel’s Pawn Stars. In that episode, Les Paul’s nephew comes into the pawn shop carting the treasured items. After some back-and-forth over the authenticity of the guitar, and haggling over the selling price, they agree on a figure: $90,0000. You can see the episode below:
The guitar is the real deal, my husband (the seller) has had this in his home for over 30 years. I’m going to be posting a few words later just to clear the air, without breaking any confidentiality agreements we signed for the show. We had our reasons for doing what we did and we really hoped the music community would appreciate that we brought it out of hiding to share with the world.
Even that did not seem to satisfy some of the forum members, but another post later, by someone who worked on the guitar, seems to put to rest the controversy of whether or not this was Mary Ford’s guitar.
We spoke to the seller, goldsilverpawn, to find out more about the guitar and the historical papers that come with it in this auction. He said that, aside from the guitar, which in itself is amazing, the papers that come with the guitar give a fascinating account of Les Paul’s life. From the mundane (“termites in the house”) to the intriguing, the papers reveal aspects of the artists’ personal and professional lives. For example, a memo about Gibson shows Les Paul’s disenchantment with the company. The typewritten note says, “On the Gibson contract. Have Wolfe stop as we have a much better deal cooking… we make fifty dollar plastic guitars for the peasants, and a good one for the discriminating…. LP Enterprises here we come.”
The fabled LP Enterprises never came to fruition, but it is interesting to get a glimpse into the man through his writings.
When asked about the authenticity of the guitar, the seller noted that two guitar experts validated the year the guitar was made (1961) and that it was owned by Mary Ford. The seller said, “Jesse knows a lot about guitars, so I am going to go with him.” He also refuted a rumor that the guitar sat in a local guitar shop, Cowtown, for awhile before it was brought to the pawn shop. “That is simply false,” he said.
As always, we recommend any buyer be diligent in getting all questions answered before committing to buy. But as far as we can ascertain, this auction is for a piece of Les Paul musical and life history, one that is worthy of the attention it has garnered.
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The performance by Jesse was priceless ::)
For all my music lovin’ friends.
The guitar and papers should be donated to the Rock and Roll history museum.
Great idea Alan, you buy, and then donate it.
The guitar should go into the hands of a musician, not into a museum. I’m sure that this guitar has amazing tone and should be used to make music not be a museum piece.
Les never liked the double cutaway design
How about raffle it off $5.00 a ticket ?
I think it needs a couple more pickups.
To each their own but why does someone bring a guitar with such history to a pawn shop? Why not try to sell it on ebay or some other way first? I am baffled.
Wasn’t there a saying somewhere about “15 minutes of fame”? I viewed the episode on “Pawnstars”and the nephew or whomever it was that brought it in was definitely propped up. I say it was a total setup by Discovery channel’s execs to grandstand the guitar as an “walk in” surprise for the T.V. show.
OK! let’s get it over with. Rick is gonna make a killing on this guitar!!!! Why on earth does it need more attention and hype? I’m really disapointed I didn’t see the listing for it.
As if, that Pawn shop doesn’t already have enough publicity as it is. Get real!!!
Wish i had the jack to take it home….vn guitar
I saw that episode. I was blown away when they said it was legit O.o
I know everyone has there own favorite artist, but i personaly would love to see Keith Urban get a hold of it and take it on tour with him. It would be wonderful to take my son to see a piece of history played by someone that would do it justice and someone he looked up to. I am by no means saying that there aren’t other amazing artist that could do so, he just happens to be our favorite on a guitar, and everytime we see him play live it takes our breath away.
Daniel B.—-
The listing is still active, it expires within about 42 hrs. Right now the bid is at $100,100.00, but there’s a “reserve” on the price. It won’t sell till the reserve price is hit. He also has a “buy it now” for $250k
I think It was a great show. Did wonder why that would end up the a shop like that and not at a auction place to start?
That is amazing music american history ! I think Les Paul Jr. Mr Rusty Paul would have made the right choice as to where the guitar should have gone,had he been given the chance ! Maybe as The Les Paul & Mary Ford Collection to be put on dislay so it could viewed by everyone to see. The spirit of Les Paul lives on and will never die !
It floors me that sports and entertainment draws so much attention in todays society. Yes I will agree that this guitar has value for what it is and by whom it is accotiated with but what interest would something like Alexander Flemming’s personal notebooks bring ? Never heard of him ? He invented penicillin ! When was the last time you heard of a guitar saving someones life. …lol… Wake up America !!!
What a shame to make such a mockery of an historical piece of music history. It doesn’t belong in a pawn shop, on an auction site or in a museam! This guitar belongs in the hands of someone who can do it justice by playing it for all to see and hear. I highly doubt if any of todays music legends ~ who could give it the “play time” it deserves, have an account to bid on it! It should have been privately offered, through proper channels, to to some of todays famous artists who could use it publicly for all to enjoy!
I don’t know, but I think it was a way of getting the guitar introduced as being on the market. They probably made an off screen money making deal involving the auctual auction sale of the guitar. Which will more than likely take place very soon now.
I can’t believe an article would use “authentic” and “according to Wikipedia”. Sounds like an oxymoron to me…
Anyone who would pay that kind of money for a guitar (regardless of who may have slobbered on it) needs to see a shrink. Maybe they should get out of the house more and realize that there are much better things to do with such a potful of cash. Some people have, obviously, reached the point of total decadence. Mary won’t be kissing YOU goodnight. Or maybe she should. God help us.
As an artist since childhood and now a college educated Producer who’s frequented the Rock and Rock Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. There’s no place else on earth that guitar should be. There is no Artist out there worthy of wielding that axe. That’s like Napoleons sword. It’s not right anywhere else. If this was a different time in my life I promise I would be doing a great thing for the R&R Hof
That guitar was worth every single penny, and it’ll probably sell for more. If you think that the lack of discoloration is an issue, just think that this guitar belonged to Mary and she probably kept it in the case, and the nephew certainly didn’t bring it out to “jam” on it. I’ve seen many guitars that are vintage, yet look pristine.
I wonder what the “reserve”price is… I love the way the nephew stood his ground for no less than 90K, lol, Rick tried offering him 75k, I know “LogansRoll55″ above says it was all staged but I don’t know, it looked pretty legit to me, then again who knows anything is possible specially when you’re dealing with the good ol’ mighty dollar
I would bet anything that this is ALL a marketing ploy. What I’m saying is . . . I think the nephew STILL owns the guitar and worked a deal with the “Pawn Star” people on the idea that . . . I have the guitar and “you” have the show. Lets stage a deal on T.V. to promote this guitar then turn around and list it on EBAY for the WORLD to bid on. What better way to put this guitar in the public eye. There isn’t a reality show on today that can be trusted.
I’ll play it if someone buys it for me
I just love the color
My father who has passed would love this!!!
Robert asks why not sell it on ebay instead? Well, $90,000.00 cash in hand is a really good reason for one. The other would be summed up in the quote by his wife in the article above…fill in the blanks.
“RW says:
February 1, 2012 at 10:37 am – Les never liked the double cutaway design”
Not so, Les had a money issue with Gibson about it……royalties!!
If that sale was not a setup,that fella should be ashamed selling such a historic instrument to a pawn shop. Pawn shops are typically for people who have no other option. It seems to me that if he was related to Les Paul, and has access to such an item, he shouldn’t be hard up for cash…
Tired of the Pawn Stars show They use the same line on everything they want to buy. I got a shop to run…Got to make a profit. So they Low Ball every item the want to buy. So when the appraiser says am Item is worth $ 150,000.00 plus Ricks reply is Ill give you $10,000 for it. Then they haggle…Up to $90,000. Gee how entertaining.
Growing up in the late sixties , I had the oportunity to play a lot of “futureclassics” the 1960 Les Paul S.G was the most elegant & inspiring instrument I ever played . it , would be a shame to see it hidden away for another 50 yrs. I don’t think the R&R Hall of fame is the appropriate venue , the Museum of modern art in N.Y. would be a more fitting choice. Likely it will end up in the hands of Steven Seagal , or another dedicated collector who can afford it & let it see the light of day occasionally , The former site of the Woodstock festival at Bethel , could easily make back the investment displaying it , C’mon Mr. Gerry , it will draw more visitors to the already successful venue .
First off let me ask any of you when has anyone even seen Mary Ford playing this guitar?
That’s right, no photo documentation of her playing it just a nephew who says its hers. This was not her go-to guitar, her signature guitar was the single cutaway Les Paul. That piece of paper(set list) taped on the back, did they compare the handwriting on it?
Now I’m sure the other paper work is for real but as to everyone making such a big deal of this 61 model , well go to eBay right now and you can find a few of these exact same guitars for anywhere from $15.000 up to $30.000.
If it were my $90.000 I would have called Gibson and asked them if indeed they gave or sold this guitar to the Pauls. I’m am positive there would have been a record of it.
I searched youtube and many other sites for any pictures and couldn’t find Mary Ford playing this guitar anywhere. If any one can show me where she played this guitar as her regular guitar so much that it needed to be refretted (thats thousands of hours of playing time for those who don’t know) I will gladly eat some humble pie!
But I doubt you can!
The guitar on ebay is not Mary Ford’s guitar, Mary’s was one of the first of that SG Model made by Gibson and Les Hated it. I know because I was with Les for 25 years.
Les Gave me a photo of him and Mary with her guitar which by the way she never played
and Les would never have let her play in public. Gibson took it upon themselves to make the sg and put Les’s name on it. Les insisted on Gibson taking his name off of the guitar because it was not in fact a Les Paul design. Anyone who would like to see a photo of the real Mary Ford Les Paul SG, can email me.
Respectfully
Submitted
Clark
how much did it end up selling for?
@MilesD – it sold for $110,000.00.