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Lot Essay
With the successful introduction of the Fender Esquire and Broadcaster in 1950, the leadership at the Gibson company realised that the electric solid-body guitar phenomenon was here to stay. Gibson’s president at the time was Ted McCarty and he understood that the company he led must enter this new market. Gibson had built its reputation over the last half century on quality, both in the workmanship employed and tonal excellence their instruments displayed. McCarty's vision was a guitar that upheld that reputation and fulfilled the needs of the musician. Rather than a bolt on neck, the Gibson craftsmen chose to carve a mahogany neck with a separate rosewood fingerboard, set into the body in the traditional luthier’s fashion. The body would be slab cut mahogany with a laminate of quarter sawn maple laid on top. The mahogany was chosen for weight and the maple for density that would facilitate sonic sustain in string vibration. It helped that both these woods were already extensively used by Gibson so easily sourced.
Considered the success of the Gibson archtop guitar created by Orville Gibson in 1894, McCarty saw fit to call attention to that tradition. He had the top laminate of maple carved into an arch just like a violin or cello. Though this added nothing to the tonal quality of the guitar it set Gibson apart from the field and showed that quality craftsmanship not expedience came first with a Gibson. With the first prototype, Gibson believed they had succeeded, and now just needed a 'hook' to introduce the guitar into the market place. The Gibson company had a long tradition in garnering endorsements from celebrity musicians who helped Gibson position their instruments in the market. Nick Lucas, Roy Smeck, Charlie Christian, Kenny Burrell, and Wes Montgomery were just a few of the many Gibson artists. Both Lucas and Smeck had their own guitar models named after them, which became successful sellers for Gibson.
In 1952, the guitarist Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford were household names. Their recording 'How High The Moon' had reached number one on the pop charts with thirteen other recordings charting in the top ten. Thanks to radio and then television, Les Paul’s prowess as a guitarist was known globally. He was also a proponent of the solid-body guitar and played one of his own design. With this knowledge, Ted McCarty approached Les Paul with the first prototype and the proposition that Les lend his name to this new Gibson guitar in exchange for a royalty on each one sold and his agreement that he and Mary would only be seen playing Gibson guitars. Les Paul agreed and in so doing, his name would be forever linked to one of the two most iconic electric guitars in popular culture.
Considered the success of the Gibson archtop guitar created by Orville Gibson in 1894, McCarty saw fit to call attention to that tradition. He had the top laminate of maple carved into an arch just like a violin or cello. Though this added nothing to the tonal quality of the guitar it set Gibson apart from the field and showed that quality craftsmanship not expedience came first with a Gibson. With the first prototype, Gibson believed they had succeeded, and now just needed a 'hook' to introduce the guitar into the market place. The Gibson company had a long tradition in garnering endorsements from celebrity musicians who helped Gibson position their instruments in the market. Nick Lucas, Roy Smeck, Charlie Christian, Kenny Burrell, and Wes Montgomery were just a few of the many Gibson artists. Both Lucas and Smeck had their own guitar models named after them, which became successful sellers for Gibson.
In 1952, the guitarist Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford were household names. Their recording 'How High The Moon' had reached number one on the pop charts with thirteen other recordings charting in the top ten. Thanks to radio and then television, Les Paul’s prowess as a guitarist was known globally. He was also a proponent of the solid-body guitar and played one of his own design. With this knowledge, Ted McCarty approached Les Paul with the first prototype and the proposition that Les lend his name to this new Gibson guitar in exchange for a royalty on each one sold and his agreement that he and Mary would only be seen playing Gibson guitars. Les Paul agreed and in so doing, his name would be forever linked to one of the two most iconic electric guitars in popular culture.