Emily Wolfe discusses the career and impact of trailblazing guitarist and singer Mary Ford
Emily Wolfe is no stranger to Gibson fans. In recent times, the Epiphone signature artist sat on the Gibson Gear Guide couch with Dinesh Lekhraj to talk Sheratons, pedalboard builds, and more. And in 2024, she became a mentor to the Gibson Generation Group program to support and develop the Gibson Generation Class of 2025.
Emily created a curriculum that will explore several pathways—Guitar Player, Songwriter, Front Person, and Triple Threat—designed to empower each G3 member with knowledge and hands-on experience in preparation for a career in music.
Who better, then, as we celebrate the release of the Gibson Mary Ford Les Paul Standard, to discuss the life and legacy of Mary Ford, musical innovator and trailblazing female guitarist?
The launch video for the Mary Ford Les Paul Standard features Emily Wolfe playing guitar and in conversation
What aspects of Mary Ford’s career resonate with you?
“Being a fellow woman who plays guitar and loves recording, I feel a sense of kinship with Mary Ford. She had an incredible love of capturing sound and was such an influential figure in recording. As a producer and singer, I resonate greatly with Mary and can only hope to leave a legacy as great as hers one day.”
What do you admire most about Mary Ford’s musicianship and vocal style?
“It’s amazing to me that she had the ability to harmonize with herself and create a choir through multitracking, using just her own voice. As musicians, we use this technique all over our recordings today, but it’s hard to imagine where we would be in this creative landscape without that idea, and Mary was one of its pioneers. I believe she had a huge influence on how we create music today in every genre.”
How does Mary Ford inspire you to push boundaries in your music?
“Seeing Mary’s demeanor in interviews is inspiring. She owned her own power and creative abilities, which I don’t imagine was an easy thing to do back in the 1940s and 50s. Even today, this can be difficult in a patriarchal industry. She knew what she wanted, figured out how to achieve it, and then executed. This is incredibly inspiring, and that legacy is very present in my music today.”
Image: The Gibson Mary Ford Les Paul Standard
What aspects of the Mary Ford Les Paul Standard stand out to you?
“The neck is amazing. It’s so easy to play, and something about the way this guitar is built makes me want to play old standards from the Les Paul and Mary Ford show. The exciting thing is that the personality of this guitar can transfer over into more gritty rock as well, which is what I’m used to playing. This guitar has the soul of Mary, and it feels spiritual to play. The armrest and floral artwork are beautiful and pay such tribute to the elegance of Mary’s style and career.”
The Mary Ford Les Paul Standard seems poised to satisfy players in many genres. She obviously blended country, jazz, and pop successfully. How would you use this instrument?
“I plan to take the elegance and precision of this guitar and throw on some fuzz pedals. To be honest, I’m not a fan of playing with clean tones, but for some reason, I love the clean tones of this guitar. Maybe it’s Mary’s ghost wanting to be heard, but I also feel permission from her to use it the way I naturally would. I can’t wait to take Mary’s clean tone canvas and throw on my own spin using fuzz and Drop D or Drop C tunings.”
Aesthetically, what appeals to you most about this instrument? It’s an art piece of its own.
“I have it hanging in my studio right now. The Goldtop and cream-colored floral armrest and pickguard really bring beauty to any room. It’s a simple and classic Les Paul that has such an eye-catching look, more so than any other Les Paul I’ve seen. What appeals to me most, other than its beautiful craftsmanship, is that you can tell there are stories and songs living in it. Not every guitar has that.”
If you could have a conversation with Mary Ford, what would you ask her? What do you think she would answer?
“I would ask Mary if she feels seen now that she has her name on a signature instrument that’s out in the world. I would ask her if she feels her legacy is still alive, and I know she would say, ‘Yes.'”
Learn more about Emily Wolfe and the Gibson Mary Ford Les Paul Standard.
