How to Dial In "How High the Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "How High the Moon"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Nancy Hamilton and Morgan Lewis wrote it for a 1940 Broadway revue. Les Paul and Mary Ford recorded their version on 4 January 1951 in their apartment's home studio in Jackson Heights, Queens, with Paul producing, and Capitol released it on 26 March with "Walkin' and Whistlin' Blues" on the B-side. It spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard chart and reached number 2 on the R&B jukebox chart. Paul played every guitar part: lead, rhythm, muted strings as percussion and a bass line on guitar. By his account the finished record has 12 guitar parts and 12 vocal parts, layered by recording over and over. No source names the guitar, amp or effects. The lead is bright, clean and very fast: use the bridge pickup on a clean amp with the treble up, and play the runs lightly and precisely. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "How High the Moon" Tone
What guitar did Les Paul and Mary Ford use on "How High the Moon"?
The guitar on "How High the Moon" (released 1951) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-175 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "How High the Moon" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 1.5, Bass 4, Mid 5.5, Treble 7.5, Presence 6.5, Volume 5.5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "How High the Moon" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "How High the Moon" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
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Tone references for "How High the Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.