Celebrity-owned Gibson Flying V, one of five custom made for Lonnie Mack.
I acquired this guitar from Lonnie Mack in 1999 at his home in Tennessee (see photo). This guitar was custom made for Lonnie Mack by Gibson's custom shop in 1993. It was not part of the Signature Series guitars which were issued for sale by Gibson.
Provenance: As stated in the document signed by Lonnie (included in purchase), "Gibson Guitars, Nashville, made a special run of "Lonnie Mack" signature series Flying V guitars. There were 5 custom made for Lonnie Mack, 1 prototype plus 001, 003, 004, and 005. This one is 004 of that custom run presented to Russ House by Lonnie Mack. Feb 20, 1999".
Legal: Thanks to Holly Mack for granting me the right to use Lonnie's name and likeness in this listing.
The prototype was, Lonnie told me, constructed with old stock Korina and had original PAF pickups installed. Serial numbers 001, 003, 004 and 005 were constructed with mahogany and had over-wound pickups. There was no '002' made as Lonnie already had a Flying V that Gibson made for him in around 1985, which he referred to as 'number two'.
Lonnie told me that Gibson's first attempts to make guitars for him were not to his standard, and that when he did not accept these, they asked him to allow them to take his guitar to their custom shop in Nashville for a more detailed analysis. He agreed to this, on the condition that his beloved 1958 Flying V was taken home each night by a trusted friend who was involved with the project. Gibson studied his guitar in more detail, which included, Mack said, using sonography, as well as a study of the pickups and electronics. The resulting instruments met with Lonnie's approval. Lonnie commented that Gibson built the guitars well, that "they got 'em right".
Lonnie and I first met backstage on December 15, 1989, after the performance that was released on Alligator Records as "Attack of the Killer V". Nearly ten years later, I contacted Lonnie as he was then offering serial number 005 from the Gibson custom run for sale. We became close friends, and for a number of years, I managed his website.
Lonnie explained to me that after receiving the five guitars from Gibson, he set up his full stage rig in his house and played "Memphis" on each one of the guitars. He said that "other than the prototype, 004 was the one that screamed right". Of the mahogany guitars, then, the one offered for sale here was the one that sounded most like his beloved 'number seven'.
The guitar is strung with the gauges that Lonnie used: .052, .038, .028. .018w, .012, .010. I normally tune it down one full step down as Lonnie did (DGCFAD), although it sounds and plays well at standard pitch also. The wound third string, Lonnie said, was important to getting his sound. Wound strings bend differently than plain ones, in that you have to bend them further, for example, to raise the pitch a step. Lonnie's string bending was primarily on the first and second strings, and often enhanced by pulling up on the Bigsby.
Specifications: Neck and body are mahogany, fingerboard is rosewood with dot inlays. Scale length is 24-3/4" with width at nut of 1-11/16". The neck is thick but very playable with the low action, just as on the original "Number 7". Bridge is ABR-1. Hardware is nickel finished. This guitar was built with exacting attention to the construction details, and has an elongated neck tenon which extends into and past the neck-pickup cavity, The Bigsby Vibrato is a B7, affixed to the guitar with a metal bar that fits between the 'wings' of the body. This is how Lonnie and Glen Hughes Music in Cincinnati (where Mack purchased his 1958 Flying V) managed to install the Bigsby on his original instrument.
This Bigsby is set up perfectly, I think. After handling Lonnie's number seven, I did manually bend the bar on my Flying V down a bit lower, and have experimented with a changed out spring on the Bigsby (included), but have gone back to the original (installed).
Case is the original form-fitting case, which was made in Canada for Gibson. (Note that the 1958-style case shown in one or more photos is no longer available).
Condition: Photos are intended to help document condition of this instrument.
We are happy to provide additional photos upon request, just let us know what you want to see.
This guitar has been played. Nickel plated parts show significant oxidation, which could be polished off, but why bother. Lonnie said that you'd have to drag one of these guitars behind a truck to get it looking like his 1958. The frets have only light wear.
The action is, as it is on Lonnie's "Number Seven", low and even across the fretboard. Guitar and case are in excellent cosmetic condition, although both show minor wear and dents, typical for a well-cared for instrument that has seen use. All hinges and locks work correctly on the case, and the key will be included and the combination for the lock will be given at time of purchase.
Replacement parts: One pickup mounting ring was cracked and was replaced with an identical Gibson part (original ring included). The original strap buttons were removed and replaced with StrapLock parts, using the original strap button screws. The original strap buttons are included.
Shipment / Pickup: Instrument will be carefully packaged to assure that it arrives in the same condition shown and described here. The instrument will be fully insured and will require a signature of receipt at time of delivery. Let us know your preferred freight carrier, or work with us to arrange for other means of delivery.
If you prefer to do so, you are welcome to pick up the instrument at our location, two hours east of Nashville, where you can test it through the same model Magnatone amps that Lonnie used in the late 1960's.
