September 2001 Issue - Lonnie Mack: Mr. Flying V and His Gibson Signature Guitar
By Larry Meiners
Lonnie Mack is a guitar hero. He is a larger than life presence behind the odd-shaped Flying V guitar to which he attached a Bigsby vibrato a long time ago. As a testament to Mr. Mack's talent, the late guitar hero Stevie Ray Vaughan credited Lonnie as one of his early influences. Yet another Flying V guitar player, Albert King, also heavily influenced Stevie's playing. Clearly, Lonnie and Albert were the early adopters of the radical Flying V guitar in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Lonnie bought his Flying V guitar when they were initially introduced in 1958. A short time later he added the Bigsby vibrato. Eventually, Lonnie refinished his guitar Cherry Red like other Gibson guitars built in the 1960s. He still plays that same guitar today, over 40 years after he first purchased it for less than $400.00.
Lonnie Mack and a prototype signature model Flying V
Besides recording his own hits like "Memphis" with his famous Korina Flying V, Lonnie played on many other artists' recordings. In 1970, he played on two songs on the "Morrison Hotel" album by The Doors. Mr. Mack is a monster player and the members of The Doors knew that fact and wanted him to play on their new record.
Lonnie Mack continues to record and play. He keeps his fans updated through his website, lonniemack.com. Gibson honored Lonnie in 1993 by creating a signature model replica of his 1958 Flying V guitar. Gibson made several prototype instruments for Lonnie to insure the production model was made just like his original Flying V. Lonnie said Gibson made them right. This model was a limited edition and only 195 were produced between 1993 and 1994. Today, these reissue guitars are sought-after collectors items.
For more information on Lonnie's Flying V guitars and all other Gibson Flying V models made from 1958-2001, buy the book titled, Flying "V" - The Illustrated History of this Modernistic Guitar, available now at JK Lutherie, 1-800-344-8880, and other fine music stores, including Mars Music.
Copyright © 2001 Larry Meiners All Rights Reserved