A guitar associated with blues-rock pioneer Lonnie Mack has sold for $550,000 as part of a lot that included the amplifier that helped shape his distinctive sound. The instrument, a 1958 Gibson Flying V known as “Number 7”, was auctioned by Heritage Auctions on October 15, 2026. According to the auction house’s October 16 announcement, the sale included Mack’s 1962 Magnatone Custom 440 amplifier and his recognisable leather stage strap. The guitar accompanied Mack through decades of performances and recordings, becoming closely identified with his career. Its auction result reflects both the instrument’s rarity and its connection to a musician whose playing influenced generations of guitarists.
How ‘Number 7’ became Mack’s signature guitar
Mack began using the Gibson Flying V in the late 1950s, when its unusual angular design stood apart from conventional electric guitars. The instrument earned its nickname because Mack said it was the seventh guitar to leave the production line when Gibson introduced the model, according to Heritage Auctions.The Flying V had initially struggled commercially. Fewer than 100 examples were sold during its first two years of production, according to Heritage Auctions. Its arrow-shaped body was visually striking but could be awkward to play while seated. Mack was among the musicians who recognised its potential, alongside blues guitarist Albert King and the Kinks’ Dave Davies.For Mack, the instrument became more than a stage accessory. Its distinctive appearance made it a recurring feature of photographs, album covers and performances throughout his career. Rolling Stone later included “Number 7” on its 2019 list of 20 iconic guitars.
The modifications that helped create his sound
Mack adapted the guitar to suit his playing style. He had a guitar shop owner install a Bigsby tremolo arm, which required a steel support bar fitted between the Flying V’s two wings. The device allowed him to alter the pitch of notes and add expressive movement to his playing. His creative use of the tremolo arm became associated with his instrumental hit “Wham!” and helped popularise the term “whammy bar,” a name still widely used for the device.Mack combined blues and country fingerpicking with a style often described as blue-eyed soul. After session work in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he recorded “Memphis,” a version of Chuck Berry’s instrumental, and “Wham!”, an original composition for Fraternity Records. Both became hits and featured prominently on his 1963 debut album, The Wham of That Memphis Man. These recordings helped establish Mack as an influential early blues-rock guitarist. His Flying V and its modified hardware became central to the sound that distinguished him from other players.
Guitar and amplifier sold together
The $550,000 auction lot paired “Number 7” with Mack’s 1962 Magnatone Custom 440 amplifier, which Heritage described as an essential part of his signature guitar tone. The package also included his recognisable leather stage strap.According to Heritage’s September auction announcement, the guitar had not undergone further alterations since Mack’s death. It came with its original tuners, another period-correct set and the updated tuners he used during his career. The guitar’s history, customised features and association with Mack added to the significance of the auction lot. Aaron Piscopo, Heritage Auctions’ director of vintage guitars and musical instruments, described it as one of the defining instruments of early blues-rock guitar.
A record-setting auction for vintage instruments
Mack’s guitar was among the headline lots in Heritage Auctions’ October 15 sale, which included 201 lots and attracted 848 international bidders. The auction generated $2.15 million overall. Another major result came from a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst, which sold for $781,250. Heritage said it set a world auction record for a vintage guitar without celebrity provenance. The exceptionally preserved instrument retained its original finish, pickups and other components.The two sales highlighted different reasons collectors value historic guitars. The Les Paul attracted attention for its originality and condition, while “Number 7” carried a direct connection to a musician and the development of blues-rock guitar. For Mack’s Flying V, the $550,000 result placed a piece of musical history in the spotlight, recognising an instrument that helped define his career and left a lasting mark on electric guitar playing.
