Today is July 4th, 2026. The Declaration of Independence was written on this day, 250 years ago, when the brave men that founded the United States agreed that it was time to quit being subjects of the English King George and begin an adventure as an independent nation.
Now that is an oversimplification, but that is the basics. Right now, the political climate is a right mess. And that is sad for a man such as myself, in my seventh decade, who has seen days when the country was more united and stable. A life that my children and grandchildren will not experience,
But I digress since this is all about guitars, and today we are exploring the Patriotic guitars that I remember.
The first is Martin’s D-76. This was a limited run of 1776 instruments issued in 1976 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States of America. That was a big year that included a lot of celebrations. These rare instruments were built to commemorate America’s Bicentennial, with deluxe appointments and a gorgeous fit and finish. These instruments are known for their stunning projection and a perfect blend of sound. This guitar is equipped with 13 stars inlaid on the fingerboard and a mother-of-pearl eagle etched into the headstock.
Next is Buck Owens’ original Red, White, and blue guitar that was custom built by Semie Mosely of Mosrite Guitars. Buck’s instrument was custom built in 1966. His guitar had three stars adorning the blue headstock, and a distinctive body that was Red, White, and Blue. He used this guitar extensively on Hee Haw.
Buck was a savvy businessman and saw the potential market for his guitar. He signed up with the Harmony Company of Chicago to build a similar instrument, the H169 model aka the Buck Owens American. This guitar was based on the company’s Sovereign guitar. It was also marketed for Sears as the Silvertone model 1219L. It sold for $82.50. Buck Owens received $2.50 for every unit sold.
As Buck was a Fender endorser, Fender made a Red, White, and Blue Telecaster for him to play on Hee Haw. This instrument came with a Red, White, and Blue sparkle paint job, and a gold-tone pickguard and control plate. The neck was maple capped.
In 1984 Gibson offered a United States Map guitar that had a body shaped like a map of the contiguous states of America, only nine of which came in a stars-and-stripes finish.
In 1965 Semie Mosely created a Red, White, and Blue Ventures model for his sales staff to take to potential buyers at music stores. This was meant to be an example of the different finish options the company offered. Potential buyers wanted this option. These guitars are scarce as only 90 were made, but Bob Shade at Hallmark Guitars offers the Custom 60 with this same finish.
Fender created a Red, White, and Blue Stratocaster for endorser Wayne Kramer of MC5. Kramer built his own instrument by modifying a white Stratocaster that he painted red stripes on and then painted the pickguard blue with white stars.
He did this in the late 1960’s as a protest to the Vietnam War.
Toby Keith's iconic American flag Takamine guitar was custom-built in collaboration with the Ovation Guitar factory in New Hartford, Connecticut. Designed alongside his longtime guitar tech, Ripp Mayes, only 4 of these exact patriotic guitars were ever produced.
The instrument debuted at the 2002 CMA Awards alongside his hit anthem, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue", and remained a staple of his live performances. Takamine's standard signature model based on his preferred jumbo shape is the EF250TK.
In 1976, the Gibson Guitar Company offered a beautiful version of their Firebird III guitar that featured a stylized eagle design on the top portion of the pickguard.
These guitars came with two mini-humbucking pickups enclosed with gold-plated covers. The tune-o-matic bridge, stop bar tailpiece, and banjo style tuners were all gold plated. This guitar was offered with a variety of finish options.
I find it amazing and I am honored by the number of friendships I have through social media. A few of these folks are with well-known people, generally musicians, that I had seen in concerts, and purchased their records when I was a much younger man. All are sweet, honest, approachable people that seem to take interest in my reminiscence of those earlier days.
I have developed a special friendship with a handful of these folks. I am not going to be pretentious and drop names. Although I will mention this young lady that I befriended.
At age 12 I purchased his LP, “The Wham of that Memphis Man”, and slowed the turntable to half speed so I could pick up each line of what Lonnie was playing (only it was an octave lower). I learned to play guitar, note for note this way. And I was able to learn Memphis, and most of Wham.
Back in the mid 1960’s there was a local night spot called The Jockey Club in Newport, Kentucky. It opened on Sunday afternoons for teen dances. As a 13-year-old kid I had the pleasure of seeing Lonnie Mack and his band play there. Lonnie made his home in nearby Southern Indiana.
Lonnie's first recordings were done on Fraternity Records based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The actual studio was at King Records in Cincinnati. Lonnie worked there as a session player. When one act that he played guitar for was done, they still had 20 minutes left, Lonnie and his band used that time to cut some tracks. These tracks became Lonnie's first recording.
While he was hustling gigs on the road, this album made it to number 4 on the R&B billboard charts. Guitar players from all over the world purchased this record and began to take notice his style.
Lonnie said didn't listen to the radio, he just played clubs from Cincinnati to Miami and was unaware that he was becoming famous until a DJ told him his record was climbing to number one.
About five years ago I met Lonnie’s daughter, Holly Mack, on Facebook, and struck up a friendship with her. She set me straight on a few points regarding her father’s history.
Holly had become the keeper of all things Lonnie Mack. She owned his iconic Gibson 1959 Flying Vee, serial number 007, or as Lonnie called it “Number 7”. Holly also owned his original Magnatone amplifier. The “True-Vibrato” on that gave Lonnie his unique tone. She was the proud owner of Flying V Music publishing company, and Flying V Records.
I found myself fortunate to write back and forth to Holly. So, I was devastated to learn that she passed away this past Monday, June 22nd. I knew Holly was facing some health problems. But she did not talk about them. She had cancer.
Holly Mack was beloved by many folks, especially those that knew her and lived in Nashville, where she made her home. She was only 56 years old, a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her biggest heartache in life was the loss of her son, James Featherman III.
Holly Christine McIntosh Featherman's life was a testament to love, resilience, and kindness. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of those she touched. I personally will miss her sassy attitude, humor, and knowledge.
She must have known her end was near. Her last Facebook post was done on Father's Day, June 16, 2026. She said, "See ya soon Dad. Happy Rockin Father's Day Asshole. LOL". May her memory live on and not be forgotten.
Dean Guitars are perhaps one of the most interesting guitar stories that I have run across in the past 16 years that I have been writing these articles. The company was started by Dean Zelinsky while he was still a teenager.
His father, Robert Zelinsky, owned a company that manufactured custom industrial fasteners. When young Dean was only 12 years old his father was killed in a plane accident.
Dean had always been curious about how things work. He took apart radios, he even took apart a Gibson Flying Vee guitar and sawed it in half, hoping to make a better instrument.
After graduating from high school, Zelinsky got a job at local Chicago music stores repairing guitars and doing custom paint jobs. He had toured Gibson’s Kalamazoo factory and learned what he could about their process for building electric guitars.
In 1977 Dean started his own company building custom guitars. His first model was called ML. The initials were a tribute to his best friend, Matt Lynn, who had passed away from cancer when both were in high school.
This unique instrument combined the sharp lines of a Flying Vee and an Explorer. A number of well-known Rock and Metal players soon took up this instrument as their choice on stage.
Dean continued to build custom guitars for artists, such as the spinning fuzzy guitar and bass used by ZZ Top. Zelinsky also created a V shaped guitar, and what he called a Z shaped guitar, that was based on a Gibson Explorer. Both instruments had the Dean unique headstock.
Dean Zelinsky was only 20 years old when he started his company. Through his dealings with music stores, and well-known artists he became adapt at marketing his instruments.
Within a year at age 21 People Magazine did a story about him. To promote his guitars at NAMM shows, Zelinsky hired Playboy models to hang out at his booth.
In 2008 Zelinsky left Dean Guitars. By then corporate advisors had entered the scene, and Dean felt he could no longer be in control.
The corporate take-over began way back in 1997 when the Dean brand was sold to a Florida businessman named Elliot Robinson. In his younger days he played bass guitaf for Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, and Michael Angelo Batio. His company was called Armadillo Enterprises. The headquarters was moved to Florida, and Robinson recruited several artists to play Dean Guitar.
These artists included Dimebag Darrell, Leslie West, and Dave Mustaine.
After a 3 year absence, Zelinsky returned as a consultant in 2000 to design new instruments. Most notably was the “Razorback” guitar played by Dimebag Darrell Abbott.
In 2017, Robinson unexpectedly passed away. Control of the company went to his son Evan.
In preceding years, Dean continued to produce guitars in the USA, carving out a niche among the heavy metal guitar community, and diversifying into Asian-made budget instruments.
In 2019 Gibson Guitar filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Armadillo Enterprises/Dean Guitar inferring they had used Gibson’s proprietary shapes (the Vee, the SG, and the Explorer). In 2022 the court found in favor of Gibson, however Dean continued producing and selling these instruments.
Dean Guitars were found in contempt and ordered to pay $4,000 in damages, and the entire cost of Gibson’s legal fees, which amounted to well over $100,000.
Recently Dean Guitars filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The current owner is Pamela Keris-Robinson, mother of Evan.
Chapter 11 allows the company to create a plan for restructuring and settlement of its debts. You may recall Gibson Guitars, and Guitar Center filed for Chapter 11, and came back stronger. Dean Guitar sent a letter out to its dealers advising them that orders are being fulfilled and the company is sill in business.
As for Dean Zelinsky, in April of 2012 he launched Dean Zelinsky Private Label Guitars. These are custom boutique instruments made in the USA.
These are beautiful, well designed instruments, with remarkable features including the Z-Glide neck, and custom pickups. Price range is $2,200 to $7,000.
And this article has nothing to do with Pride Month. Although I got to say, these guitars are rather flamboyant.
And why isn't there a National Guitar Month? But I digress.
We are going to take some time to acknowledge the creations of Canadian luthier Frank Gay.
Frank Gay's Personal Guitar
Luthier, guitarist, composer, and watch maker Frank (Francois) Gay at one time was very popular with famous country singers of the 1950’s and ‘60’s. His elaborate designs on the guitars went well with the artist’s Nudie suits.
I first became interested in Mr. Gay when a friend posted a picture of a Webb Pierce album cover on Face Book. Pierce was holding this guitar that was all decked out in fancy inlay and binding and heart shaped sound hole. I had to find out about that guitar, which started me on my quest.
Pierce's guitar pickguard was clear, and the binding was very unusual unlike other guitars I have come across. I did a little research and discovered that not only the body was elaborate, but the neck and headstock were exquisite. The headstock was like something I have never seen. This acoustic guitar had a six-on-a-side elaborately carved headstock.
It was then I set out to find more about the builder.
Frank Gay studied music at the New York School of Music. He was already a qualified watch maker, but his interest lay in music. Frank moved to Toronto to further his music studies under the tutelage of guitar instructor Norman Chapman, who later became his partner in a duo.
For a day job, Gay apprenticed at R.S. Williams and Co. which was the largest workshop and Canadian manufacture of pianos and other stringed instruments. Frank spent two years working at this company, before setting up his own studio and shop in Edmonton. This was in the year of 1953.
It was then that Mr. Gay set forth building the fancy steel string guitars that became so popular with country musicians.
Johnny Cash, Don Gibson, Hank Snow, Carl Smith, Ferlin Husky, Webb Pierce, Faron Young, and Johnny Horton all owned at played Gay guitars.
Perhaps the most unusual Gay guitar was made for country star Ferlin Husky. It currently resides in the Mac Yasuda collection. Many who have seen it, mistake it for a Gibson J-200 that was painted with unusual inlay designs that were not just on the head and neck.
This guitar included floral inlays on the instrument's body.
The sound hole on this instrument is almost triangular, similar to the one found on a Gretsch Rancher. The 3-on-a-side headstock is much different from any Gibson now or of its day.
Unfortunately some of Gay’s early models did not hold up well due to the glue and bindings he used. Subsequently some of the instruments fell apart. Country stars like Husky and Carl Smith had relationships with big name guitar manufacturers.
Frank was living in Edmonton, Alberta and building guitars in his garage. Word that a somewhat famous luthier lived in the same town as the radio station prompted an interview.
Upon meeting the fellow from CKUA, Frank Gay put on an impromptu concert and played various genres of music, using a different guitar for each. The show's producer was very impressed.
Frank was supposed to just do an interview for the show, however due to his talent he was asked to do a program on the station. This proved a blessing for the tiny radio station. Not only was Frank Gay a gifted luthier and guitarist, but he had a lot of friends in the music industry that he invited to be on his show.
His show on CKUA lasted from 1958 to 1963.
Frank Gay went on to make appearances on CBC and do pop music recordings. He has played concerts and coffee houses.
In 1959 Frank Gay founded the Classical Guitar Society, which is possibly the first in western Canada.
By the early 1960’s Frank had moved on to building classical guitars, using a Ramirez flamenco guitar (given to him by Carlos Montoya) and an Esteco classical guitar as models.
Gay went on to build guitars for Montoya and Alirio Diaz. Gay has also built folk guitars, a small five course (10 strings) renaissance guitar, lutes, mandolins, banjos and even a few solid body electric guitars. Gay was noted for his fine inlay work and unique designs.
To this day, the late Frank Gay is recognized as an innovative artisan and a major figure in the history of Canadian stringed-instrument making. Here is a rare triple neck electric guitar made by Frank Gay and owned by "Cadillac Bob".
