RIP Mark Lacey, Master Luthier

We were very saddened to hear of the recent passing of luthier Mark Lacey.

Born in Australia, Mark spent much of his early life in the UK where he studied musical instrument technology at the London College of Furniture and Interior Design before moving to the USA. 

Described by Ken Vose as an exponent of the Traditional school of archtop guitar design – Mark counted Gibson, D’Angelico and D’Aquisto amongst his main influences – and yet sonically his work is extremely responsive and modern sounding. 

During Mark’s career building and restoring guitars he had the opportunity to work with some of the icons of popular music and jazz including: Aerosmith, America, Howard Alden, Jackson Browne, Credence Clearwater Revival, Duran Duran, Herb Ellis, Pink Floyd, John Fogerty, Bruce Forman, Peter Frampton, Frank Gambale, GIT students and instructors, David Alan Grier, The Hard Rock Cafes, Jacksons, Bon Jovi, Leo Kottke, Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul McCartney, Jeff Meyer, Hall and Oates, Jake Owen, John Porter, Terje Rypdahl, Louie Shelton, Rod Stewart, Tiny Tim, U2 and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The Archtop Foundation: Mark’s guitar – The Virtuouso – really rocked the boat in our recent recording sessions with Ted Ludwig, Paul Asbell, and Michael Watts all choosing it as one of their top 5 guitars of the collection. 

See Mark Lacey’s guitar, The Virtuouso from the Blue Guitar Collection.

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