All of the Mack shapes were designed by John Mack, formerly the principal oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra.

The Mack Pfeiffer is a shape produced early in John Mack's career by Freddy Pfeiffer. This was John Mack's shape of choice before switching to the Mack +. Many oboe players feel that this earlier shape was a superior design, and it has developed quite a following.

John Mack served as principal oboist in the Cleveland Orchestra from 1965 until 2001 where he helped define the American style of oboe playing. He was passionate about teaching, and served on the faculty of both the Cleveland institute and the Juilliard School of Music. His legacy endures through the John Mack Oboe Camp, in Little Switzerland North Carolina, that continues to run to this day.