Product Description
This all-original cutaway Super 400C features solid carved-wood construction with a carved spruce top and carved maple back and solid maple sides, and upon its introduction was the largest guitar that Gibson had produced.
This particular Super 400C was owned by professional guitarist Vinnie Corrao & used on many popular recordings throughout the 20th century.
Well played & in very good to excellent condition for it’s age & usage. Frets are in good condition. Neck is straight & in excellent playable condition.
There are a handful of dings throughout the body but nothing that affects playability or value.
There are a couple of felt buffers added underneath the pickup rings to eliminate any buzzing from the pickups.
Original Gibson “Patent Number” humbuckers & controls.
The pickguard is well-warped but intact with no breaks or binding separation.
Includes handwritten notes from Vinnie Corrao himself on the history of the guitar & the recordings on which it was used.
Vinnie Corrao buys the Gibson Super 400CES from Muscara Music in Belleville NJ in 1964. (I had
first played the Super 400 in 1963 at the store early in the year as I had ordered a Gibson Johnny
Smith which never came in.)
In January 1965 I received a call from organist Jack McDuff to join his group in Seattle WA as George
Benson was leaving the band. This was the famous quartet with Red Holloway, Joe Dukes and
Benson. Of course I took my Super 400!
Anyway, here are some recordings/performances that I played on with the Super 400.
1. I recorded an album with piano artist Les McCann on the Limelight label released in 1965
called “Beaux J. Pooboo”.
2. Recorded with singer Monica Zuterlan in Sweden.
3. Recorded 2 albums with organist Freddie Roach on the Prestige label, “Moca Motion” in 1967
and “The Freddie Roach Soul Book” in 1966.
4. Also, in 1966 recorded with Eric Kloss called “Love and All That Jazz” on Prestige with organist
Don Patterson and drummer Billy James.
5. Recorded with Don Patterson. Album called “Soul Happening” on the Prestige label in 1966.
6. Sonny Stitt, Booker Erving, Don Patterson “Soul People” on Prestige. Vinnie played on “There
Will Never Be Another You” in 1966.
7. Recorded with Willis “Gator Tail” Jackson on the Cadet label called “Smokin’ With Willis”
released in 1966.
8. Also was guitarist with Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons from 1967 to 1969 playing the
Super 400 on their live performances and recordings.
9. Then in 1969 around Christmas time I got a call from guitarist Sam Brown, asking if I’d like to
accompany Ella Fitzgerald with Tommy Flanagan on the Johnny Carson show and the Dick
Cavett show, and also play with Ella and Tommy with big band at the Americana Hotel on 8 th
Avenue in Manhattan. Of course, I said YES!
10. In 1970 I rejoined Jack McDuff’s group and recorded with McDuff at a jazz club in Berkeley
California and also recorded with him at a jazz club in Montreal, Canada.
11. Recorded “Check This Out” with Jack McDuff on the Cadet label in 1972.
12. Live recording “Ain’t No Sunshine” with Jack McDuff in Seattle, Washington in 1972, released
in 2024 on Reel to Real/Cellar Music Group in 2024.
13. Recorded “The Very Thought of You” with Della Griffin in 1998 on Savant Records.
14. Recorded “To Be Free” with Dave Braham in 2009 on Random Act label.
