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Black Corsair was the very first guitar which was made for Warren by Performance Guitar. The black body and shape designed by Warren, which he has used for recording, and recently for live shows. The all ingenious contrivance to get a good sound and materials brought from other newer guitars are all reflected in this Black Corsair. This is the one with the concentrated ideas and trials by Warren.
 bladk corsair

Year Built

April, 1985

Body

Mahogany

Neck

Maple

Fingerboard

Maple

Pickups

F : Seymore Duncan Classic Stuck
M : Seymore Duncan Classic Stuck
R : Seymore Duncan JB

Bridge

Floyd Rose

Warren tried out Frank Zappa's guitar, which was built by Performance Guitar, in Frank's Studio, and he really liked the feeling when held the neck. He went to Performance Guitar the following day to order one for himself.
(*Frank Zappa had delt with Performance Guitar since 1981.)

Frank Zappa Shape Neck
This neck is flatter and wider than a regular neck. Usually the neck tapers from the head stock to the body but this model has the same thicknes all the way down.

cross-section view (cross-section view)

A: Regular neck

B: Frank Zappa Shape Neck
1985
  • 3 humbuckers were attached.
  • There were 3 separate switches to make various sounds.
  • There was a lead switch. ( besides the other 3 above)
  • Output jack was connected to a plate on the back of the guitar.
1986
  • About a year later, the lead switch was taken off because it was too complicated.
  • The front pick up: single coil
    The middle pick up: single coil
    The rear pick up: Humbucker
1988
  • For tour, only the rear humbucker was used.
  • For recording, single pick up (front), or humbucker (rear) was on (for a single coil sound).
  • The output jack was changed from the back to the front of the guitar during the Reach for the Sky Tour.
1994
  • The ideas he tried on the Hawaiian Koa for the Whitesnake tour were applied to the Corsair. (Triangle fret, Big Block *It'll be in Hawaiian Koa Page)
1998
  • Changed the locking nuts on the Floyd Rose to the regular ones. (graphite) (a Metalic sound becomes warmer sound)
  • Applied Buzz Feiten Tuning System. (Sound and harmony become better when playing chords.)
2002
  • Changed the fret to stainless steel. (Better sound and grip)
"I'll never forget Warren's smile after he tried to play
Corsair for the very first time at our store."

- Kuni Sugai (Performance Guitar) -