This guitar was built in 1991 and served as Kirk’s primary instrument during the Black Album tour. While it is now famous for its “Caution” graphics, those stickers were not applied until the 90s. During the Live Shit: Binge & Purge era (1991–1993), this was simply a plain black KH-2, easily confused with his other backups until it received its unique “warning label” aesthetic later.
Specs
Technically, this guitar marks a step up from the earlier “Zorlac.” While it kept the Alder body and Maple neck, this specific custom features Neck-Thru-Body construction (unlike the usual bolt-on models of the time), offering superior sustain and access to upper frets. It features the standard horizontal “Skull & Crossbones” inlays and is powered by an active EMG 81 in the bridge and an EMG 60 in the neck.
Visuals
Today, the guitar is identified by the orange “CAUTION HOT” sticker below the bridge and a “Kirk’s Guitar” label near the neck pickup. The original can be distinguished from modern replicas by the back of the headstock: the original 1991 Custom has no serial numbers or logos on the back, whereas replicas and later models do.
Usage
This was a massive workhorse for Kirk. As a plain black custom, it saw heavy duty on the Black Album tour (1991–1993). After the stickers were applied in 1994, it continued to be a favorite, seeing use on the Load tours and reappearing as recently as 2009 for a gig in Madrid.
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