In a recent interview with Total Guitar, Jim Root talked about how he likes to choose unusual guitars to annoy metal fans.
The Slipknot guitarist doesn’t use traditional metal guitars. Root prefers Fender and recently Charvel guitars. He chooses these unusual guitars for a specific reason as he said:
“I’m always looking for things to piss off metalheads! And apparently, also piss off Jazzmaster and Tele players!”
The musician feels that guitar shapes can be used for any genre, not just one:
“I mean, it’s a slab of wood with pickups and strings. Who gives a sh*t about the shape of the guitar?”
Root Sold Some Of His Instruments
Previously in January 2021, Root announced on Instagram that he would be selling some of his gear. He had decided to clean out his guitar room. He had too many guitars, pedals, and amps he didn’t use. He wrote at the time:
“Did a bit of a clean up in the guitar room. Going to post some pics of guitars I opened up when I did it. Eventually, I’ll put some of these along with some pedals and amps up for sale (need to clear up some space) if I do so it will be through Reverb and I’ll announce when that time comes.”
Later, Jim shared photos of his guitar collection on Instagram, and showed each guitar’s history and what needs fixing. He showed off a classic black Fender and other guitars, noting he may not sell some because they have sentimental value. He also mentioned that he might not sell the Flathead guitars since he likes them.
Jim’s Favorite Guitar
The guitarist also shared his favorite guitar in a separate post. In the picture, there was a black Fender Stratocaster in a hard case. It has three single pickups, an alder body, and a maple fretboard. This guitar, known as The Black Strat, was famously used by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. Root wrote:
“There’s really no words to express what this guitar means. On so many different levels. It’s not just a guitar. It’s a representation of history. It’s personal even though it has nothing to do with me. It’s everything I love and everything I find frustrating about learning and honing my craft and the things I bring to our band. Most guitars are tools. A means to an end. This is inspiration. Inspiration to do better.”
Root is preparing to hit the road with Slipknot. The band’s next show is on August 6 at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. They will keep performing in the US throughout August.