Jim Root Interview

More videos like this Jim Root interview 👉 • Artist Interviews
Sweetwater's Nick Bowcott is joined by acclaimed Slipknot guitarist Jim Root via Skype.
After you watch, check out Sweetwater.com today for all your music instrument and pro audio needs! 👉 www.Sweetwater...
#Sweetwater #JimRoot #Slipknot

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this interview with Jim Root let us know in the comments 👇 then hit those like and subscribe buttons 👍

[@Hipsters_N_Hippies]

I may not like binding. But that aside, That guitar really deserves that new heal cutaway that they are using on the ultra strats. And possibly a slight compound radius that only opens up to a 16 or 18 inch.

[@slipvayneknot]

I love mine! Got it at launch time! Been a Slipknot fan since 1999. Love the neck binding he has on this compared to lack of on his Telecaster which I also have. I appreciate the great clean and dirty tones Jim has achieved over the years! Great guitarist and a great guitar! Great interview Jim and Nick!

[@creepymcpeepers]

Got the string gauges from here to put on my jazzmaster the sweetwater setup on it is amazing!

[@kraytkopacki4034]

I feel very smart listening to Jim. He thinks that i know everything.

[@GearGasms]

Lol

[@0rgyInTheMorgue]

How do you play aurellion sol

[@zedthemasterofshadows3560]

@@0rgyInTheMorgue I played him a while ago, found out his star expansion thing now has a cooldown.

[@crackedblackpepperandrocksalt]

Exactly lol

[@0rgyInTheMorgue]

Zed The Master Of Shadows yeah he got nerfed hard

[@jesseyasaitis9036]

Jim's "you know" thing is nothing to make fun of. It's a nervous little (for lack of better words) tick. He's an amazing performer when he's in his stage mode. Interviews aren't everyone's cup of tea. I'm just happy he gets on camera from time to time to give us a little insight into what makes him work. Thanks Jim for being you.

[@TheHonestTerrorist]

I think the same goes for James "y'know" Hetifeld

[@thedragonzord_]

Right? I'm just happy an introvert talks this much about his process and gear 🤟

[@kungfuman82]

What else can't we make fun of?

[@GearGasms]

thedragonzord my thoughts exactly. I think this is great!

[@Bpjames]

@@kungfuman82 The half naked mannequin with suspenders... that's off limits too.

[@EdBallsMusic]

Jim 'Ya Know' Root meets Nick 'My Friend' Bowcott

[@ShockBot127]

Ya know. I actually never noticed that he says that every 15 seconds 🤣

[@danielrsmith7900]

Always good to see Jim "y'know" Root. Love the new signature Jazzmaster, wish they made it available left handed.

[@gilmourdimegates]

I'm left handed but learned guitar right handed. Why would you ever play left? If you've never played always start right handed.

[@Kobejp8]

Deedle The Dog I got my first guitar when I was 4, I wish my grandma knew not to buy lefty🤦‍♂️

[@danielrsmith7900]

@@gilmourdimegates quite common for left handers to play right. I doubt you went against your natural inclination of playing left handed to play right handed. For me it was never a case of choosing to play left handed, it was always the most comfortable orientation from the start.

[@Drunkcat008]

"You know"

[@Garou-si5jz]

Eeww lefty

[@lilrig8112]

Jim Root looks like the kinda guy who would hate slipknot.

[@fxexpert4541]

Lmao

[@kalebabel1348]

Honestly yesh

[@AaronWilliams-rf5th]

He looks like a hipster tbh. No hate to him tho.

[@juventusfc0520]

It's so true

[@97McLuvin]

He probably does hate Slipknot lmfao

[@kaypoling66]

Jim Root is an amazing guitarist and human being! I could listen to him talk all day! 🤘🏼💋

[@Fabiobocca]

Jim Root solo record? Ive only been waiting 20 years

[@garethsavin4464]

Fucking love this guy! Genuine,friendly,very funny and a superb guitarist. There should be a national day to celebrate his beard!

[@djivoodoo1751]

Are we just gonna ignore that Jim has an armless mannequin wearing a luchador mask in the corner?

[@cheesy2440]

Yes, yes we are

[@juanvaldez5422]

First thing I noticed

[@connorgregor4548]

Life on the road gets lonely

[@befrnigel]

7:50 it's not Jim's house/room/anything you want

[@GearGasms]

Too late. I already fapped to it

[@jamesmarras5557]

Holy DAMN I am ready for a Jim Root album. I've been waiting YEARS for this! We all need to hype him up so he gets it done!! MAGGOTS UNIT AND SPREAD THAT POSITIVITY BABY

[@patrickolivier1]

I think I’d prefer more Slip! 🤷🏽‍♂️🙂

[@jamesmarras5557]

@@patrickolivier1 obviously that’d continue to happen but both can exist.

[@hotpocket1081]

His beard is fucking amazing. Every time I watch interviews with the band members of Slipknot, I always think, "These are the guys I've been listening to all my life? I have no regrets"

[@ShockBot127]

I had no idea he is a lefty, yet plays right handed. That is admirable!

[@nckhed]

Wow, I didn't know that. I'm slightly jealous of ambidextrous people, lol.

[@figjam9530]

left-handed guitars are pointless. left-handed people have no more trouble learning on a "right-handed" guitar than right-handed people. the argument can be made that it is easier because your dominant hand is working the frets.you may be skeptical of what i'm saying so i invite you to ponder a question: have you ever heard of a left-handed piano?

[@pyropotassium4076]

Left hand for the fretboard, dominant hand can find it easier to move up and down it. Although I agree it'd take a certain degree of training for your non-dominant to grind-pick the speed of the riff from "The Heretic Anthem"

[@rolig9303]

Im also left handed but i play every instrument right handed.

[@davequiquegg]

@@figjam9530 No, there is no left-handed piano because there are no mechanics that sit in the way of the keys. Where mechanics sit in the way, a left-handed version is required. That's why there are left-handed rifles, because the hot bullet casings would fly out in a lefty's face. Before cutaways, pentometers, and Fender-style headstocks, there wasn't a point to a left-handed guitar, just like there being no need for a left-handed trumpet, you can switch easily. The dominant hand idea is also dumb because that would mean there's no need for right-handed guitars and everyone should play lefty. There's a reason why the dominant hand picks instead of doing the fretting for right-handed people so there's a reason why lefty's do it too. Piano requires the person to play chords with both hands. It requires rhythm and melody to be played with both hands. There is no advantage when it comes to handedness. Nothing is assigned to a particular hand until it is written to be assigned that way: you can stride with the left or right, boogie with either, play the lead in the bass notes, keep the rhythm with the right etc. It's a false equivalence. A better musical equivalence is drums, where certain roles are fulfilled by the legs. That's why left-handed drummers switch kits or end up playing with a stutter like Ringo Starr. And here's my 'if you're sceptical' moment: if there wasn't a market for it, it wouldn't exist. Lot's of lefty players are right-handed, but not a majority. It's not about handedness, it's about what tool is best for you to express yourself, that's why they come in all shapes and sizes and styles as well as handedness. Not many people playing flamenco on a BC Rich Warlock are there..? If you can wrap your head around jazz musicians using jazz boxes, country players using Tele's, 7-string chugging, or why a ukulele might sound good sometimes instead of an acoustic, you can understand left-handed guitars.

[@richardwilliampadua9866]

Thank you Nick for bringing up the possibility of having a lefty version of Jim Root's guitar.

[@maasymoo]

Jim: "This guitar makes me wan't to play guitar." Also Jim: "I haven't picked up a guitar in two weeks."

[@nimitz1739]

Alex Maas lol He also said he didn’t even set that guitar up. Only put his strings on it. Then later in the vid he starts showing how low he’s got the action sit on that guitar. Haha Kind of a foggy memory. Ya know.

[@jpweidemoyer8544]

Jim mentioning he's a fan of Ween might be one of the most metal things I've heard him say. Great guest, great host, excellent interview.

[@Echo3_]

Jim is too cool! I love that man!

[@jimmysi9211]

Just got into Slipknot a while back, good to see a new interview out!! Maybe we can get one with Mick next. I know he's also a gearhead based off his interview with The Captain over at Andertons

[@slipvayneknot]

Hes quite introverted compared to Jim! Love his stage presence!

[@dilegox]

Dude doesnt give a lot of interviews.

[@jimmysi9211]

@@dilegox Yeah, I loved watching the one at Anderson's, Mick was so into explaining his gear

[@dilegox]

@@jimmysi9211 I'm sure he's a gearhead and love his guitars but he just seems like an introvert to be honest. Sick player tho

[@BestInTheWorldHDPL]

The interview is 44 minutes long, Jim after 20 seconds - "you know".

[@Takaichi666-]

Jim is a reason for me playing guitar and growing my facial hair out

[@jppagetoo]

Love a player who buys his own sig model off the rack. Jim is not the only one who does that. But is says a lot about the person who does that.

[@negativexmilitia1]

I think it says something about the guitar too. It's cool to know that he's literally playing the same model you buy off the shelf. It isnt a "here's a guitar with an artist's name on it and for another $3k you can get the one he ACTUALLY plays" kind of situation. Good on him and Fender.

[@dresixx92102]

matt heafy does

[@wiseguy9202]

This is literally a commercial for the guitar.

[@TheWeiner4]

He does not buy his guitars...

[@TheIsaacFrazier]

@@TheWeiner4 yeah he does, he said he goes to guitar center if he wants something specific or selling something for s certain guitar he wants

[@SteveHoover69]

Jim seems like *the* coolest.

[@patrickwhitby5561]

Was in the pit at the road show and it was amazing how well Jim's tone cut through the mix. Jim's the man ! 🤘

[@armandoaraujo7289]

I'm glad that Jim wanted to make his Jazzmaster more accessible to everyone. As someone who's not really a fan of Slipknot, I absolutely love this guitar and it will be the next one I buy.

[@GonJilman]

What I would give to spend even an hour just jamming and conversing with Jim. He’s such an interesting and chill guy. As an owner of his jazzmaster, I can attest that it is an amazing guitar. I’ve owned A LOT of guitars. Everything from a Hagstrom Super Suede to a Schecter Keith Merrow signature to even a Epiphone SG prophecy (2010 model with the 81/85 EMGS) and I have to say…out of the maybe 17 guitars I’ve owned…this thing outshines them all. Everything from the balance…the playability… and sheer mountain of tone is just top fucking notch. My only gripe was I had to file down the nut to fit my gauge strings (11-52 Ernie ball power slinks)…other than that I have not had one issue. I love how the paint finish has faded to like a yellowish white from the pearl white it started with. The new EMG pickups Jim has created are downright brutal sounding as wel but can be cleaned up to produced some glassy and crystal clear cleans. Jim has made this guitar to be able to be played by everyone. From metal to country to jazz. This thing will do it all. If you haven’t tried one of his signature models…do yourself a favor and do so…the tele and strat are amazing as well but the jazzmaster just has a certain feel for me. Love ya Jim! You’re probably my biggest influence when playing guitar.

[@letthedayfall]

I just finally got this jazzmaster last saturday. Everything was almost perfect out of the box.. except for 1 major problem.. the low E nut slot was way shallow period! Even for the strings they shipped it with. As soon as I barely bent the string at the first fret the string fell right out of the slot. This continues up to the 3rd fret and then not an issue after that. Took the guitar to Sam Ash and they said it was perfectly fine lmao!!! None of my other guitars have an issue like this. Sent is back for an exchange today and they've already shipped the replacement!!!

[@johnd8596]

Jim is my biggest inspiration currently as well. I got his squier tele in 2018 and that thing rips. Even my boomer dad likes it.

[@pickletarts8196]

Nothing like Jim Root starting an interview with “You know..”, you know?

[@trevormosher1678]

Great interview, Nick! I have to say I am not into Slipknot as much as I was around the time of Subliminal Verses and All Hope Is Gone, but Jim and Mick just do great gear interviews. This interview with Jim and the one the Captain did with Mick Thompson were just excellent guitar nerd material. No "rock star" pretension, at all.

[@daryllerewjr8949]

I love Jim root

[@matdan6081]

If I could get VIP tickets to one day meet this dude. My all time idol on guitar. I would be a happy maggot. 🤘

[@BrookeaCookea]

🪰

[@praetorian48]

honestly if there was a 9 pointed star option on a white version of that guitar i would buy it like i already bought the clean white and the black ones for drop a and b and they are amazing so congrats to the fender team and of course Jim who is my personal hero and made me wanna pick up a guitar.

[@nihilist92]

Brilliant interview. Jim is a huge influence on my playing for sure. Thanks for sharing 🤘🏻

[@tngghwx]

You know. -Jim Root since 1999.

[@samwyze7060]

I purchased his signature Telecaster from Sweetwater last year and I am very happy with it. I love Fender and I love the fact I have an official JR Telecaster in my collection. Thank you, Sweetwater for being an awesome place to go for the right gear!

[@yosoyfutbol95]

I absolutely love mine! Its such a blast to play!

[@kimkelley9269]

Awesome interview! I love Jim Root and Nick Bowcott both. I once saw Nick live doing a Marshall demo clinic in Totem Lake Washington (1990's?). He was playing a Marshall 100 watt full stack and it was so loud I had to step outside to save my ears. Crazy loud and impressive as hell!

[@fraxz88]

I had to come back to hear what gage wires Jim uses. Thanks for the interview and I wish you all the best

[@stevenaustin4591]

Yes Jim, Plz do write a solo Record or at least an EP, would love to hear that! :)

[@lukekern7444]

His string gauge is really interesting. I got Mammoth slinky for drop B and his are are wayyy lighter.

[@oleauby3852]

I also use 11-56 in drop B and it works fine

[@ziggylayneable]

I play Blues, but I listen to a lot of Metal. I've been playing for over 30 years. I used .12 through .56 on Stratocasters. And I only tune to E flat. Most people can't even pick up my guitars and play leads on them. I guess I got King Kong strength in my hand and tarantula fingers...lol

[@oleauby3852]

@@ziggylayneable ok THAT’S too heavy for me lol

[@benpotter4905]

@ Everything Music wow. I play 10-46 for standard and drop d tuning. Thats on either a 24.75-25-25.5 scale.

[@infinidominion]

A nice balance is the low 6 strings from a Power Slinky 7set tuned to Bstandard(with a g insteada F#). 14-58's.....it's good for drop A as well.

[@kidder83]

Jazzmaster will always be there for you. Thanks, Jim

[@RResidentAlienNN]

love Jim root. He's one of my favs. SRV, Terry Kath of Chicago, MC5 and Wayne kramer, and Jim root. Love how punk rock he is and at the same time, George Harrison and t bone Walker. The other thing I love about Jim is, he plays what he loves. Too often today, you see kids playing bc richs or something...Which is fine, but this dude plays with fender. Its all in the hands and soul. He destroyed all the stereotypes in metal music and I friggen love that. Keep rocking Jim. You are the guy that made me pick up an instrument and experiment with all types of rock music. Thank you for that.

[@Razrback]

Jim is a killer guitar player super cool i do lawn maintenance actually did his yard here in Jacksonville Florida he moved was cool too see him here and there

[@StickerBook3SO]

I genuinely struggle to choose between the Jazzmaster or the Tele. I absolutely 100% want my next guitar to be a Jim one.

[@sophiepetoncule7617]

Very interesting interview, greatly conducted, thanks! Always fascinating to hear him talk about his guitars

[@blackmesacake5361]

Fantastic interview!

[@leisagutierrez2375]

Amazing interview! Is always a pleasure listen and watch Jim Root 👍🏼

[@vitomag6242]

And I thought, that Richard Kruspe says "you know" alot. Jim is another level.

[@gregdibattista6449]

Jim is his own person, seems very down to earth and a realist. Experience can bring alot of that, but you're head needs to be correctly in the game to begin with. Great guy ,viscious riffs,fucking viscious band 🤘 ,been into them since the beginning .

[@H.E.M.]

18:44 Yeah so true. I have a V and I mostly play Megadeth on it and I have an explorer for Metallica stuff 😆

[@keepsoundalive9386]

Is that a sex doll in the background with a mask on it? Lol

[@Hipsters_N_Hippies]

20:34 😆😂🤣 “I just recently got into weed.”

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Hipsters & Hippies - the band’s name is Ween. 🤦‍♂️

[@tahliaaxo]

he said Ween. Jim used to be coke addict lol, dont think he is just now discovering marijuana

[@kriscarroll7795]

Awesome, lovc this dude, thnks for the interview man.

[@dianacanales1740]

En verdad este es el hombre de mis sueños LOVE JIM!!

[@Echo3_]

I have an Affinity Squire Strait that i rebuilt that if it is out I pick it up constantly because when I grab it i want to play it :) I never was a fan of fender, but i respected Jim so much I looked back at them with an open mind because I trust Jim and he was right!

[@sociologymusic420]

Super cool guitar wish I could play it in person..

[@nimitz1739]

I don’t know why he said he’s trying to make it easier on his guitar tech. You still have to have batteries for the new sig pickup set.

[@budgetguitarist]

I keep staring at that poster...

[@Colin.W]

The only one he needs to put out now is that black jazzmaster with the copper pickguard and floyd rose, while keeping the glowing side dots and block inlays ;)

[@sophiepetoncule7617]

Exactly what I was thinking. I want a hybrid one.

[@herse83]

Awesome thanks for doing this!

[@michaelstewart2437]

Gold hardware and you got a Les Paul Custom. I got plans.

[@Janine.Najarian]

Ayyy

[@benjicodis]

"And I could see where I was at" *casually plays vermilion

[@PilotNicolas]

'You Know" ~Jim Root

[@Fraaip]

His old flat head tele was alder too. Not a signature model but basically made for him and J5.

[@kalebabel1348]

That moment the last 2 jim root jazzmasters get sold on sweetwater and you find out jim root bought them

[@dawennoname9727]

INDONESIAN still waiting for you and SLIPKNOT 🤘😎

[@leeparker2949]

Can not wait for solo album

[@hendrywong.]

0:24 YoU kNoW i DoN't KnOw

[@crimes2004]

0:59 i find this so adorable and idk why-

[@karmablack1313]

It's amazing how adorable and beautiful a real-life ent can be.

[@ph0kused]

jim you rock - love the new siggy

[@monsourdelapaz]

Its nice to see you again metal slug guy! Heavy machine gun!

[@travisschmidt3383]

Would love to see Jim and mick play with Thomas hayke and Randy blythe mabey Tom Araya on bass and vocals 2 Mabey do Fredrick and marten with Chris Adler and Corey Taylor or the guys from avenged sevenfold I would love to see more things like this happen. It's a shame that you can't sell music like back in the day it's really killed the production of music and the whole creative process especially something as in depth as rock and roll and metal can be.

[@scottduffy5552]

Did he say solo record!?! 😍😍😍

[@Hipsters_N_Hippies]

I may not like binding. But that aside, That guitar really deserves that new heal cutaway that they are using on the ultra strats. And possibly a slight compound radius that only opens up to a 16 or 18 inch.

[@Strider1313]

The older ones had the 12-16 radius not sure why he changed it 🤷‍♂️

[@MamaTrashPandit]

@@Strider1313 The fender factory in mexico can't make guitars with a compound radius. Jim said that in a rig rundown last year. That's why the new one doesn't have it.

[@aether_antares7761]

In this interview he actually said that he was a bit “afraid” of not having a compound radius, but for some reason the 12” radius just works with the new neck profile. Like kieran said it also has to do because of the mexican factory. He went for the mexican factory to make the guitar more available to “everyone” i myself cant afford it but if it was a american factory build it would probably end up beeing 2.5k.

[@BrokeAtBestMusic]

My BG guitar is a strat. Cost me $45. Jim Root is the real deal.

[@melithemeli]

that hair 😍😍

[@soullesssenpai8267]

Bruh 20 seconds in and he says, "y'know?"

[@graxjpg]

Nicks face and voice remind me of Alan holdsworth.. maybe his family was from the same area?

[@garrusmandolin1362]

Wish Mic would do more interviews.

[@MamaTrashPandit]

I also use 11-56 for Drop B. It actually feels really nice. At least for me.

[@caesaro.2286]

I use 10-46 on my Schecter I pretty much do custom Drop tunings in D, A and B some guitars are designed to play low.

[@boyman7823]

If only i could find some 11-60 sets. Surprisingly rare.

[@alppmlig]

Musicians like Jim are the reason why U.S. rules the world.

[@nbdysanything3182]

his hair looks so soft, i would love to run my fingers through jamie’s hair

[@kendogg97]

Check this video out for more in depth Jim Root rig rundown kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6HPg3dohZuVhq8

[@cameronwarner203]

Lmao turn on the closed captioning😂😂😂

[@berserker_2886]

Id love to hear some solo stuff from jim, if i had a chance to ask him a question or whatever, id wanna know what kinda stuff he plays for recreation, the sound that HE likes, not what he puts out with slipknot or used to for stone sour

[@adamloyd8545]

Nick quick question. How many ppl you interviewed know your history as guitar player?

[@lroscinski5046]

theres the hair-tie around your fingers again... is that really just where you keep it, or does it have anything to do with the way you play ?? If its your own personal secret, totally kool.. just curious if it helped you with any of your picking techniques.. thanks, i just recieved the "Root" signature telecaster... and all i can say is im blown away !! been playing consistantly for the past 5 years, off and on since 1999... Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Classic Rock influenced... but i want to thank Jim for releasing his model of the Telecaster, its amazing, my favorite guitar out of the 4 others i own... but is that really where youjust keep ur hair band when its not in use..?? or does it serve any means of your style of playing ??

[@zero-r9phy]

Jim roots has some good hair

[@BobbyJamesCote333]

Would be fun to Jam with Jim... 💯🤘

[@jeremyalcoser5742]

I do the same “you know” as Jim lol

[@con.bel666]

Jim root looks like a hipster from an Indi rock band that’s a part time barista

[@alexvaldez83]

Whenever he plays a chord it sounds like he's censoring himself from profanity Also when he said his models are back ordered. Man even he can't get his own signature guitar from the shop. Imagine that 🧐

[@xvenomknightx9436]

If Jim came out with a signature string gauge that would be sweet

[@adihell-9535]

Yeah you don't see to much guitarists making signature strings but recently saw Munky and Head of Korn made strings coming soon from Sweetwater.

[@JASONXMARIELA]

Awesome video! Love Root! Only complaint is no link to the guitar!? It's not out yet?

[@bucko6641]

Grt interview...🤟

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Jim is great.

[@rivaldyanugerah]

Y'know the indonesian tour will be held on march 2022😔😔

[@Mystninja]

I never noticed the "you know" thing and tell i read the comments.

[@jamesr_whiterock_ocmd_3629]

Jim is awesome I'm looking forward into getting my jazzmaster set up with his signature emgs. #MAGGOT4LIFE#♤♡◇♧

[@ozymandias_88]

10:50 Jon Levasseur (ex-Cryptospy) played a stratocaster as well in standard B

[@Modern1987]

Cristina scabbia is my dream girl how did you manage to ruin that one jim? Btw I love you’re music

[@juanvaldez5422]

I use 11s for drop b, if you have a good quality instrument and setup your stuff up properly, there’s no point in fatter strings at drop b

[@kraytkopacki4034]

Depends on the scale of the Guitar. I use an ibanez rg and yeah i agree with you. But les pauls and SGS might need higher gauge strings for that low of a drop.