Jim Root | Story Behind The Strings

www.jimdunlop....
www.jimdunlop....
Jim Root sat down with the Dunlop film crew to share stories of what it was like starting out when you had to choose between either new strings and picks or be able to eat for the day and why he partnered with Dunlop to develop his various custom string sets. We are very grateful to Jim for supplying a soundtrack where you can hear the strings in action.
When you're dishing out blast-beat-driven grooves and extra twisted melodies from downtuned depths like Jim Root, you need a set of strings that will stand up to your onslaught while staying in tune. He came to the Dunlop String Lab to design just such a set. Jim handpicked each gauge and core size to ensure peak performance, from feel and response to tuning stability.
"These strings give me what I need to get my sound, and they're comfortable to play no matter what I throw at them," Jim says‚ "They keep their high-end clarity for a long time, and they're really consistent from one pack to the next-they never break on me."

[@gearhead2017]

He seems like a chill dude to just talk about music and equipment

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

He definitely is a big gear-nut (as is Mick Thomson). There's a bunch of videos where he just geeks out over stuff.

[@gearhead2017]

@michaelangeloh.5383 very cool

[@zumo9440]

i used to be a d’addario user, but since putting the trivium 7 string set on my 7 string, i’ve really been loving the dunlop strings, and i’ve been using jim’s set on my 6 strings and they’re hands down the best strings i’ve ever used

[@BikFlofer]

I just tried the Trivium 7 set but they sounded really dull from the get go. Do you think I just got a bad pack or are they a lot darker than other strings?

[@zumo9440]

@@BikFloferprobably just a bad pack, in my experience the trivium’s aren’t dull, could also be a difference in pickups tho

[@BikFlofer]

@@zumo9440 Even acoustically they were extremely dark, I have Fishmans so the pickups are definitely are not the problem. But thanks I might just try them out again

[@southernpanda33]

These are all I use on my MKH Les Paul. My favorite for drop tuning.

[@TheAntman1265]

Love Dunlop strings!

[@Americafirst89]

I’ve been buying ernie ball strings for past seven years using Jim roots set up, but had to buy them individually string so…. Thank god he now has his signature!!!! 🤘🏼😎

[@TrymYoutubeMainChannel]

I tested these out the 11-56 ones :D they play like a dream I'd say

[@PetParadiseVB]

So kinda like dr drop tunes. I used to love those. But then they started feeling bad. I may try these

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

I like the approach of those, but for some reason they also feel... quite rigid or resistant. - I think I like their regular ones more for some reason.

[@ghost_java35]

I’ll have to check these sets out. 11-56 is normally a little too light for B (for me) but if it had a bigger core it should be perfect

[@kleberkshima]

Awesome! ❤

[@Iceman_309]

Dunlop strings are the only ones I've tried where they felt consistent every time I picked up my guitar. They are a couple bucks more than any other pairs where I'm at, though! 😬

[@Wosaymo]

I was using these amazing strings on all of my guitars! However, those mine cannot sound great tone due to lack of availability of JRN1156DB in Japan. To get back wonderful tone from my buddy, what is the fastest way to continue using these strings?

[@Mkshire-03]

I'm curious too. I am running out of jr1156 strings at home.

[@waynegram8907]

So Dunlop Increase the CORE Wire of the Jim Root guitar strings but kept the string gauges the same?

[@Whiskeylovur]

Yes. My guess is the wrap-wire they use is thinner to offset the diameter change of the bigger core string.

[@waynegram8907]

@Whiskeylovur that is the same thing that Ernie Ball did for Metallica James Hatfield artist series guitar strings using a big fat core wire and wrapped less nickel wrap wire

[@martingaspar8364]

11-56 for drop B ? woudlnt it feel loose?

[@mandoleiva9823]

I play in standard for the 56 I use for C standard to learn dahlia songs and they’re not bad. B may feel a little loose but not too bad

[@Iceman_309]

Did you not watch the video?

[@martingaspar8364]

@@Iceman_309 i dont even remember typing this comment

[@mandoleiva9823]

@@martingaspar8364 you’re good bro it’s just the internet dweebs lol but yeah hopefully it worked out for you my man!

[@Iceman_309]

@mandoleiva9823 "dweeb" lol chill I only asked the man a simple question 😂

[@michaelangeloh.5383]

It's not that silly to feel a difference with such little... well, actual physical difference. It's a bit weird that you can actually notice, but it's because we hyper-focus on these things. - It's just odd with all the different gauges and cores and materials and scale-lengths and tunings and tensions... It's quite difficult to make this otherwise rudimentary instrument play comfortably for a given person and certain techniques and styles of playing, not to mention then also getting the right sound. - That's often the issue for me, that I need to find a balance between strings not feeling too thick or thin, as well as not too slack or tight, as well as not sounding too dark or anemic, with darker being a much bigger issue with thicker gauges for lower tunings. - That said, Dunlop strings come up as an option for me very often since like 10 years ago, also because of the relatively competitive pricing. They're still consumables and that makes pricing important, especially for those who just have to work for them. - Coincidentally, I'm finally about to put some guitars together to play in Drop B and A, which I've rarely done actually because of not being able to get the strings right (they either flop or feel like piano-wires or something) so perhaps these would work for those. I didn't need this promo, as I already saw them around. But it's good to hear the reasoning behind them as well. - And by the way, Dunlop, if you're reading this, the product-descriptions on your website could be more informative. Like for these strings, I would put the blurb under "The Long Story" up with the top text, then put a more involved description of the strings, as in how they're different and the whys and hows, in the "Long Story" section. - Just saying. - I know you also link videos there, but sometimes people just want to read about it on the product-page directly. I think it goes a long way to know what sets it apart and whether it's appropriate for different use-cases. - Also I can't seem to find any specifications on things like the materials, gauges, the core shape, windings, and so on. - Sorry, I like your products, but the Dunlop-website has been like that for too long now.