Jim Root

James D. Root (born October 2, 1971), also known as Jim Root, or by his number #4, is an American musician known for being one of the guitarists for Slipknot, and the Lead guitarist for Stone Sour. He was the last member to join the current line-up of Slipknot, in January 1999.

Personal life and career

Root was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He has performed in bands such as Anal Blast, Atomic Opera, Deadfront and Stone Sour; the latter which he joined in 1995, and returned to along with vocalist Corey Taylor, during its revival in 2002. Prior to joining Slipknot, he worked as a screenprinter, waiter, and busboy. Root joined the band in January 1999, replacing their original guitarist, Josh Brainard, who left the band during the recording of their self-titled album, reportedly after having fulfilled his recording duties. In fact, the only song Root recorded during the album's sessions was "Purity", which is only featured on the short-lived first pressing of Slipknot. Despite this, the song has become a staple for the band's live performances. Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor invited Root to join the band based on Taylor's past experiences working with him in Stone Sour, before leaving the band to join Slipknot.

As well as lending his guitar talents to Stone Sour, Root has also performed drums on one song the band has recorded, the Come What(ever) May bonus track "The Day I Let Go". Outside Slipknot and Stone Sour, Root has appeared on Slipknot turntablist Sid Wilson's DJ Starscream album The New Leader and John 5's The Devil Knows My Name, and also appeared on the Roadrunner United project, performing the solo and harmony guitars on "Tired 'N Lonely" from the project's album The All-Star Sessions. He also appeared on Jonathan Davis and the SFA´s cover of Lil Wayne´s "Got Money".

Root has been dating Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia since 2004, when they met during the Ozzfest tour taking place that year.

Masks

Root originally used a bondage hood, inherited from Slipknot's original guitarist Josh Brainard following his departure from the band. He had pink hair at the time and would pull parts of it through a hole in the top of the mask. After a couple of performances and one photo shoot, he decided to change masks, as the bondage hood was too uncomfortable and would often distract him when playing. He then began using a jester-style mask, said to represent that side of his personality. His most recent variation of the mask remains jester-styled, but has black diamond detailing around its eyes, and a zipper in between its lips.

Discography

Slipknot

Stone Sour

Other appearances

2005: Roadrunner United - The All-Stars Sessions (Roadrunner United)
2006: The New Leader (DJ Starscream)
2007: ''The Devil Knows My Name (John 5)
2008: "Got Money" (Lil Wayne remix) (Jonathan Davis and the SFA)

Filmography

1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
2002: Disasterpieces
2002: Rollerball
2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"

Equipment

James Root Signature Fender Telecaster guitar

In July 2007, Fender released a James Root Signature Fender Telecaster guitar. This Telecaster model is available in flat black with a white pickguard and maple neck and fingerboard, or in flat white with a black pickguard, maple neck and ebony fingerboard. Both models feature mahogany bodies, jumbo frets, a single volume control with no tone control, black hardware, and EMG humbuckers (EMG 81 in the bridge and EMG 60 in the neck). In September 2008 an announcement in the official forum of slipknot said that a new model of Jim's telecaster was being desinged, and that the fans were needed to give their input on where it could be improved. No release date or an official announcement of the new guitar has been made.

Guitars

Slipknot:

Fender James Root Signature Telecaster (black with white pickguard & maple fretboard)
Fender James Root Signature Telecaster (white with black pickguard & ebony fretboard)
Custom Fender James Root Telecaster (black with white pickguard & ebony fretboard)
Custom Fender James Root Telecaster (black with black pickguard & ebony fretboard)
Custom Fender James Root Telecaster (white with black pickguard & maple fretboard)
Custom Charvel HH model built by Fender, containing a traditional Stratocaster look, with maple fretboard and two EMG humbuckers
Custom Charvel San Dimas with maple fretboard, EMG humbucker in bridge and EMG SA in neck (Drop A tuning)
B.C. Rich customized Assassin (dropped A tuning, used during the Iowa World Tour)
Fender Flat Head Telecaster HH Black (custom model containing two EMG humbuckers & two volume knobs for switching effects)
Fender Flat Head Telecaster HH Black (dropped A tuning, custom model containing two EMG humbuckers & 2 volume knobs)
Fender Flat Head Showmaster HH Black (custom model with initials "JR" on the twelfth fret)
Fender Flat Head Showmaster HH Black (standard model with "crossed piston" inlays)
Fender Flat Head Telecaster HH Black (main instrument, custom model)
Jackson Soloist- Gloss Black with No Inlays (used around time of 1st Slipknot album)
Jackson Soloist- Gloss Black with Sharkfin Inlays
Jackson Soloist- Black Satin with ROOT inlay (used during the Iowa World Tour)
Custom Jackson Soloist- transparent brown/black quilt top with ROOT inlay and single coil in neck postion
Custom Jackson Warrior- Black with white binding
Maverick JR-4- silver (originally intended to be a Jim Root signature model, but never happened)
PRS Std 24 (Custom built with moon inlays & EMG humbuckers)- black (James had at least 3 of these models; used during the Iowa World Tour and in studio)
PRS Std 24 (Custom built with moon inlays & EMG humbuckers)- dark metallic red with chrome hardware (as seen in Guitar One magazine)
Gibson Flying V - Natural Mahogany with white pickguard (used in studio)
Vintage Gibson Hummingbird Acoustic - (used in studio on Vermilion Pt.2, seen on Voliminal: Inside The Nine DVD)

Stone Sour:

Dunlop Strings
Formerly used Ernie Ball Strings
Fender Custom Telecaster Flame Maple Top HH- Black Cherry burst
Fender Flat Head Telecaster- Black
Fender Flat Head Telecaster- Orange
Fender Flat Head Telecaster- Light Gray (used during performances in late 2003)
Fender HH Telecaster- Grey with Black pickguard (standard model customized with EMG pickups, seen on the Family Values DVD)
Fender '52 Telecaster- butterscotch blonde(Through Glass video)
Fender H/S/S Stratocaster- Black, with white pickguard and EMG pickups
Fender H/S/S Stratocaster- White, with black pickguard and EMG pickups
Fender H/H Stratocaster- Sunburst, with white pickguard and EMG pickups
Fender H/H Stratocaster- Black, with white pickguard and EMG pickups
Fender Vintage Reissue Stratocaster- Gold (used for television performance of Through Glass)
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster- Black with White pickguard and Fender single coil pickups (used live for Through Glass)
James Root Signature Fender Telecaster- Black
James Root Signature Fender Telecaster- White
Gibson Firebird Studio- black (used in studio video for Reborn)
Gibson Flying V- Natural with white pickguard, gold hardware, and EMG humbuckers
Gibson ES-175 Semihollow- Sunburst (used in the video for Inhale)
PRS Std 24 Custom- Black (used in video for Get Inside)
Various Martin acoustics
Guild acoustic (Through Glass video)

Amplifiers

Orange Rockerverb 100, and Orange 4 x 12 cab (currently using with Slipknot and Stone Sour)
Orange Rockerverb 50 Combo (used for clean tone on All Hope Is Gone)
Randall ISOlation Cab (previously used on tour with Slipknot)
Rivera Knucklehead Reverb 100 KT88 Tubes (master amp) (previously used on tour with Slipknot)
Rivera Knucklehead Reverb 100 6L6 Tubes (slave amp)(previously used on tour with Slipknot)
Rivera K-Tre (sparingly used live with Stone Sour)
Two Riveras 4x12 (Celestion G12T-75 speakers) (previously used on tour with Slipknot)
Bogner Uberschall head (used in studio, and tour with Stone Sour)
Mesa Boogie DC5 head (used in studio on Slipknot and Iowa)
Peavey 5150 head (used in studio for Iowa)
Diezel Herbert head (used in conjuction with Orange Rockerverb on All Hope Is Gone)
Mesa Mark IV Widebody Head
Peavey Triple XXX head (given to Stone Sour co-guitarist Josh Rand)

Effects

Slipknot:

Audio-Technica AEW-R5200 Receiver
Digital Music Corp. GCX Switcher
Digital Music Corp. Ground Control Pro
Digitech Hyper Phase
Digitech Synth Wah
Dunlop Crybaby Custom Shop DCR-2SR Rackmounted Wah with Expression pedal
Dunlop JH-3S Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Furman PL-Plus Power Conditioner
NEW 2008 FURMAN AR-15 II voltage regulator
Korg DTR-1000 Rackmounted Tuner
Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter
Maxon OD-9 Overdrive
MXR Auto Q Wah
Voodoo Labs pedal power supplier
MXR Carbon Copy delay
Boss Acoustic Simulator

Stone Sour:

BOSS DD-3 Delay
Dunlop 535Q Wah Wah
Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone
Maxon Af-9
MXR Phase 100
MXR Carbon Copy delay
Boss Acoustic Simulator

Trivia

At 6'6", Root is the tallest member of Slipknot, measuring at least 4 inches over Slipknot co-guitarist Mick Thomson, who is widely believed to be the band's tallest.
Despite being left-handed, Root plays guitar right-handed.
Owns approximately 140 guitars.
Currently resides in Florida.