Slipknot’s Jim Root explains why Fender Telecasters are like sunglasses
While many metal guitarists might reach for a Jackson, Charvel, or an ESP, Jim Root has consistently made the case that Fenders also belong in the metal conversation. A longtime Fender signature artist, the Slipknot guitarist currently has a signature Stratocaster, Telecaster and Jazzmaster to his name, all loaded with EMG pickups and characteristically minimal, metal-ready spec sheets.
And as he explains in a new video, it was precisely the fact Fender guitars weren’t typically associated with metal that drew him to the brand in the first place.
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“The aesthetic of seeing all these legendary rock icons with a Telecaster, sort of mixed with… wanting to go against the grain of being in a band that was labelled as nu metal or metal…” he says.
“But I thought it would be cool to have something that’s just not even close to being associated with metal in a band like that. There’s sort of a juxtaposition to that, that to me is kind of like a ‘Fuck you.’
“…And that’s kind of the whole metal, punk rock, rock and roll attitude. It’s anti, and going against the grain. And if somebody tells you to do something, you’re gonna do the opposite.
“Everybody thought I should be coming out with some pointy metal guitar that’s got 12 points or whatever. No, how about we just do a classic slab iconic guitar? Guitars, in my opinion, are like sunglasses. The classics never go out of style. They’ll always be there. People will make their version of it, but there’s only one Fender Telecaster.
In 2026, Fender is celebrating 75 years of the Telecaster, after the now-legendary model was launched back in 1951. In fact, the Telecaster started life in late 1950 as the Broadcaster, but due to a trademark conflict with Gretsch over its Broadkaster drum kit, the Broadcaster was renamed the Telecaster the following year.
Just last month, Fender unveiled its line of limited-edition 75th Anniversary Telecasters, comprising five models across the brand’s Player II, American Professional and American Ultra II ranges, and including a Cabronita model.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
