Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Flat Black

Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Flat Black Overview

Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Flat Black Overview by GAK

Stark, dark and menacing, the crushing Jim Root Jazzmaster guitar has got to be the most distinctively minimalist version of the instrument ever devised in the model's entire half-century history. At the behest of the towering Slipknot guitarist, gone are the dual tone circuits and barrage of controls. Gone are the fret position markers and enormous chrome bridge. Gone, in fact, is pretty much everything typical of a Jazzmaster, replaced only by fearsome EMG humbucking pickups with brushed nickel covers, single three-way switch and single volume knob, a hardtail bridge and little else.

Featuring a Mahogany body with contoured neck heel, Maple neck with “C”-shaped profile and large headstock, Compound-radius ebony fingerboard (12” to 16”) with 22 jumbo frets and no position inlays (side-dot inlays only), EMG 60 (neck) and 81 (bridge) active humbucking pickups with brushed nickel covers and black bezels, Single control knob (volume) and three-way pickup switch and Hard-tail string-through-body bridge.

For a decidedly non-traditional design and configuration, the crushing nu-metal sound of the Jim Root Jazzmaster is produced by a fearsome pair of EMG® 60 (neck) and 81 (bridge) active humbucking pickups with brushed nickel covers.

This instrument features a compound-radius fingerboard, a sophisticated and carefully crafted feature in which the fingerboard has a more pronounced curvature across its width near the nut (ideal for chording) and gradually flattens to a very slight curvature toward the upper frets (perfect for bending notes and soloing).

A convenient high-end, high-performance feature, locking tuners offer increased tuning stability, especially on tremolo-equipped guitars, and they make changing strings substantially faster and easier than conventional tuners.


The sparse, dark and sinister look of the Jim Root Jazzmaster is complemented by the smooth feel and sparse, dark and sinister look of a 22-fret ebony fingerboard with no position inlays.

The finish on this instrument combines the resonance and thin breathability of lacquer with the stylishly muted matte look of a satin color coat.

The largest of the fret sizes, jumbo frets are tall and wide, which lets you get a better grip on the strings, enabling more control over them and making bends and vibrato easier. A good choice for players with larger hands and thicker fingers.