Fender Jim Root Telecaster Tim Boyle Hollowood Guitar Dept Manager

First off I was kind of skeptical of a Fender Telecaster that was geared towards us heavy metal guitar players…but I was wrong. I have always liked telecasters but there was never really a spot for a tele in metal music. Until now. The fender Jim Root Telecaster feels, plays and sounds like a great metal machine. Starting with the requisite black paint job (also available in white) which is not a gloss but a flat finish that gives the guitar a Highway 1 series look. Next to its warm and resonant Mahogany body rather than the stock fender Alder or Ash bodies, and still holds the weight of a normal tele (around 8 pounds). It sports a modern “C” shape neck, which is about the only “normal” spec of a tele that is made in Mexico. Yes it is a Mexican guitar. But it is a very well made guitar. The guitar although not an American guitar does come with a special hardshell tweed case. The tweed is not a regular yellow/tan type of color rather a grey/black color that caught my eye as soon as I opened the box. Also sports a red plush interior and comes with the usual “case candy” of any other fender product.

Back to the specs of the guitar (the real reason we are here). One of my favorite specs of this guitar is that it comes loaded with EMG pickups. A first for a tele (I think). An EMG 81 is located in the bridge and an EMG 60 is located in the neck. The EMG 81 is pretty much the standard for Metal guitarists bridge pickup in their EMG setup. The 81 are a very high output pickup designed with the lead guitarist in mind. I personally use the pickup in the neck position for a nice rounded “Yngwie” type tone. It is best played at high volumes through a high gain amp (Peavey 5150, 6505 etc.) with its sharp attack and tight bottom end and long lasting sustain. The EMG 60 in the neck features similar specs to the 81 with the same ceramic magnet and brings the bright attack and a distinctive crunch. Hey, James Hetfield from Metallica uses them so they must be good!!
Rounding out my review of the really cool innovative instrument from fender will be my praise over the use of a 6-saddle hard tail style Stratocaster Bridge. Great intonation and the same feel of a strat bridge but no tremolo arm to get in the way when you don’t want to use it. The only thing that I would have changed on the guitar would be the addition of a tone control. I personally like to have different tonal possibilities. All in all a really cool idea from fender. Come check it out!!!! 
List $1299.99
Our Price - $949.99