The Strat gets Brutalized (new Jim Root model)

[Tig***]

From NAMM

Fender Jim Root Stratocaster


Crushing Rock Tones from a Mahogany-bodied Strat!
Built for tones that are so huge they have their own time zones, the Jim Root Stratocaster® has everything you need to be a rock master! The body is mahogany, offering up tones that are decidedly thicker than a traditional Strat®. Couple that tonal girth with the combination of EMG 81 and EMG 60 pickups and you have a stunning display of hard rock power that will rattle the rafters! For effortless trips up and down the neck, the Jim Root Strat® boasts a compound radius neck with either a maple fingerboard (on the Flat White finish) or a rosewood fingerboard (Flat Black finish).

Fender Jim Root Stratocaster Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:

• Body: Mahogany
• Finish: Black Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Neck: Maple, Modern "C" Shape
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• 12-16" Compound Radius
• Frets: 22, Jumbo
• Scale length: 25.50"
• Nut Width: 1.65"
• Hardware: Black
• Tuning Keys: Black FENDER® Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking Tuning Machines
• Bridge: Black 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail Bridge
• Pickguard: 3-Ply White
• Pickups: Neck: 1 EMG 60. Bridge: 1 EMG 81
• Pickup Switching: 3 Way Blade
• Controls: Master Volume
• Case: Includes Black Tweed Case

[oldguy]

Looks like a fairly stripped down version. Wonder what they'll sell for?

The marketing hype's a bit over the top, IMHO.

"the Jim Root Stratocaster® has everything you need to be a rock master"..... so, no practice needed, right?

"Built for tones that are so huge they have their own time zones"......uh, OK.

I guess after the aborted Gibson Hendrix Strat clone it's only fair for Fender to market a mahogany-bodied twin humbucker 3-way switch equipped guitar w/ a 12-16" compound radius fretboard, though.
Not sure how it'll sell w/o position markers.......some people like 'em.

[pes_laul]

They used to have a jim root model tele which was just the same thing (pickups, pickup configuration, etc) Not sure if they still have it. Not really my thing

[marnold***]

Looks like an odd cross between a Strat and a Jackson Soloist.

[Tig***]

They used to have a jim root model tele which was just the same thing (pickups, pickup configuration, etc) Not sure if they still have it. Not really my thing

I think they still make the Jim Root Tele with a street price of $1200 US.
Sweetwater has the JR Strat at $1499.00 US.
Neither give me GAS.

My guess is that Fender is trying to pull in some of the brutal metal kid's business with Jim Root's name and EMG active pickups, since they see Fender and Gibson as old guy/classic rock guitars. ESP, Jackson and Ibanez have taken a good chunk of the young guitar player business.

Fender might do better with a 7-string version of an EMG Strat.

[markb]

What goes around...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_...tocaster_Japan

[pes_laul]

I think they still make the Jim Root Tele with a street price of $1200 US.
Sweetwater has the JR Strat at $1499.00 US.
Neither give me GAS.

My guess is that Fender is trying to pull in some of the brutal metal kid's business with Jim Root's name and EMG active pickups, since they see Fender and Gibson as old guy/classic rock guitars. ESP, Jackson and Ibanez have taken a good chunk of the young guitar player business.

Fender might do better with a 7-string version of an EMG Strat.

I actually like the looks of the black one. If it had a locking trem and wasn't so pricey I would go for it.

[marnold***]

I actually like the looks of the black one. If it had a locking trem and wasn't so pricey I would go for it.

Sounds like a Jackson Dinky might be up your street.

[pes_laul]

Sounds like a Jackson Dinky might be up your street.

Nah after my Ibanez I plan to not by a "shredder" type guitar for a while.