During the
recording of Slipknot's upcoming fourth studio album,
guitarist Jim Root took some time out to give us insight
into their recording process and his love of Dunlop
gear. Check out the Slipknot metal circus live on
the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival this summer. For
dates and locations go to www.slipknot1.com or myspace.com/slipknot1.
Tell us about the current
work you are doing in the studio?
We decided to record in Iowa.
There's a studio a friend of ours built on some farm
land. It's a really nice, modern building built specifically
as a studio. There's a place to live as well—bedrooms,
kitchen, bathrooms with showers—anything you need
really. The name is Soundfarm and it's in Jamaica,
Iowa. Big live room, nice iso rooms—we're recording
in every part of the building…even outside!
How is the recording
progressing?
It's depends on what aspect
you are talking about. We don't have the luxury of
time. Although some things feel as if they're being
rushed along, other things are evolving naturally.
What new sounds can
we expect from the next album?
Everyone should expect the
typical metal record in some aspects, but there's
an evolution that is happening that I can't really
explain right now. I'm not sure if it will grow wings
or not. If I have my way, it'll be the new way!
You have been using
Dunlop Strings throughout the Stone Sour tour. Have
you made any changes to the gauges now that you are
in Slipknot mode?
We use two different tunings
in Slipknot and three in Stone Sour. For the C tunings
and the C drop B-tunings I use the same gauges, .11
.15 .20 (plain) .36 .42 .56. It's an even spread that
is still pretty light. I like a loose feel for soloing.
The E flat tunings are the standard Dunlop DEN2016
set (.10-.46) and the A tuning is the C tuning gauges
bumped up one gauge with the exception of the .20
plain and a .64 for the low A string.
In Stone Sour you use
the 1.0mm Tortex Wedge and the Jazz III XL. Do you
still use both in Slipknot? Can you elaborate why
you use both types of picks?
I guess the main reason is
I'm fickle! Different days I feel different ways—so
I guess depending on how I feel at any particular
time I'll use a Jazz IIIXL or the Wedge. That's not
even talking about throwing an acoustic or bass guitar
into the equation…
How does your stage
rig you use in Stone Sour and Slipknot differ from
what you use in the studio?
I use the same thing in the
studio as I do live. There are exceptions to that
rule though. The studio is such a different environment
than on stage. There are so many different levels
of layering and building songs in the studio, that
the sky is the limit. I think that is why I have so
much equipment. You can blend amps, use crazy configurations
of pedals, cabinets, combo amps...you name it. That's
another thing that makes me change the pedal configuration
in my rack after every record.
We understand that you
are tracking with the new MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay
and the Jimi Hendrix Octavio. How have these pedals
enhanced your sound and the overall texture of the
individual songs?
These pedals are second to
none. The Carbon Copy is unbelievable. It's what I've
been trying to do with delay pedals for a long time.
Warm and versatile. I'm able to step outside the box
with it and get some sounds that you would never expect
were even a guitar. I love it. And the Octavio is
hands down one of the best fuzz pedals I've used.
Let's just say now I don't have to go try to find
a vintage pedal that needs to be overhauled and pay
three or four times what its worth. It's made it onto
the majority of what I'm recording as well.
Can you tell us a few
of your favorite pedals and what your settings are?
My new favorites are definitely
the Carbon Copy Analog Delay and the Octavio. The
Carbon Copy is set with the Mix knob at 100%. I mess
with the Regen and Delay knobs constantly so there's
never really a setting. I'll experiment more with
it live to find a more steady setting. But I'll always
play around with the Delay knob. The Octavio is always
set with all the controls dimed—Fuzz at 100% and Volume
at 100%.
How long have you been
using Dunlop gear? What all do you use?
I've had Dunlop gear as long
as I've been playing guitar. Right now I'm using the
Phase 100, Carbon Copy Analog Delay, Octavio, Hendrix
Fuzz Face, 535Q Crybaby Multi-Wah, Rotovibe, Jimi
Hendrix Octave Fuzz, Auto Q, and the DC Brick.
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