James Walbourne is a guitarist from Muswell Hill, North London, described by BOSS as a "formidable and omnipresent figure in the guitar world"1. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the Pretenders, a role in which, as BOSS notes, he "carries the formidable legacy of original member James Honeyman-Scott and ex-Smiths legend Johnny Marr"1. Beyond that band he writes and performs in the folk-rock act The Rails alongside his wife Kami Thompson, daughter of Richard and Linda Thompson1, and plays in the hard-rocking two-piece His Lordship1.
The sound he is known for
Walbourne's reputation rests on both his bands and a long session career. His credits range from Peter Bruntnell, Edwyn Collins and Jerry Lee Lewis to Death in Vegas, Saint Etienne and Soulsavers1. Early on, at 19 and 20, he worked at Angel Music guitar shop, taking Gem Archer's job there when Archer joined Oasis1.
His standing among writers and peers is high. Nick Hornby lauded his playing as "unearthly"1, and Chrissie Hynde dubbed him a "hotshot" in a 2025 Guitarist cover feature1.
"unearthly"
With the Pretenders he has shared big stages: at Glastonbury 2023, Johnny Marr joined the band on "Tattooed Love Boys" with Dave Grohl on drums1. He played on Chrissie Hynde's 2019 solo album Valve Bone Woe and performed it live with an orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl1. His first co-write with Hynde was "You Can't Hurt a Fool" from Hate for Sale1. In October 2025 he performed at Chuck Berry's Birthday Bash in St. Louis, Berry's birthplace, celebrating what would have been his 99th birthday with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra1, and he has since recorded a Chuck Berry tribute album, 14 songs in eight days, in his new London studio1.
His pedalboard
Walbourne's board is built on four BOSS units:
| Pedal | Role on his board | |
|---|---|---|
| BOSS IR-2 | Amp and cabinet | |
| BOSS RE-202 | Space Echo | |
| BOSS VO-1 | Vocoder | |
| BOSS TU-3 | Chromatic tuner | 1 |
His connection to the brand goes back to his first show with the Pretenders, when the airline lost the band's gear. "the airline lost all our gear, all my pedals and guitars! But thankfully, we quickly got a bunch of BOSS pedals together"1.
Guitars and songwriting
On the Pretenders' 2008 album Break Up the Concrete he kept things simple: "I just played a Junior throughout the whole thing," a Gibson SG Junior1. For songwriting he uses Logic, after what he calls a big breakthrough with the program in 20151.
James Walbourne and The Hill
The Hill is Walbourne's debut solo album1. His recent focus has also included the Chuck Berry tribute project, recorded in eight days of hard work in his new London studio1, and His Lordship, formed with Pretenders drummer Kris Sonne during lockdown as a back-to-basics two-piece, which embarked on a sold-out debut tour in 20221.
Questions
What pedals does James Walbourne use?
His pedalboard carries four BOSS units: the IR-2 Amp & Cabinet, the RE-202 Space Echo, the VO-1 Vocoder and the TU-3 Chromatic Tuner. He also has a history with the brand: when an airline lost all his pedals and guitars before his first Pretenders show, he and the band quickly put together a set of BOSS pedals to play the gig.
What guitar does James Walbourne play?
On the Pretenders' 2008 album Break Up the Concrete he played a Gibson SG Junior throughout the whole record. His gear choices more generally point toward versatility and reliability, with BOSS stompboxes forming the core of his board.
What did Nick Hornby say about James Walbourne's playing?
The author and screenwriter Nick Hornby lauded Walbourne's playing as "unearthly." Chrissie Hynde has also praised him, dubbing him a "hotshot" in a 2025 Guitarist cover feature.
Is there a James Walbourne rig rundown?
There is no full rig rundown, but a 2026 BOSS interview covers his pedalboard in detail: the IR-2 Amp & Cabinet, RE-202 Space Echo, VO-1 Vocoder and TU-3 Chromatic Tuner, along with his guitars, songwriting setup and recent projects including a Chuck Berry tribute album.
Sources (1)
- Reverberations: James Walbourne of Pretenders and His Lordship, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2026-02-06