Jim James

Boss RV-3 was featured in his "gear list" during the 2015 Premier Guitar rig rundown.

Gibson J-185 was featured in his "gear list" during the 2015 Premier Guitar article.

Fender Princeton Reverb was included in James' "gear list" in 2015 Premier Guitar article.

To string his acoustic guitars, Jim James uses D'Addario EJ17 Phosphor Bronze strings, according to an article found on Premier Guitar (dated June 2011, found here). The strings are mentioned in 2021 Premier Guitar interview.

Seen here playing his Gretsch Chet Super Axe. Gretsch Chet Atkins Super Axe was featured in his "gear list" during the 2015 Premier Guitar rig rundown. Live, it is used for "I'm Amazed"

Jim James is listed in the list of Artists on the Bearfoot Effects website as using the Model H, along with other Bearfoot pedals.

Jim James is listed in the list of Artists on the Bearfoot Effects website as using the Honey Beest Overdrive, not to be confused with the Honey Bee, along with other Bearfoot pedals.

According to the Mesa Boogie's official website, James uses the Mesa Boogie Rectifier guitar extension cabinet. The cab (possibly, as it is just marked as a Mesa Boogie cab) makes another appearance in 2021 Premier Guitar interview.

Mentioned in this February 12, 2015 article from the Vintage King website.

Jim James' musical evolution has seen him move from just fronting his band, My Morning Jacket, to a much more production-based role on their latest Grammy-nominated release. Sharing a co-producer credit with Tucker Martine on The Waterfall, the band's seventh studio album, James looked to use a combination of vintage gear and faithful reproductions from Retro Instruments.

For the recording of "Believe (Nobody Knows)," Martine and James utilized two different vocal chains as the song employs doubled up vocals. For the first vocal, the duo used an RCA BK-5, which was plugged into a Retro Instruments OP-6 (a modern recreation of the storied RCA OP-6) and then run through a Retro Instruments 176. The second vocal was recorded by a vintage Neumann U-67, run through a Telefunken V76 mic pre and another Retro Instruments 176.

According to an article in Premier Guitar, Jim James uses D’Addario EXL115 sets to string up his electric guitars. Original article, dated June 2011, can be found here.

James can be seen in this image playing an Ampeg AEB-1 Bass.

Boss TU-2 was featured in his "gear list" during the 2015 Premier Guitar rig rundown.

Seen here on his pedal board

Jim James can be seen playing a Hofner CT Series Contemporary Club Electric Bass at 3:17 of this performance.

Throughout this video, James can be seen playing a Rickenbacker 4001.

James can be seen in this photo playing a Kay 5920 Bass.

Dunlop Tortex 0.88mm were featured in his "gear list" during the 2015 Premier Guitar rig rundown. The unidentified Dunlop 0.88mm guitar picks also appear in 2021 Premier Guitar interview.

James and Broemel often both play Gibson or Gibson-style instruments—at least during live shows—but it's pretty easy to distinguish between the two of them. James' lines have a feeling of longing or searching to them, as if he's reaching beyond himself for that perfect note that's just past his grasp. Although not after he kicks on his gated Devi Ever USA Fuzz Monster, at which point it just gets nasty (his lead on "Love Love Love" is a great example).

According to Premier Guitar 2021 interview, James uses Gibson Hummingbird.

According to Premier Guitar 2021 interview with James, he uses D'Addario 9-42 EXL120 string set. This set is signficantly lighter than James' previous gauges. James describes the switch to lighter gauge as follows:

Opting for a slim neck is just one of the ways James has adapted his rig to his carpal tunnel issues. He's also switched to lighter string gauges. "It's helped a lot," he says. "I broke strings a lot in the old days. Before I had a guitar tech, I had to use .011s so I would make it through the show. I went down to .010s for a long time. This tour, we went down to .009s, and it's been incredible—the ease of playing. I went to extra-light gauge on the acoustic, too. I also try to limber up and do stretches. I hope I don't have to have surgery. And I have braces I wear when I sleep."

According to 2021 Premier Guitar interview, James uses Boss BD-2W Blues Driver.

According to 2021 Premier Guitar interview, James uses Electro-Harmonix POG.

According to 2021 Premier Guitar interview, James uses Universal Audio Golden Reverberator.

According to 2021 Premier Guitar interview, James uses Universal Audio Astra Modulation Machine.

According to 2021 Premier Guitar interview, James uses the Universal Audio Starlight Echo.

According to 2021 Premier Guitar interview, James uses Spaceman Orion.

According to Premier Guitar, James uses Schaffer Replica by SoloDallas.

Jim played this guitar live in March 2023

Jim James uses the Gibson Custom Shop Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Reissue, aged by Murphy Labs. According to John Bohlinger in the "My Morning Jacket Rig Rundown" on Premier Guitar, the guitar originally featured three humbuckers, but James removed the middle pickup due to interference with his picking. Additionally, the original bridge and Maestro Vibrola system were replaced with a simple stopbar tailpiece.

According to the "My Morning Jacket Rig Rundown" by John Bohlinger on Premier Guitar, Jim James uses a 1967 Gretsch G6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Electric Guitar, which was noted to be present backstage.