During the Pretenders first American tour, Honeyman Scott was introduced to Jol Dantzig. The Pretenders played their first gig at the Park West club in Chicagos's Lincoln Park area. Already aware of the Hamer reputaton, James was keen to aquire a Hamer "Sunburst" model, and did so while the band was in Chicago.

Over the next several years James purchased a number of Hamer guitars including a Standard in 59 burst, several Sunburst models, one of which was finished in Cherry and featured in several Hamer ads seen in guitar magazines.

Above: James performing the tuner "dive bomb" live.

During this period Hamer also became the instrument of choice for the Pretenders bassist
Pete Farndon who was also featured in Hamer advertising. In addition, Chrissie Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers purchased Hamer guitars while on tour in Germany.

James remained in constant contact with Jol, and was seemingly always having something new made for him. Jol Dantzig and James became good friends, and at one point started a side project band called "The Boss Weird" which was to eventually include guitarist Elliot Easton of the Cars. Dantzig spoke to James via telephone the day before his death in June1982. James was upset over the decision to kick bassist Farndon out of the band, and James suggested that Jol come to England to play bass on some Pretenders demos. Sadly, this was the last time they spoke.

Above: James with the "Honeyman" Prototype.

Possibly the most famous of the Honeyman-Scott Hamers is the white Prototype model known as the "Honeyman" guitar due to the script pearl inlay in the fingerboard. This guitar was delivered to James and it quickly went on to be a favorite of his for live work along with his Ferrari red one.

Below: The "Red One" in action