The James V. Roy Photo Galleries

by Tom Watson

Forty-six-year-old James (Jim) V. Roy of New England is reluctant to call himself a photographer, but his image archive documenting the past few years of various Fender events says otherwise. Jim's Internet photo site contains over 5,000 images, many of which depict Fender people and instruments.

Link to the James V. Roy Galleries.

His images are presented in a series of "galleries", most notable of which are "The NAMM Shows" and "Inside Fender Musical Instruments Corp." But like most visitors to his site, you'll also find yourself spending quality time with "Memphis" and "Assorted Performers and Gigs".

Jim attended his first NAMM show in the summer of 2001, thanks to his connection with the Fender Discussion Page. The photos he took at the event became so popular that he has been asked back to each subsequent NAMM.

In addition to documenting Fender's NAMM booths, he has also visited both the Fender plant in Corona, California, and the corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona. You can see the results of those trips in his "Inside Fender Musical Instruments Corp." gallery.

It's been a labor of love. Jim has been a Stratocaster enthusiast for many years and is the proud owner of a 1954 Stratocaster with serial number 0022, which he restored himself.

The Strat Collector News Desk has already featured one of Jim's photographs (October 11, 2003) and is pleased to announce that Jim has become part of the News Desk Staff. We look forward to presenting his images from next January's 2004 Winter NAMM show. Until then, a tour through his site is highly recommended -- it's a great way to connect faces with the names of Fender folk we read about every day.

Thanks, Jim.