The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi all. I recently came across a used lap steel with a strange brand. It appears to be "Arin." (No, it's not Aria.) It's a canary yellow Stringmaster copy with 6 strings and telescoping legs. White pickup covers and an ashtray over the bridge.

Any ideas ?

I've never heard of that brand before. Got pictures?

I had an Aria steel guitar once and it was definitely a Japanese Fender copycat.

I have a "memory trace" - Arin steel guitars were still made by Aria guitars.

Remember it is only a "trace"

Aloha,
Don

Hi all,
I will try to post pix of this lap steel asap.
As I mentioned it is a canary yellow 6-string with telescoping legs, white p.u. covers and an ashtray over the bridge.
From a distance it looks identical to the Fender Stringmaster pictured on p.249 of Lap Steel Guitar by Andy Volk. It has the same shape, tuners, and inlays but is only 6 strings, has white p.u. covers instead of black and the color is less attractive !
The decal seems to read, "Arin" and I'm trying to find out where it came from and what it's worth.
Thanks,
Jonathan

Does it look like this? I have one just like you described. Someone took off the logo before I got it but you can still make out where it was and it clearly says "Aria". Mine is missing the pickup covers and chrome bridge cover. I have no idea how old it is (anyone want to guess?) but it is a japanese copy of a Stringmaster. Not a bad steel but not a real Stringmaster by a long shot. Want to sell me your ashtray bridge cover?

Dave,

My guitar looked exactly the same and was the same color with the same case and same color. It was a Diamond Aria, which was a Fender copycat, made in Japan.

I bought my Aria in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1965 and it was second-hand. I bought it for $75. I do not know when it was produced.

Aloha,
Don

Wow. I didn't know it was that old. Hard to believe it was second hand already in 1965.

Thanks,
David