Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Davey Johnstone and Elton John are back-to-back as they perform live, with Johnstone playing his Captain Fantastic Les Paul Custom
Artists Davey Johnstone on the making of Elton John’s 1975 masterpiece, Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Jacob Collier
Artists Using his signature ‘DAEAD’ tuning, Jacob Collier recorded a 5-string acoustic guitar album in just four days
Jason Isbell with his two new signature acoustics from Martin, the 0-17, a high-end replica of his 1940 model, and the 0-10E Retro, a more affordable version.
Artists Jason Isbell shares unorthodox tone tip for new acoustics as he reveals not one but two signature Martins – and a set of strings
Steve Morse plays live with Deep Purple and takes a solo on on his signature Ernie Ball Music Man, with the band's logo visible in the background
Artists Steve Morse on the time he took power tools to his guitar so he could play a Deep Purple show with a broken wrist
Paul and Linda McCartney, plus dog, on their farm, black and white photo
Singers & Songwriters “I was just doing this because it was fun”: Paul McCartney on how he kickstarted his solo career in a remote Scottish farmhouse
Steve Morse plays his signature Ernie Ball Music Man electric guitar live with Dixie Dregs
Artists Steve Morse on playing through the pain barrier and how arthritis is forcing him to change the way he plays guitar
Warren Haynes takes a solo live onstage with his Gibson Les Paul Standard. He wears a black shirt.
Artists Warren Haynes on the Allman Brothers, Woodstock ’94, and finishing what Gregg Allman started with Derek Trucks’ help
Bruce Springsteen, circa 1982
Singers & Songwriters “It was kinda like punk rockabilly”: Springsteen to release electric versions of Nebraska tracks
Mikael Åkerfeldt with his Martin OM Signature model, playing a few notes with trees in the background.
Artists Mikael Åkerfeldt has played Cobain’s D-18 and holy grail acoustics from the Martin museum but says his new OM beats the lot
Greg Mackintosh of Paradise Lost plays his custom 7-string V live onstage with red and white stagelights behind him.
Artists Greg Mackintosh on the secrets behind the Paradise Lost sound and why he is still trying to learn Trouble’s tone tricks
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Singers & Songwriters Jeremy Allen White on the challenge of playing Bruce Springsteen, and how he approached it
Sir Paul McCartney rocks the London O2 crowd in 2024 and gives them a sly glance as he plays his iconic Hofner 500/1 bass.
Artists Paul McCartney’s stolen bass was one of music’s biggest mysteries – and now they are making a film about it
Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons tear it up as ZZ Top play the Aragon Ballroom at Chicago in 1980, with Gibbons playing his legendary Les Paul Standard, Pearly Gates
Artists “"There is something magic in that instrument”: Billy Gibbons on why Pearly Gates is one of the greatest Les Pauls ever
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Hummingbird photographed in all its glory, in close-up and against a wheat-coloured rug.
Acoustic Guitars “One of the handsomest guitars around, it plays great, and punches well above its weight in the tone stakes”: Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Hummingbird Deluxe EC review
More
  • Radiohead's secret code
  • Blackbird
  • Spooky samples - free
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Captain Fantastic
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Accessories & Components
  3. Guitar Strings

Preview: A Story Of Six Strings by Stephen Arnold

News
By The MusicRadar Team published 27 March 2012

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A Story Of Six Strings by Stephen Arnold

A Story Of Six Strings by Stephen Arnold

A leader in the art of sonic branding, Stephen Arnold and his Dallas-based company Stephen Arnold Music have been making music for the world's leading news organizations, television networks and advertising agencies for decades, but with the publication of his first book, A Story Of Six Strings, the world's 'most heard, least known' composer shares his extraordinary collection of rare guitars and the personal stories they tell.

Driven by the powerful photography of Chris Fritchie, A Story Of Six Strings has garnered praise from the likes of Dan Rather and rocker Steve Miller.

Visit the official A Story Of Six Strings website for more, but first click onwards to see some wonderful images from the book.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Born On Broadway

Born On Broadway

CF Martin’s original luthier was a man named Louis Schmidt, and his signature – dated 18 August 1854 – can still be seen inside this guitar.

The photo was taken at the company’s entrance at 388 Broadway in New York City.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Coyote Lullaby

Coyote Lullaby

More than just a killer Dobro, this old school Gold Tone Resophonic guitar with a 12-fret neck rocks.

It has stereo outs and when you run it through two amps with some distortion, paint peels off the wall.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Django

Django

Arnold originally got this as a ‘wall hanger’ because he loved the distinctive f-holes, but with a little work he got it to play as beautifully as it looked.

This one has a perfect neck angle and that vintage Django Reinhardt sound.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Got to Get You Into My Life

Got to Get You Into My Life

Paul’s bass was made by the German guitar maker Hofner in 1963.

Stephen’s was made in 1964. This one is right-handed, so he can actually play it.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Ground Zero: Ten Years Later

Ground Zero: Ten Years Later

One project Arnold is very proud of is the music he composed for the CNN special Ten Years Later.

This vintage Martin set the perfect tone. It is a stunning instrument with Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides and the original custom pickguard. This picture was taken just outside the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York with one of New York’s Finest and Bravest.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Katrina

Katrina

In late July 2005, Arnold bought this guitar from a small music store in New Orleans. Less than a month later it was levelled when Hurricane Katrina hit the city. He’s pretty sure he saved the guitar’s life.

Ironically he would use it to record the harmonics heard on The Weather Channel during storm warnings.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Everything You Need for $67.95

Everything You Need for $67.95

A guitar and a guitar amp built right into the case – that was the Sears Silvertone Electric, sold right out of the Sears catalog.

The amp actually has three tubes and a nice, warm sound. It still works perfectly to this day.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Garage Bands Rule

Garage Bands Rule

The perfect indie band guitar, this 1963 Kay Value Leader has a brilliant range of tones ideal for that British pop sound.

The triple low output pickups help overdrive an amp to get that perfect grubby sound.

Visit astoryofsixstrings.com for more.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

Read more
Jacob Collier
Using his signature ‘DAEAD’ tuning, Jacob Collier recorded a 5-string acoustic guitar album in just four days
 
 
Jason Isbell with his two new signature acoustics from Martin, the 0-17, a high-end replica of his 1940 model, and the 0-10E Retro, a more affordable version.
Jason Isbell shares unorthodox tone tip for new acoustics as he reveals not one but two signature Martins – and a set of strings
 
 
Steve Morse plays live with Deep Purple and takes a solo on on his signature Ernie Ball Music Man, with the band's logo visible in the background
Steve Morse on the time he took power tools to his guitar so he could play a Deep Purple show with a broken wrist
 
 
Davey Johnstone and Elton John are back-to-back as they perform live, with Johnstone playing his Captain Fantastic Les Paul Custom
Davey Johnstone on the making of Elton John’s 1975 masterpiece, Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
 
 
Paul and Linda McCartney, plus dog, on their farm, black and white photo
“I was just doing this because it was fun”: Paul McCartney on how he kickstarted his solo career in a remote Scottish farmhouse
 
 
Steve Morse plays his signature Ernie Ball Music Man electric guitar live with Dixie Dregs
Steve Morse on playing through the pain barrier and how arthritis is forcing him to change the way he plays guitar
 
 
Latest in Guitar Strings
A still of John Mayer in the studio with a Martin 000 acoustic guitar
John Mayer and Ernie Ball unveil a set of acoustic guitar strings made from an all-new alloy
 
 
Tim Henson Ernie Ball strings
"The first thing I notice is a bit of surprise": A guitarist tries 9.5 gauge guitar strings for the first time with the new Ernie Ball Tim Henson signature set
 
 
D'Addario strings
String theory: Jim D’Addario reveals the real reason why guitar strings are colour coded
 
 
Dave Mustaine strings and strap
Strings sell… but who’s buying?: Dave Mustaine unleashes signature guitar strings
 
 
Elixir® Strings
Stay inspired for longer with your guitar and Elixir® Strings
 
 
Elixir® Strings
Learn Keith Richards-style guitar riffs with Mandy Rowden and Elixir® Strings
 
 
Latest in News
Lily Allen
"OK, let’s have some backstory”: The group songwriting sessions that yielded Lily Allen’s West End Girl
 
 
Neal Schon
“I love John McLaughlin’s stuff. I admire real musicians”: Journey guitarist Neal Schon on the players who inspire him
 
 
Charli XCX and John Cale
"It made me cry”: Charli XCX on how she ended up collaborating with the Velvet Underground’s John Cale
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: The early Black Friday sales continue at Guitar Center, Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, Reverb and more
 
 
sessiondock
Struggling to keep track of your DAW projects? This free app can help
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Drake performs live on stage during day two of Wireless Festival 2025 at Finsbury Park on July 12, 2025 in London, England. Drake is headlining an unprecedented all three nights of Wireless Festival. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images for ABA)
Drake’s live sound engineer on why he has to be at the top of his game from first song to last
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...