1910 Gibson Style O

In the early days, it’s no secret that Gibson prioritized mandolins. The mandolin focus was reflected in the company’s original name: Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd. They strung their guitars with steel strings instead of gut, which suggests they may have viewed the guitar as a derivative of the mandolin family. In 1908, the suggestion of Gibson’s “mandolin approach” to guitar building became clear with the introduction of the Style O model and its unique scroll body. But the Style O was more than just a radical shape; it was a forward-thinking design that helped usher in the modern guitar. Although the influence for the carved scroll and pointed cutaway is obvious, the Style O is not simply a larger-scale version of a Gibson F-style mandolin. In the early 1900s, most guitars had small bodies and only short 12-fret necks, whereas the Style O is 16" across and has 15 frets clear of the body. Its pointed cutaway might not have the circular or cupped shape of the cutaways we see, b