The Style O resonator guitar was one of the strongest icons of Hawaiian music, carrying etched images of palm trees, canoes, clouds and stars.

Introduced in 1930, the first Style O had a nickel-plated steel body, which was soon changed to brass and throughout the 1930's the model evolved as many design changes were implemented, including frets increased from 12 to 14, the sieve hole cover plate grew four ribs in 1932 and then changed to a diamonds and arrows pattern around 1935. The f-holes were originally straight-cut, then from 1933 the edges were rolled and in 1936 the fingerboard changed from dyed black maple to solid ebony, then in 1937 the parallelogram fretboard inlays replaced pearl dots and the headstock received a black celluloid veneer. Imagery detail also changed with palm trees moving from one side to the other, stars and clouds fading, lagoon ripples changing and the whole canoe image reversing direction.

The majority were round-necks, as Hawaiian players switched to electrics as they became available but this model’s greatest exposure came fifty years later when Dire Straits released Brothers in Arms in 1985 and suddenly the 14-fret version of the Style O with diamond-and-arrows cover plate became the hottest resonator in town, now famous as the 'Dire Straits model'.