1994 National Delphi Resonator Guitar

Overview: Back in the '90s, the reinvigorated National company (National Reso-Phonic, or NRP) was still just a fairly small operation. These days, you can find their products all over the place. This Delphi model is more or less similar to an early-'30s Triolian with its steel body and 12-fret neck joint. The proportions of the neck, the scale length, and the overall design echo them.

Tone: It's loud, punchy, and carrying, with a good front "snap" to each note and some lingering, reverb-like sustain as you expect on a metal-bodied resonator guitar.

Feel: It has a bigger neck profile with a bit of a soft V to its rear and an almost-flat fretboard radius. Honestly, it handles pretty-much like a vintage National would, save that it has decent binding on the fretboard edges.

Interesting features: The finish is unusual -- a light grey color with a whiter center "sunburst" sort-of effect. It's eye-catching, really, because so few resonator guitars are colored similarly.

Repairs included: I gave this one a neck reset and, at the same time, taught Jose how to do so -- it can be tricky! I then added my usual extra "dowel shim" where the dowel meets the body at the neck joint -- which adds some rigidity there so the neck doesn't move around in service. After that, Jose gave it a level/dress of the frets, worked on the saddle and made sure it's compensated correctly, and set it all up for fingerpicking-friendly, easy-peasy action. It's buttoned-up and humming, now.

• Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz
• Scale length: 25"
• Nut width: 1 13/16"
• Neck shape: medium-full soft V
• Board radius: 20"
• Body width: 14"
• Body depth: 3"
• Body: steel
• Cone type: single cone biscuit
• Bridge: maple
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium

Condition notes: It's pretty absurdly clean throughout but may show the tiniest bit of usewear here and there. As far as I can tell, it's completely original as well.

It comes with: It has its original hard case.

Consignor tag: SRB