National Vintage Steel Delphi with Brass Sides?
 

I just took a magnet to my National VS Delphi after reading somewhere that some Delphis have brass sides and, much to my surprise, the sides are not magnetic. Though some steel can be non-magnetic, my guess is that the sides are indeed brass. The top and back are very magnetic. Does anyone know anything about steel Delphis not being all steel?

Edit: Just read somewhere that someone has a Vintage Steel Tricone that has brass sides. I am checking one of these out to possibly buy early next week. I am curious to see if it too has brass sides.

Yeah those pop up. I don't know if it was on purpose, or just like the old Fender days where they used what they had to get guitars out the door. I hope it's the latter! I like that story better!

I know that National did runs of all brass delphis. I think I remember it was for Elderly.

I hope if others have VS Delphis or Tricones they will chime in. Maybe this is common. The specs claim that the VS Delphis are all steel. Can't find the specs for the VS Tricones.

Here's one of those all brass delphis.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-Nationa...item2342d13357

Brass Delphi
 

I just bought my first National ( 2000 Brass Delphi )
Which is actually printed on the inside label.
It’s the beautiful blue powder coat.
I’m surprised by the complexity of tone, it has great bass response also.
It’s very loud, and has that classic, old timely big
Banjoesque tone that I wanted.
It was half of what a new Delphi runs, very happy with it, I’m sure I’ll get a
Tricone as well at some point.
The neck is wide, and has that old V shape I love, but it would be too wide for many people, so that is certainly something to ask about.
As I get more time on it, I find it surprisingly ( to me ) versatile.
I play a bit of blues, but more of a open tuning fingerstyle guy, and this just
Compells me in many more directions than Blues.

I just got the same guitar but a 1998 and from what I can tell it is Brass, I think it's the same color, I posted pics here:
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=624651

Your description is exactly what I experienced!

Also, playing slide on this... it surpasses any other instrument I've played slide on, very accurate and you can really get every pitch out of this thing when sliding in between frets.