chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
This one is like mine but maybe 2 years older I think.
Firefly Guitars
- Thread starter Leedspool
- Start date
jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
there is a lot of Firefly discussion on A Guitar Forum, and they report a lot of Facebook drama where any negative comments are flagged or removed.
they are dirt cheap guitars with some QC problems, you might get a pretty good one or one that is pretty messed up - a variety of build issues have been reported.
If you go through Amazon (Not a Jeff Bezos fan but I buy there sometimes) you can just return a FUBAR.
If you get a decent one they are good mod platforms to go as little or as far as you want.
I would have taken a chance on the semi hollow 335 style if I didnt have my Ibanez.
I almost bought this yesterday -really had to resist that Buy it NOW button.
Only because I am sourcing iron, tubes, parts etc for a 1W JCM800 build.
they are dirt cheap guitars with some QC problems, you might get a pretty good one or one that is pretty messed up - a variety of build issues have been reported.
If you go through Amazon (Not a Jeff Bezos fan but I buy there sometimes) you can just return a FUBAR.
If you get a decent one they are good mod platforms to go as little or as far as you want.
I would have taken a chance on the semi hollow 335 style if I didnt have my Ibanez.
I almost bought this yesterday -really had to resist that Buy it NOW button.
Only because I am sourcing iron, tubes, parts etc for a 1W JCM800 build.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
What I see a lot of when discussions or videos of these budget instruments is the rationalizing: comparing to other budget brands that happen to be more expensive but still budget pieces, and people patting themselves on the back for spending less on their budget guitar than someone else did on theirs. A sort of race to the bottom if you will. It's almost like Whataboutism applied to consumer goods, like "yeah the this or that isn't perfect but neither is it on the whositswhat that costs $100 more" so to me it just reinforces what I said.
Simply speaking from my own experience in life spending money I made myself, and things compared being equal (i.e. two new pieces or two used pieces) you really do get what you pay for in life and you really do see where your money went in the long run, whether guitars, watches, shoes, leather goods, sunglasses, tools (especially tools), really...just name it. The one thing I have really learned as I have gotten older is that I would much rather have a very few truly excellent pieces (no matter what we are talking about) than a very many mediocre ones. Turning back to guitars, I've tried budge, midrange, Custom Shop, vintage, everything at every price point at one time or another and I am very comfortable making that statement.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Hey G,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, answer me this :
Why is it that someone from the time of about 10-12 years old sets out to earn money doing jobs, so he could buy things and/ or save up for his future yet has to suffer at the hands of thieves?( stolen bicycle) Then as he gets a few more years to work by age 15 and saves to buy something he dreamed of since around 7-8 yrs old, another damn thief feels entitled to something he did not earn? ( stolen dirtbike) Oh yeah and a few weeks later the victim also discovers more thievery occurs when his bank statement is somehow $1000 lighter without his doing.
If only the story would end there, As the years pass, things like hand tools for his carpentry and remodeling work grow legs, and during the course of 20+ peaceful years in his home, he discovered one night that certain very serious and valuable things are missing because his home gets broken into twice in a 3 year span? Sadly the criminals turn out to be the son and grandson of his lady neighbor 2-3 doors down. The jerks eventually got caught and jailed and of course from our wonderful legal system, the father gets released after 3 years of a 6.5 year sentence and then the subsequent crook, his then 15 yr old juvenile son ( got a slap on the wrist) for the time he decides to try to walk in dad's footsteps.
Oh and the fun doesn't stop there as once the father is released after only 3 years, more of my stuff is stolen from my yard near my shed. Despite the police sheriff questioning the father about this latest stuff of mine that disappeared, the cop tells me he feels he was being truthful in telling him he was not involved. Once again I lose some valuable items I worked for and use in my work. This stuff was an aluminum brake, an aluminum scaffold type walk board, 3 aluminum extension ladders and of course the guy's parole officer acts like she can't tell me anything. I boldly asked her how he is paying me the $600 restitution from the first burgalry as I say, " is he working? How is he paying me, with money he makes from stealing more of my stuff?" Homeowner's insurance says they barely will cover 1/4 of the replacement cost due to it being business equipment and the deductible and depreciation. That haul likely netted someone a few hundred bucks in scrap and screwed me out of $4k+ in tools.
WHY do these jerk criminals feel entitled to walk off with another man's stuff. It sucks to have busted azz, sweated, and incurred injuries and wrecked backs to get things by EARNING them and then some azz hola rips you off and puts the shid up their nose or whatever?
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gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Wish I had an answer, brother. We've been burglarized several times, never with a satisfactory outcome. There always have been and always will be criminals, of all kinds (some steal from your shed, some sell "replica" guitars but they are all breaking the law) that will be willing to take things that don't belong to them, to harm people, and it seems that all we can really do is just keep moving forward against it because the police can only do so much and the potential reward to these people outweighs the deterrent. My own philosophy is pretty much to focus on the things I can control, take what precautions I am capable of and try not to let the losses or stupidity of it all make me bitter.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
The worst part about multiple burglaries is when you feel uneasy returning home for fear of what you will find or find missing when you arrive. On a side note. I read recently elsewhere where a guy was robbed of some stuff but he put some of those tracking things like for lost keys or wallets in his guitars. The cops were able to retrieve his stolen guitar and stuff with the device.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
I had a very expensive bicycle stolen out of the garage...sure wish I had put one of those on it.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
I hear ya, g. A friend had dirt bikes and 4 wheelers stolen from his garage and sheds one night. Crooks unscrewed his driveway lights and managed to gain entry to multiple buildings. His dog was barking in the house, and my friend dismissed the dog's warning. He wished he hadn't. I think 1 of 4 cycles were retrieved. Oh and yup on thieves always being around. A few friends have had road trips and had complete trucks, trailers and contents of the rigs stolen and leaving them stranded out of state.
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
Had a car stolen out of my driveway once-------
Wifes purse was stolen -- they had the address (drivers license ) and the Keys -- to her car and the house------
Im assuming the 3 Chows and a Great Dane ketp them outta the house---- but they got the car..........cowards----
Wifes purse was stolen -- they had the address (drivers license ) and the Keys -- to her car and the house------
Im assuming the 3 Chows and a Great Dane ketp them outta the house---- but they got the car..........cowards----
Tori
Active Member
I have 5 now. My first was their thinline Tele the ffth and it was a horror show. Arrived with dangerously sharp fret ends and even though it had a passed QC tag, it had NO KNOBS OR SWITCH CAP!!! I could not return it to Amazon as they were out of them but I negotiated cash back from them and Firefly. Next, I got the 338, their version of a 335 in blueberry burst, and it was only ok if it was an expensive one but pretty good for the money but I just did not love it and I will sell it. Next was the fflp and wow, it blew away the competition! Delivered in flawless condition in a gorgeous burst finish and played and sounded wonderful. Then I got the ffdcd, like an lp jr with 2 p90's and 4 knobs, etc in metallic gold including the neck and it was another winner. Next one was another try at getting a good ffth, their thinline Tele. I got the matte black and I got another winner. Another great neck with no sprout. Last was a second try at a 338 since I did well with the second try of an ffth. I got the spalted natural and it was flawless and I did feel this one way more than the blue one. I just wish the spalting was more pronounced. It is so subtle that it is almost like a plain woodgrain. I don't have any interest in the new one they just released the ffhb which is like a jazz guitar and I don't have any interest in the strat that they are supposed to be releasing soon.
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BFT Gibson
Ambassador of Originality
Anybody got any stories. Guy has Firefly 335 & LPJ trade offer potential
jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
Worth looking over.
Since I posted in this thread back in 2019, I got 3 Firefly guitars: Explorer style, Flying V style, and a Jazzmaster style.
All 3 had some issues, but are decent budget guitars in overall quality. I would have grabbed the 335, but am happy enough with the modded Ibanez AS73 I already have. Since QC varies, it still could be "like a box of chocolates".
I know you asked about the 335, but:
All 3 neck profiles are on the chunkier side vs. slim, which I much prefer.
The JM had a problem with the bridge inserts lifting, ( I glued them in and they have been fine), and the bridge had a frozen saddle intonation screw. they gave me a credit towards replacing the bridge. The pickups were pretty bland. The plastic nut was pretty crappy.
The EX and V have some kind of "bone" nut that seems good enough to keep. The slots are pretty good now after some file work - like EVERY guitar I have ever bought, including Gibson.
The EX has a lot of slop in the threads for the bridge posts / inserts. Stays put under string tension.
The V has a bit shallow neck angle so the bridge is decked on the treble side but the action height is good.
The pickups are not great but not bad ( I believe they are the same in both guitars), but that is subjective.
I just swapped the EX bridge pickup for a JB I picked up used. They don't sound all that much different.
I did the T-Top conversion to Gibson 490R (magnet swap to a short A5). It is in the bridge position in the V and I like it. I had the 490R on hand and wanted to try it.
I am happy enough with the 3 of them and they get played regularly.
Since I posted in this thread back in 2019, I got 3 Firefly guitars: Explorer style, Flying V style, and a Jazzmaster style.
All 3 had some issues, but are decent budget guitars in overall quality. I would have grabbed the 335, but am happy enough with the modded Ibanez AS73 I already have. Since QC varies, it still could be "like a box of chocolates".
I know you asked about the 335, but:
All 3 neck profiles are on the chunkier side vs. slim, which I much prefer.
The JM had a problem with the bridge inserts lifting, ( I glued them in and they have been fine), and the bridge had a frozen saddle intonation screw. they gave me a credit towards replacing the bridge. The pickups were pretty bland. The plastic nut was pretty crappy.
The EX and V have some kind of "bone" nut that seems good enough to keep. The slots are pretty good now after some file work - like EVERY guitar I have ever bought, including Gibson.
The EX has a lot of slop in the threads for the bridge posts / inserts. Stays put under string tension.
The V has a bit shallow neck angle so the bridge is decked on the treble side but the action height is good.
The pickups are not great but not bad ( I believe they are the same in both guitars), but that is subjective.
I just swapped the EX bridge pickup for a JB I picked up used. They don't sound all that much different.
I did the T-Top conversion to Gibson 490R (magnet swap to a short A5). It is in the bridge position in the V and I like it. I had the 490R on hand and wanted to try it.
I am happy enough with the 3 of them and they get played regularly.
BFT Gibson
Ambassador of Originality
Thank you for the detailed reply. Seller never replied after initial contact, if he only knew if i go i buy lol.
Like you mention , seem like great platforms to mod on. Kinda interested in modding cheap guitars for fun. Looking at amps now, figured if i can tear a car apart 3 times in 1 month could learn an amp!!
Goal- tube rect & SS bassman/45 sorta like that Black Flag clone had. But with maybe jcm 800 side & fender side some how.