$159 Firefly Guitar - How Can They Make A Guitar For That Price?

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Keith takes a deep dive into the world of guitar manufacturing trying to figure out how a company can make a guitar like the Firefly FF-338 for just $159. At the time of recording this guitar was available on Amazon for that price. He does a full take apart of the FF-338, "Ebonizes" the fretboard, wax pots the pick ups and compares the Firefly's construction to two other guitars, An Epiphone ES-339 and a 1970 Aria 5102T.
Is it possible to make a guitar worth buying for $159? Let's find out.
TIME STAMPS:
Intro - 0:00
Stock Demo - 2:59
Microphonic Pickups - 4:13
Overview - 5:52
"Ebonizing" the Fretboard - 8:50
Wax Potting Pickups - 9:19
Construction Methods of 3 Different Guitars - 12:28
"How Do They Do It" Discussion - 14:00
LINKS:
Ebonizing A Pale Fretboard -
• Ebonizing A Pale Fretb...
Taming The Beast - Wax Potting Pickups-
• Firefly FFDCS Guitar -...
Keith Leedham is an independent recording artists/studio owner/tinkerer.
He owns "The Tape Farm" a recording studio that specializes in transferring "pro-sumer" analog tape formats from manufactures like Tascam and Fostex.
Website: www.thetapefarm.com
Facebook: / thetapefarm
As an independent recording artists Keith has released singles, EPs and full length albums. With styles ranging from Progressive Rock to Country to Singer/Songwriter to Hard Rock to what ever the song dictates.
Website: www.keithleedham.com
He also tinkers with various audio equipment such as tape machines, guitars and guitar amps. When he comes across something interesting he posts the progress/results on RU-vid.
Whatdafunk by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: audionautix.com/

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24 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 89

@senseiruss 2 года назад

Outstanding video, Keith. I learned a lot and, despite your disclaimer, none of this was boring! Thanks for sharing this informative and well-paced and edited look at inexpensive guitars, their production and how to improve the flaws of this kind of guitar!

@dennismullin3052 Год назад

What an absolutely GREAT video you made! Thank you! Well done, Brother!🥁🎸👍

@Ksantipacat 2 года назад

Thanks as always for your great content!

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

Thanks Patrick!

@Koss42 2 года назад

Really enjoyed how in-depth you have been as well as all the fun you have along the way! Been enjoying my Firefly Aerosonic on the road this month visiting family. Was a bit of trouble to find a case large enough, but once I did she has been stable going from humidity to dry climates with ease. I'm easy to please, just did a slight adjustment to lower the action, and called it good. Honestly surprised by the pickups!

@Icantdrive55 2 года назад

I agree with e everything you said. I bought a ff338 a couple of years ago and learned to work on guitars. I watched your video of the blueberry burst one you had and did the same mods to it, pickups, bridge, tuners. It plays great now. Looks like they haven’t changed a thing in 2 years. Still the same shortcomings but a great platform to mod and learn.

@ainahmaerivera 2 года назад

I love the looks and the matte color it complemens well.

@jazzdrumguy5044 Год назад

I just bought a Firefly gold top ES338 with upgraded CTS pull/push pots, new humbuckers, locking tuners and a new jack/switch. It looks amazing and sounds even better! Guy spent $300 in parts and I scored it for $235.......just a steal!

@TheTapeFarm Год назад

Nice!

@davidelliott4089 2 года назад

Awesome Man! You know your stuff! I've been wanting to buy one. Just can't pull the trigger. Now with this info I think it's worth it. I'm not into these 335's but would like to get a Tele. You have enlightened my mind. Thank You!

@Grandpa.Dan8881 2 года назад

Like your new format. FYI you can wax pot those noisy bridges too. Just be sure to adjust the intonation first. I have done this and it works well…

@fretworkband3204 2 года назад

Good review Keith. Some people on the Firefly forums complain about the issues that you pointed out and expect perfection or recompense for an inexpensive guitar. But you get what you pay for in anything and it’s especially true here. And I don’t mean that in a disparaging or snobbish way. I have an older 338, a FFPTH, an FFTH, and the electric acoustic. I knew what I was getting when I ordered them and knew that some would need work and more money. No big deal. I, and others, appreciate your objective look at a good entry guitar that takes mods well.

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

There you go brother. You pretty much nailed it. As I’ve said before, you can expect perfect, but that would be an unreasonable expectation, prepare to be disappointed. Thanks for the kind comment.

@mattlewis1063 2 года назад

I agree that you get what you pay for. I knew that going in and that I was planning to do modifications. My problem was that I had MAJOR neck problems. It was unplayable .... even after I had adjusted the truss rod, leveled the frets, etc. I ended up having to take it to a builder who had to do another $125 of work to get it to "ok". I guess I received a lemon.

@Tonedefy Год назад

Just got my first FF, and I'm pretty blown away by the quality for the price!

@TheTapeFarm Год назад

I’ve never had a problem with the build quality (within reason). The only issues I’ve ever had has been with hardware/electronics which are easily upgraded.

@Tonedefy Год назад

@@TheTapeFarm Still in the honeymoon phase, pretty happy with the tones Im getting (P90 Les Paul), and mine is surprisingly not microphonic. But I may swap out pickups down the road. Also, since I like playing with vol knobs, might replace pots to get a better taper! Anyhow great vid, just subscribed!

@LightWingStudios 2 года назад

GREAT TONE! :)

@hotcakesman 2 года назад

Super Awesome video!

@VictorKMayfield Год назад

I own a FFLG and I love it.. I will replace the pickups ( I do on most my guitars anyway) and it will need a fine tooth comb setup. But it's GREAT for the money

@alonaparas 2 года назад

I love it's color and the design. I always wanted to try hollow guitars. Very informative videos!

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

I just did a follow up video on that guitar with some mods that I did.

@shanewalton8888 2 года назад

Nice demo track

@nel1705 2 года назад

amazing vid

@LightWingStudios 2 года назад

To hell with the guitar! GREAT track! Love the TP-6 Tailpiece on the Green LP hanging on the wall. I own 6 Fireflys but not a 338...yet. Bought a Pegasus based on your Review. Great guitar. I like to think of FFs as "Modding Husks". :)

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

Thanks man.

@smokymcpot5917 2 года назад

I bought a glarry guitar last year for 100$ and am surprised it sounds as good as it does. But I've also never played a higher prices guitar so I don't have an idea of how good they can sound. I got it bc I wanted to know if I was going to suck or not before spending alot on a guitar. But if your a beginner a cheap guitar is perfect for learning. Great vid.

@DodgeDartSongs 2 года назад

Good breakdown on how they do it so cheaply.

@joeking433 Год назад

Simple, they don't pay their CEO millions of dollars, they don't spend a ton on advertising, and they don't pay the high labor costs in the US. The hardware and electronics are a little more inferior but get the job done. The wood and finish are as good as a Fender or Gibson guitar.

@Gene_Cali 2 года назад

My old Sears Silvertone was a guitar shaped object, hard to play and meh sound. I bought a $80. Harmonia tele to learn how to work on my guitars, and now it's one of my favorites along with a Eart Tele Classic. I just built my first kit guitar and this is another way to have a decent musical instrument at affordable price. Thanks for this video, very informative.

@somearchitectTX 2 года назад

Would love to see more on your 5102T! I have a Lyle hollow body from the same era (Matsumoko make them side-by-side and put different labels on them). Sadly, my Lyle's neck block has collapsed after 50 years and I am trying to figure out how to restore it/shore it up. Before it broke, it was a fantastic guitar.

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

I’ve thought about doing that. That same guitar was labeled by many different companies. Epiphone, Univox, Aria, Cameo, Lyle, and others. Same exact guitar. In the guitar world they are all known as “Coily” guitars. Maybe I should a “History of the Coily” that would be fun. Thanks!

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

Usually fixing the neck pocket can be done with some shims… depending on the extent of things.

@somearchitectTX 2 года назад

@@TheTapeFarm This one has a pretty dainty plywood neck block that has come apart. With no center block (as in a semi-hollow 335), the whole guitar now just folds upward a bit when you put string tension on it, so it gets unplayable in a hurry.

@vanshankguitars 2 года назад

Well worth the money.

@AndyDion 2 года назад

Very cool video! Nice work on wax potting, really worked! Like how fretboard came out too. Did the ink come off on your fingers later?

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

Nope. Just take multiple coats and lots of rubbing/wiping down between coats.

@AndyDion 2 года назад

@@TheTapeFarm cool thanks!

@RBEmerson 2 года назад

Wow! A heckuva lot more than just one more "cheap guitar review". Good on ya for the discussion of all the details, and background thinking in coming up with an assessment of this guitar.

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

Thanks Richard. I figured everyone else has done a straight up review on these. I thought it was time talk about the why and how behind them. Thanks for watching.

@rodsmolter5046 2 года назад

Those pups sound pretty good after being potted.

@RBEmerson 2 года назад

AFAIK the guitar's no longer listed on Amazon directly or via the Amazon Firefly store/presence. The train has left the station on this on, but a link to the Amazon page would have helped us impulse buyers. ;)

@ziggylayneable 2 года назад

You know the bingo containers with the foam tip that old folks use at Catholic Church bingo tournaments?. Buy one of those empty it out and refill it with black Rit clothing dye. It'll make your fingerboard ebony black

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

A bingo blotter… genius.

@ratmadness4858 2 года назад

anything to destroy competition

@dennispettysr3105 2 года назад

where can i buy good replacement parts for the firefly guitars

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

Depends on what parts. But for the most part I’m a big fan of www.guitarfetish.com Good stuff that doesn’t break the bank.

@joeking433 Год назад

I think the Guyker parts on Amazon would work. They're pretty good quality. I know that most Gibson and Fender parts won't fit on a Firefly.

@jebman3473 2 года назад

You ever play that gretsch shortscale bass? For 300ish it’s an amazing bass, although gretsch(or fender) is lying to us, the pups in em are single coils not humbuckers, and they market them as humbucker basses

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

I’ve seen some of the “humbucker-gate” videos. Something that happens when the engineering department does communicate with the marketing department. I’ve played one but I don’t own one. Very cool bass. My white “P” bass is a short scale. I really dig them.

@joeking433 Год назад

I can see the Firefly guitars getting better and better and almost to the quality of the big brands. Now Firefly has some guitars with stainless steel ball end frets! I have a Firefly SG and a 2017 Gibson SG Standard that cost ten times what the Firefly cost and the Gibson is not ten times as good as the Firefly although I do like the Gibson better.

@rev.jeremyhall Год назад

i love my fireflys

@jamesdiehl8690 Год назад

I think a better question would be; why can't Fender, Gibson and other big names can't make them that cheap?

@bradforward850 Год назад

Child slavery is illegal in the US.

@jamesdiehl8690 Год назад

@@bradforward850 Not if Bum Luk Biden and China have their way!

@joeking433 Год назад

Because they have to please their shareholders. Epiphone and Squier guitars are somewhat cheap although not as cheap as Fireflys and they have to make up for the expensive labor used in the US building Fender and Gibson guitarss.

@jamesdiehl8690 Год назад

@@joeking433 They need to think about satisfying their customers. If people can't afford to buy their more expensive guitars, their sales will drop so much they'll have to reduce them, or do nothing but customs for rich artists.

@jamesdiehl8690 Год назад

@@joeking433 I'm 68 years old and I've watched companies come and go! I also sold merchandise for stores and I can tell you, if the prices are too high, products don't sell. If they lower the priced, but not the quality, more people will buy them. It's evident that Gibson knows this, as I just saw a report that they are selling the company. Fender has been reorganizing lately too.

@oldasrocks9121 6 месяцев назад

Just take the crapola brass covers off the pickups, FF doesnt curate their pickup choices for goodness sake. They are the cheapest acceptable pickups they can fit into their profit margin. And they are reliably dead to touch and pick dynamics and get buried by gain. Plus the bridge is too hot for a semi-hollow. I got the prism/Skittles Pride flag finish during the Xmas week sale with a coupon Aron gave me from a previous Tele complaint: $109.91 plus $27 shipping. Waiting on delivery of a few sets Epi pickups, Alnico Classic Pros and Probuckers with the quick connect harnesses, one has coil splits and the phase reverse, fingers crossed those pots fit through the f-hole. Kluson USA lightweight tailpiece and ABR-1 brass saddle bridge, conversion bridge posts and tailpiece bushings. Cream Dot pickguard and the castle nut/threaded bar mount mechanism, cream pickup surrounds, and cream speed knobs. String Butler. That, and I'm at less than $320 all in. So far. ❤❤❤ Will likely need a new nut, string geometry is off for 50/52mm pickups, string spacing at the factory nut is both off center and mooshed together. So add $17 for a Tusq. Can't really get used to the paint job. Its got a decent flame top which would be a shame to hide under solid color. If it really gets on my good side after I get it done I might strip the top and hit it with simple amber, if all the dark green hasn't gotten into the grain. Wet sand the gloss off the oxblood back and sides... Maybe!

@joeking433 Год назад

They can sell them cheap because the labor is cheap and they don't pay much for marketing like the big brands. The electrical components are somewhat cheaper and the hardware is cheaper, but the wood and finish are comparable to the big brands.

@TheTapeFarm Год назад

Marketing is a consideration, good point.

@carlwilson4425 2 года назад

Ok...Wax potting THOSE pickups, after they have been installed/shipped, could take 30 mins "hand time" extra per guitar. BUT, if they just left them in the wax to start with, during original manufacture, for an extra 20 minutes, would not cost ANY more "hand time". And a minimal cost increase (maybe 0.50/pair). All it would take is Firefly to tell the supplier "leave them in the wax", and, POOF, all the complaints would stop. The time and costs you have posited are based on already manufactured/installed/shipped units. So the "hand time" IS extra.

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

They don’t dip these pick ups. They pour some wax in the holes in the plate and that’s about it. The process would be way different. Cleaning the wax off after the potting is really what takes most of the time. Which is a process they avoid by just squirting some wax in the hole.

@joeking433 2 года назад

The secret on how to make a good cheap guitar is................................................................CNC machines. There ya go!

@Hortron69 2 года назад

Yes a 159 dollar guitar can be a good instrument. You’re going to have to put in a little work to make it what you want.

@louisemaggs4589 2 года назад

Probably not a good idea to buy new cheap things..buy second hand. These are probably made by unpaid poor sods in unregulated and unsafe factories..

@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84 2 года назад

You must be fun at parties

@louisemaggs4589 2 года назад

yes! That’s Weird thing to say ?

@louisemaggs4589 2 года назад

I wasn’t intending to be a ‘party pooper’ - just thinking about where many of these guitar are produced that’s all..it does -indeed-look a very nice guitar for the price.

@dangerousdee1959 2 года назад

I talk regularly with the manager of Firebird Music company. He photographed the factory where a majority of Firefly guitars are made. There are other factories but they all have good standards for their workers. No children. Standard 10 hour work days over there with breaks and lunch. The photos he took showed the various departments. Each very tidy, with the exception of the wood cutting area which of course is like most here with saw dust everywhere. He also consults the manager of the factory which make many well known brands too about the quality of parts, assembly process etc when things go wrong or done well.

@3cardmonty602 2 года назад

Ain’t no “Boys and Girls” here.

@TheTapeFarm 2 года назад

I betcha there are.

@IndyRockStar 2 года назад

that thing sounds terrible, but I guess it would be good for a beginner with a low budget at the start. It would allow you to learn the basics, but where it would really hurt a new player is it will greatly hinder proper ear training. Ear training is 50% of the battle to becoming "good".

@1Guug 2 года назад

terrible is a hard word for that guitar and I don't think it fits here good at all. The guitar sounds decent for 159, I mean that's the price for 1 pickup in a boutique guitar.