Firefly FFTL Guitar Review 

I really try to point out everything I find on these guitars. As far as being unbiased... Sometimes it is hard to not sure emotions when demoing these guitars. Sometimes they just click with me. I find myself just loving the guitar. Same it true with the one that don't click with me. I try to remember it's about the info to the viewer and what the specs are on the guitar. Sometimes the spec sheet if there is one doesn't tell the whole story. In the end I want the viewer to make the call.. Is this guitar worth buying. Does it fit what I'm looking for. I hope I touch base on whatever it is that they were wanting to know about the instrument. Thank You for posting and letting me know you like the channel ! Please tell others about the channel.

Thank You ! for the Like and the SUB ! ! ! I try very hard to give all the info I can in the 1 hr to 1hr 30min video. Please tell others about the channel. And thanks for commenting and letting me know you like the detailed reviews.

Forgot to mention, the phantom trem bar grab was relatable.

Thank You! I want to have the best detailed reviews on RU-vid. I will keep trying to make the best videos on this topic. I'll be waiting for the day when you say ..... Yep, your reviews are the best detailed review on RU-vid! I'll keep working on it ! Thank You for your support and all your comments!

What's funny when you watch it . . . . I'm bending the note with my finger and still going for the bar.... So, it sounds like I have a tremolo in use right there. The Phanton Bar.... Its looks funny in the video. I never paid attention to it before. How I bend and use the bar at the same time. @@danielbileci4060

@@DominionFretWorks I think you were channeling some EVH in that playing style. Bending, tapping, and diving..... ON A TELE! Love to see it! Now I have to make my next build a tele with a full floating floyd. I have 4 guitars without a trem and when I play them, I always have to adjust my playing style. It definitely takes some getting used to going back and forth.

I have two of these are they are great... and I have the MADCAT one ... so I just 3 LOL... 2 of the 3 were 95% and 1 was 80% spot on. way better than they should be for the cost of the guitar.

@@DominionFretWorks Just got mine, it's fantastic!

did you get the one with the Flame Maple Neck ????? Thanks for coming back and letting everyone know how yours came. This really does help others ! ! ! ~ and Thanks for joining in on the chat ! @@zadaziri6584

@@DominionFretWorks Yup! The neck feels great. Happy to share my experience

@@zadaziri6584 I want a Cream / Off White / Yellow Firefly Tele with the Rosewood Fret Board with the Flame Maple Neck... I'll be looking for that model next !

I reviewed 4 telecaster guitars ... now. FFTL Madcat and this FFTL... Both were Firefly's and the best out of the ones I reviewed. The Madcat is more of a Rock Tele and this is more of a Standard sounding tele. I have a Squire Vintage Vibe as well ( has not been reviewed on the channel ) but I have owned that guitar the longest of them all... I play my Firefly Tele before the Squire as well. Guitar Gardens is out of stock right now on the TL Models....Just wait they will be back in stock soon. Thanks for commenting and letting me know you like the review

Thank You Please tell others about the channel !

Yes, the white model that has the square neck plate on the back is the same model as the one in this review... I have an Olympic White Model still in the box... I'll be reviewing that guitar soon. Really hoping they are as good as this Blue one... same model and same production run... So should be good !

I have found other guitars with the same thing .... I would say its .. Just my thoughts .. The are using the same rod with a different engagement lock at the base.. So if you flip the rod backwards it would turn backwards.... Dunno....I never brought this up as I have run into it over the years with other guitars with the adjustment at the base of the neck. Not all do this ... I always if you watch my video turn both ways... 1) just ot make sure the rod is free. 2) to make sure it's doing what I think it's doing ... LOL

@@DominionFretWorks thanks

Thank You ! For posting what you see ! That is what .. I hope will become the standard here on this channel !

I have ordered two of these models... make sure you get this model... Look at the neck plate on the back .. its square and is angled to make the body smaller at the neck. The relic models have been getting so BAD comments due to how they are doing the relic on the hardware... They are sand blasting the chrome.... and yes, it's getting into the tuners. Just so you know. Firefly use 3 vedors from what I can see to make there guitars... I just ordered the Olympic White with the Rosewood neck... Just like the guitar in the review.. just has the rosewood neck . I find myself liking the Rosewood necks... I do play on maple.. I have two Kramer's with maple that I just love !

@@DominionFretWorks You’re a knowledgeable guy! I’ve subscribed and am definitely going to keep an eye on what you come across. Your fine toothed comb is very well appreciated. I know! The neck joint, the comfort cuts for the belly and forearm. The locking tuners and stainless frets. The brass saddles (despite being uncompensated). These are a STEAL! And I already work with electronics, so the so-so soldering shouldn’t be a problem. Buying one today, thanks to you. Cheers man!

Thank you so much letting me know that you like the in-depth reviews! Please tell others about the channel !

I wanted a Sun Valley Super Shredder Tele for a long time... End up with the SVSS Strat... I like this guitar. There is something about it..... It has a feel and a sound that makes ya want to play it. a soul ...some have come to call it.

@@DominionFretWorks Schecter makes some great guitars. I have an old Korea made diamond series C1. Not the most shreddy guitar, but man does it hold up like a tank. The only thing I had to do to it in the last 20 years was change the pickup rings because I broke them in half.

Thank you for commenting on the videos it really truly helps RU-vid's AI system push the video out to other people... And if you would please tell others about the channel... The more interaction we create in the comments section the more information will have on these products.... And that's what the reviews are all about so others find out the information they need to make a decision on a product before they pull the trigger ....

Yes .. I did go over the OHMs of the pickups. This was added a few videos ago. Inductance and OHMs sometimes tell you a story and sometimes its miss leading. But I understand it gives you a base of reference. Necks Specs will be the next upgrade in the videos. I will be ordering some neck gages for the profile types. Then I will be adding the thickness and width. It takes me a little time to make changes. So maybe this week I can order the profile gages. Thank You for coming back during each video! your comments help a lot !

I just received the 2nd one.... I got it on Monday ! So we will be doing another review on this model JUST TO MAKE SURE ... So far Firefly has always been MORE THAN YOU PAY FOR. I have yet to get one that wasn't ..... At their price point it's at a KIT GUITAR PRICE. This is already finished.... Most of the time they only need just a little setup.. and some need pickups. This guitar in this review is good as is...... I would play this guitar out.. No Problems.. If you were a DIE HARD you could upgrade the pickups.... But most wouldn't hear the change. The pickups work very well in the stock. I would maybe do a cap change and install a pure tone jack. Cap 8.00 bucks Jack 7.00 bucks Would this change the sound of the guitar ... maybe JUST A LITTLE ... again most wouldn't hear it.

Most of the parts have become standardized now... I can't think of any problems that you could run into. Pickups easy to change... Tuners easy to change... Saddles easy to change... Unless you're installing some very nice pickups...That you just love the sound of... This guitar is not bad out of the box... A set of Dylan Pickups would be great in this guitar... Sure... Maybe do some locking Gotoh tuners.... As far as Squire Parts..... I wouldn't call that an Upgrade... This guitar is on the same level as a Squire. I have a Squire Vintage Vibe Tele and I like the sound and the playability of my Firefly more. But Remember sound and tone are your taste.. The firefly pickup is more mid-ranged sounding to me...over the Vintage Vibe. Not as bright... about the same bottom. If I were going to play out with this guitar.. 1) Puretone Jack ( no connection problems ) 2) Shielding ( no problems with the lights or other elect problems from sources in the bar ) 3) Dress the nut ( stable tuning ) These are the things I would do first as this will help the guitar playing out. You can dial in a good sound with the stock pickups.

I haven't seen that .. BUT .. I did have a return that went to NJ. ????? outside of New York ..... ??? They did send a replacement once the guitar was received at it shipping location.... Not really sure what that was about .... The p-90 for your project ... The Dlyan P90 is just ..... WELL ITS GREAT ! he's a You Tuber that makes pickups... Check out his P-90 !!!! SUPER NICE !

​@@DominionFretWorksI have the Roswell/Artec copy of the Lollar Staple, waiting on Ryan's Bootstrap copy of the Twisted Tele bridge. And yes, FF will send you a FedEx label to ship your return to a customer that ordered a new guitar from them. They usually ship brand new ones from a few addresses by Los Angeles. Oddly they deny sending you a return but it's obvious: the original shipping label, evidence of play, and whatever blem or defect that lead to the return. I've gotten one in this way so far, the pink HH trem Tele, pressed them on the issue and they offered a $25 partial refund.

Thanks for the INFO .. I'll be looking out for this .@@oldasrocks9121

Ya.... There is a BOND you get sometimes with a guitar . . . If you find one, you bond with keep it ! I know I do reviews on so many guitars and I find sometimes there is one that just speaks to you. Those are keepers. So, tell me what's going on with the tone Knob? Does it make any change to the sound at all? Or it does nothing at all? If it does nothing at all I would check the cap and make sure there is a good connection. There will be a connection on the side or top of the pot where it is ground the path out and one on the center tab at the base of the pot. It has to be the cap or the ground. If your main ground is on the volume pot, then check the ground on the jumper from the tone to the volume.

@@DominionFretWorks It does nothing at all on any of the pick ups, when I emailed Firefly they suggested that one of the solder connections might have broke during shipping.

If that's the case... then it's an easy fix! Let us know what you find when you check into it.@@lilymae4131

A good guitar is a good guitar . . . Banding doesn't matter. Your likes and dislikes will change over the years... What I have found is playing different guitars has really helped my playing in many aspects. It has opened up new tones which has lead me to play things I would have never played without playing that guitar with that sound. I played an 88 Peavey Active Nitro for over 25 years . . . my main guitar... It is still one of my go to guitars. But playing all these models from bands I have never played.. Well, I have learned to never judge until I play it.

The Sire is a good guitar... I think one of the best telecasters out there is the Fender FMT... Fender really doesn't advertise that guitar and I don't understand why as it is a phenomenal instrument

The Burl top Volgoa with the hpl fingerboard would be phenomenal with Seymour Duncan pearly gate pickups Those pickups and that guitar and upgrading the electronics would run you around 500... And it would compete with the fender fmt

I liked this guitar.... I liked the sounds it made as well.... Before you change the pickups, maybe play around with the cap in the guitar. Sometimes just doing that will get ya where you want to be. I would take this guitar on stage and play it NO PROBLEMS. The FireFly MADCAT, I just reviewed is another one... No Problems taking that guitar on stage. Those two guitars play well with all my Amps and Effects. No massive EQ change.... No massive gain drop... But it needs to play well with your stuff... I can only point out what I find on the fit and finish. How well was the guitar made and the level of fret work that went into the guitar. It is up to you to make the call. I looked at the Classic Plus just the other night.... The Sun Brust one.... and it was 179.00 dollars ? Come back and let us know how they did on this model. Thanks for joining in the fun ! Talking guitars ! very comment helps the RU-vid AI system plus the video out for others.

Firefly has had problems in the past with microphonic pickups. The two FFTL's I reviewed in the last 4 months didn't have a problem with that.

@@DominionFretWorks All good things to hear. I'll let you know how the classic plus is when it arrives.

The report back is a good thing..... Everyone want to know how good Firefly is on the back end. When there is a problem. So far, I have had no problems. They are just slow getting it moving on their end.

Stainless on this model.... Firefly I don't think makes a model now without SS Frets.

I do not know the Body Wood... Sorry Firefly is not good at times with INFO...

it wasn't rust . . . . its a black / gray ...stuff. The frets just looked discolored.. I guess chalky looking is the best way of putting it. But yes, the strings on this guitar were the worst I've ever gotten from Firefly . . . My hands amd fingers were black after playing the guitar for 20 mins. If you look in the video, you can see the black on the fret board in areas. But this guitar plays nice! A good set of strings will make this guitar sound better to. The nut was cut very well from the factory.... I would install new strings and just clean the nut for the new strings. Just make sure they are seating right in the nut and do a little adjustment on the cut. I would also just go over the ruff spot in the neck and coat with Tried and True. This is a good one... even with the neck not being sanded right from the factory. It has a good sound . . . It makes ya . . . want to just play. For me that's a fun guitar! Sometime a guitar speaks to ya... This does that for me.

Most of those control plates are the same.... I have not tried to install a Fender plate on the FFTL but it should work. Very thing is getting standardized in today's world. Mass production of parts and standards. Fender outsources all these parts to other venders to make for them. I would say you shouldn't have a problem with do that. BUT... if you do use your factory plate. Step drilling the factory plate should not be hard to do. In most cases when I have changed out pots there is very little difference between the shaft sizes. You should be able to drill slowly though the factory location with a larger bit very easily. Be careful once the bit starts to go through the factory plate it will want to twist as the bit grabs the last part of the plate. This happens right before you go all the way through the plate. If you can put the plate in a vise to hold it. You can wrap it in BLUE PAINTERS tapes to protect it and use small wood blocks or plastic between the jaws of the vise and the plate. Vise jaws will scratch the plate if you don't protect it. Thanks for commenting and I hope this helps! Please review my other video here on YT and tell others about the channel! Again, Thanks for watching and commenting.

@@DominionFretWorks Thanks for the info

I replaced pickguard with Gilmour EMG on the Chamelion Strat. Turned out great, but did have take a dremel to pickguard around the neck to expand it. The way FF does the truss is longer. After that, all of the screw holes, but 1 aligned. Just put screw in new spot as old hole was covered.

I had a Squire Vintage Vibe with the EMG Gilmour set.... Came with everything ! really liked that guitar with the gilmour EMG's. I should not have sold it .. But that's what we do LOL

I have a Squire Vintage Vibe 2022 model in the transparent white / cream... I like this tele much more.... I like the pickups better as well. This to me is a good tele out of the box. Dylan Pickups makes a pickup set that I may install .... But ... For me ... I like the tone coming out of this guitar in its stock form. The neck is thinner than my Squire. I play the FFTL now all the time over the Squire. I have heard some bad things about the RELICS... Look at the neck joint and body contour on this model... This model has the angled square back plate. I think they have a White....Olympic White and the blue.. That is the same as this model. just look for the angled square neck plate on the body. The other model have a NON-SQUARE neck plate with a V seat on the back of the guitar neck where in sits in the bodies neck pocket....

You like the FireFly over a Squire Classic Vibe 50’s or 60’s Tele?

I do ..... Something about this FFTL ..... It looks nice ... Plays nice..... and sound nice.... Stock Easy to get good tones out of it ... I like its short coming in the pickups.... T.hey have a good tone to my ears.... Both though my Black Star HT20 with the NUX delay .... sounded good and open... nice tone.. Even thought my Rack Mount System ART sgx2000 into my 6l6 power amp into my 4-12's It sounded good ! I also have a NON-Tube amp a Silver Line Deluxe Black Star ... Again good sounds.. It seams to play well in all my amps. I have changed the strings to 9-42 NYXL's and I really like this guitar. Remember ... everyone see tone differently.. I would say install some of Dylan Tele pickups in it ...with a .33 cap.. I'm sure it would be better ... But I like the stock sound right now... So not going to... I just got in another FFTL just like the on in this review .... Olympic White model Same guitar just in Olympic White... I want to make sure this run is good. I have not opened the box yet ... I hope its as good as the blue one in this review. I always try to review two guitar of the same model to get a good base line ... @@TG_Sealey_Entertainment​

You could very easily. The one that really jumps out is on the switch. I think that one was the smallest solder joint I've ever seen. From what I've seen on some of these under 350.00-dollar guitars is... they stack the solder joints on the pots. Most of the time it doesn't look like they get it hot enough to bond the lower connect to the upper connection. Both wires should be bonded " soldered " at the same time to the pot. Thanks for commenting and please look at some of my other reviews... !

Thank You ! I'm slowing down a little on the Guitar Reviews. I have a lot of mod and setup stuff coming up next. Still doing reviews... But getting behind on the fix it stuff and upgrade videos. I think all my videos are on the long side. Its ok... These videos are for everyone else that like this type format. It is not for everyone... But there is a group here on RU-vid that want more from reviews. That the group we are going for !

I looked for the Mad Cat Harley Benton. I didn't see them for sale. I try to stay up with what people are talking about. So, if the Mad Cat Tele is something that is getting big maybe I'll order one. I have one more Tele guitar to review ... Sadly its no longer available. So, I may not do my standard review on it as no one can buy them now. But I have a ton of videos to do. Going to be more fixing and mod videos in the next few weeks over the reviews of new guitars.

@@DominionFretWorks I will be looking forward to seeing the fix it videos because I am very interested in the whole process of getting my budget guitars sounding their best without having to throw a bunch of money in them.

We are doing a rewire on a Harley Benton and a full electronics upgrade on a Firefly FFDC with some Hand Wired Pickups from a great RU-vidr!

@@DominionFretWorks sounds good I also have a ffdc and I sure it’s going to be interesting especially if you are talking D. Talks

I am very interested in the first fret of the guitar and I am hoping that you will be sharing more information about this and the troubleshooting process and the fixes. Thank you for your detailed video and I know you are going to be even better as your gear arrives. Thanks again

I almost ordered the Blue Paisley one . . . The better half said they look like bandanas.... I was in the Paisley column and thought it was neat looking. This guitar has a feel to it . . I can't put my finger on what it is . . But I really like it and at this price point its a KILLER. I would not change anything . . .other than, I'm going to clean the neck and do some sanding and finishing to fix the rough spots.

@@DominionFretWorksdid you see the FF Tele and Strat relics online today?

@@CG-gf7ceI didn't see that . . .But I'm there on their site now looking ..... I like the Olympic White Relic FFST but that one is only in HSS... So I may get a White Relic . . . I am thinking which would be better for the channel..... AHHh well the HSS is is best as far as getting a lot of different sounds . . Ok .. maybe that one. THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP ! Are you getting one ??

⁠@@DominionFretWorks I may hold off on this round (so far). The SSS burst reminds me of a relic SRV I have. Upon closer look they took the relic a bit too far in my opinion. The white ones (SSS & HSS OW) both look like same relic pattern. I really like that it looks like a white paint over a burst finish. Makes me wonder if they’ll try an all black SSS with Maple Neck for a Gilmour black strat vibe…(black over sunburst relic)

@@CG-gf7ce Ya . . They did a heavy relic.... I wonder if you feel the relic edge, or did they clear coat over it to smooth it out? I may get one ... not sure.. right now I have 4 guitars to move from reviews.... and still have a few that I haven't done yet in boxes.. I think I really just need to finish up what I already have. But I have had some people ask for a review on the FFST's.

Is yours the same model ??? I know they are using 3 vendors now... I think they had 4 colors of this model. Firefly really needs to make a name change on each of these models... The FFTL does not tell which one. They need something like this... FFTL - R Relic FFTL - C Classic ( Std Square neck plate ) FFTL - M Modern ( with the neck plate with the angle cut in it. FFTL - P90N P90 in the neck location FFTL - 2H 2 Humbuckers Ya ... I have gotten one bad guitar from Firefly... But they did exchange it.. No problems.. The exchanged guitar had no problems. I would send an E-mail and have them EXCHANGE. They will ask for some pics. Then see if you'll take a discounted price ... a refund or an Exchange. So far they have been good to me on any problems... A little slow with E-mails ... But they always get back to me. I'm sure at some point ... I may have a problem.. I have heard things.. But as of right now. They have done right by me and taken care of any problems I have had.

OHHH... My First Firefly Guitar was the FFMN... Watch the unboxing video on that guitar... LOL The frets were bad.. Not a good job leveling and crowning the frets.. Bridge problems... I didn't return it... I just made more video's on fixing it. Those were my first RU-vid video's. Good info in that group of video's fixing that FFMN Firefly. That was really my first budget guitar.. So, 200.00 dollars to me was not a lot for a guitar... At the time my cheapest guitar was @ the 800.00 price point. So, I think I looked over the problems as it was a 200.00-dollar guitar. but over the last 6 or 7 months .. I have come to understand that there are good guitars out there for the 200.00 to 300.00 dollars price point. I have also started reviewing all guitars the same. Just go through what I see and tell you about it. I sometimes order two of the same models just to see how good the production run is... This tele model I ordered two ... 4 weeks apart. Both are very good guitars..

You know ... the 14 inch radius was a surprise. I was thinking it was going to be a 12 inch radius... What makes this guitar is the Pickups... I know .. WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stock Firefly Pickups ! Yep ... They just work.. and work well.

I have had 1 Firefly with a crack in the finish around the binding to the fret board..... BUT I dropped my scaling tool on the edge when trying to level the finger board for a fret level. I would say MAYBE . . . . MAYBE the plastic needs more prep for the Ploy to stick ???? My tool has a chamfered corner .... So, I think any guitar with the finished sprayed out the binding like that would have chipped. I had no problems with my MADCAT tele from firefly. I had no problems adjusting the truss rod on mine. But I have heard others say they have had problems with the spoke wheel being right on the neck and not wanting to turn freely.... and that has been on a the Std Tele model and so others. I have adjusted Std truss rods in the LP/SP models and had no problems. Firefly has had some problems with some of their models... But they have always given a little .... If I contact them over a problem, they are the only SUB 200.0 dollar guitar company that has E-mailed me back. Most of the time it's an offer of credit for the problem... But it is something.