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I got the Troublemaker blue one last week and I LOVE IT! That’s my fifth Firefly and I’m impressed with how the quality has improved over the years. I recommend them to anyone wanting a good guitar at a good price and they make for a good project guitar!
The MadCat is the overall winner....in its stock form it is good to go The only thing I may do is upgrade the tuners.... I have had no problems with the tuners.... But some nice Gotoh Lockers would just be great! As I said .... its good out of the box. Next would be the Access Cut FFLP... love the guitar and the way it feels... It just has bad pickups IMO a Set of SD Pearly Gates and you have monster LP with the Access Cut neck. Next would be the Purple and Black FFST... Again, great player but needs a Bridge pickup... An SD JB pickup and it's a super strat.@@eearts
We try to do reviews of the product. Open and Honest. The chat and comment area are always open for people to share their experience with the product. Their feedback is key to the videos I do. Please tell the people you know about the channel. The more input we have the better it becomes! Thanks for letting me know you like the content and how we do reviews!
Yes, this guitar is very nice... I want to do a coil spilt mod on it ! To me ... This guitar is gig-able after this video. I installed new strings.... Set the Action Height to 7.0 on the low E and 6.0 on the High E And set the Intonation... Its good to play out right now.
WOW ... I never really paid attention to that . . . LOL .. I'm going to look at my other teles now.... LOL Thanks for letting me know. Thanks for joining in on the fun here... Thier is a lot of review content on the channel...
The eraser head trick worked like a charm, once I got the length correct :0) 1st go at it I cut the eraser too tall. Was concerned I was going to "push" out the pressed insert by cranking down on the over compressed eraser. Had to trim it back a bit. Will pre measure next time as it was a bugger to get the eraser head back out.
The flat spot doesn't show on the front binding so that's a plus,these guitars are getting so much better, compared to just a few years ago,one no longer needs to get an expensive guitar to get a good one, probably the best time in history,to buy a budget guitar,the price hasn't gone up,but the quality sure has.
Thank you for the detailed review, I learn from watching you as well. I'm 68 and just started playing guitar less than 3 yrs ago (long story...) and on a limited budget, you help me a lot.... I just ordered same was 206.91 with shipping. I know what to check now. (but don't plan to take neck off) Will yry to update my response after I receive it... thanks again.
Yes..... Please come back and let us know how yours comes from Guitar Gardens. The more info we have on the product the better! And it is never to early or too late to learn the joy of GUITAR !
Well, I received the identical one, same color, that you reviewed. Very beautiful, no scratches or dings. No issues with shipping, Very pleased, like I said, didn't take the neck off, but everything else was just as you found. No surprises, I am very happy, and it feels good to play.. Thanks again for your help.
I have 6 firefly guitars; they are incredible instruments. The specs on these guitars are unbelievable for the price. everyone I bought had fret buzz around the 9th Frett low E string for some reason. I would recommend A professional set up unless you're really good at it yourself. I cannot believe how much guitar you get for under or a little over 200 dollars.
Your reviews are the best. . . Just so you don't miss it, here is a repeat of my response to another commenter's detailed comment on coil splitting below: "Wow. I had no idea there were so many coil split/pickup options. I got one of these exact guitars in this review and had someone put coil splits on push-push (much better than push-pull, imho, btw) pots for me. Unfortunately, I have no idea how they did the wiring and the coil splits have a pretty pronounced volume drop to where the single coil signals seem fairly weak. Nice tonal options, just weak signal when split. . ." Try push-push pots; you'll never go back. . . Cheers
Love your playing and thank you for going through demo with this guitar. I bought the white and black one that they had and was blown away by it. It doesn't have the coil tap (like Fender), but that can be added. Fender version of this goes for 2500$ to over 3k and I saw no difference in how it plays. Same wood and you get belly cut and locking tuners.
I this video all the FX are coming from the ART SGX2000 Express. Compressor / Noise gate / Reverb /Delay They older FX units had a low bit rate 24 bit ... which can give you a fake / not warm sound in the FX's So, the FX loop of the ART SGX is run into an AMR tube Sweetener and a BBE to warm up the FX in the chain. This tone can easy be done with a Line-6 Stomp HX... I have one and have been able to get very close just using the 1 HX stomp pedal into a powered cab. Keep in mind the Line6 HX stomp is a modeler unit.... So, use it into a PA amp and Pa speakers / or a Guitar Powered Cab.
This is the guitar I bought. I had 2 little black marks on the edges and maybe 2 other small blemishes and about the same fret work which is really good. The Tuners seem ok but I might upgrade them just to be sure. The pick ups are decent but same idea could be upgraded. The bridge probably needs upgraded because it rattles. The Pots are probably decent but If I do upgrade the pickups I will be upgrading the pots also to make sure. Bottom line is that I am so happy with this that buying the next one is an easy choice.
Pearly Gates . . . Yep ... I think a set of Pearly Gates and install a Pure Tone Jack.... If your going to upgrade it... Thats really all ya need to do. If ya want to go next level.... Install Push / Pull volumes for each pickup and split the coils and upgrade your tuners. Thank You for commenting!!! and check out some of the other reviews here on the channel.
Pearly gates are expensive... 200 dollars without the chrome cover plate... If you like the chrome cover plate look like the guitar has... 235.00 just for the pickups... 15.00 dollars for the pull / pull volumes and 5 dollars for the Pure tone jack. I would leave the stock tuners . . . . I think I would do this .... Wilkinson Pickup link www.amazon.com/Wilkinson-Vintage-Humbucker-Epiphone-Electric/dp/B0C53C6MH7/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3PRM47G3UWZL9&keywords=wilkinson%2Bpickups&qid=1705112599&sprefix=wilkson%2Bpickup%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685&th=1 Push Pull volume controls Bourns Pots www.amazon.com/Genuine-Bourns-Push-Pull-Electric-Guitar/dp/B0763L9SRZ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=C0E7OHHD1EXB&keywords=push+pull+potentiometer+500k&qid=1705112695&sprefix=push+pull%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-8 Pure Tone Jack www.amazon.com/Pure-Tone-Full-contact-Mounting-Hardware/dp/B0786WMY7G/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3AWTWHCGVJMS0&keywords=Pure+tone+jack&qid=1705112816&sprefix=pure+tone+jack%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1 So, 82.00 dollars for this setup..... @@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow
That is strange ..... It doesn't say out of stock on my end. AND It lets me add to cart and go to check out. ??? maybe send them an E-Mail. @@jimlovett8275
Just posted a video of the FFMN that was setup for a customer.... In that video the guitar is all stock. Just went though it and made sure everything was as good as it could be. I have here both guitars you are looking for........ I sometimes buy more than 1 of these to make sure of the QC at Firefly or Leo Jaymz.... I have one more FFMN 2nd production run in the Yellow Flame top. and have the blue burst that was reviewed. Let me know if you want one of them We can work out shipping and if you want any work done to them before shipping. here is a link to the video of the FFMN I just did for someone last weekend... ua-cam.com/video/eM9F74qA4Hg/v-deo.html@@jimlovett8275
This guitar was the fastest guitar ..... Reviewed and sold within 3 weeks. I posted for sale after doing a setup and cleanup and sold within 1 week. I have to sell the guitars after the review... I have 20 guitars here at times.... The money then goes back into the channel for the next guitar. If you see a guitar that has been reviewed here you want... just e-mail me and see if its still here. I also do whatever you want to the guitar before I ship it to ya.
This guitar has an adjustment spoke wheel at the base of the neck.... Witch I like more than the Allen nut at the top of the head stock. If you look at the base of the neck you will see the adjustment wheel.
Thank You ! ! ! I try very hard to do the best review I can... I hope you check out so of the other reviews on the channel.. FYI the older reviews are not as detail as the new ones.. The channel as grown and is base on its Subs and Members. As people have asked for things in the reviews, I have tried to add them. Thank You for commenting and joining in on the fun !
Great video again! I scroll down some of the comments to see if somebody mentioned it but I did not see that they did.... this guitar is basically inspired from fender when they started doing their parallel universe line a couple of years ago. I believe this is called the troublemaker. Squier had a line called the paranormal universe... where are they basically mixed and match a whole bunch of different aesthetic features or functional features from the different kind of guitar models they have. However, I'm sure you already know this👍🏼😊
Actually I didn't someone made a comment said that it was a clone of the Fender Trouble Maker... I would like to see a clone of the Fender FMT telecaster with the set neck !
As much as your videos have helped decide whether to purchase or pass, there is also something so satisfying watching you review a model already owned. Thanks for the pencil eraser trick! And the stool leveraging @ 1:23:43 I have the blue metallic version and lt has all the same positives. Only additional issues are the truss rod wheel is touching the HB ring and I can see a tiny sliver of the PU route along that same edge. Also the low e string action was a bit low at .05, high e was .06+. FWIW, I will be adding push pulls for coil splits and half out of phase, will report back with results.
almost the same view . . . . LOL, you like that trick.. @@maorienteg Trying to get you setup as a PRE-VIEWER of the videos... I'll e-mail you when I try to set it up in the UA-cam Studio Software. I have a video almost ready to load so may have that video ready for you to Pre-View.
@@DominionFretWorks Here are my PU findings: Bridge Pickup 14.8k 7.1H Inner Coil 7.47k 3.2H Outer Coil 7.57k 3.2H Neck Pickup 8.3k 4.8H Inner Coil 4.17k 2.07H Outer Coil 4.26k 2.08H Inner Coils are north polarity Outer coils are south polarity Mostly tested with a clean amp setting (Spark Mini, rhythm preset, Lux Verb amp, no drive, mod/eq or delay) Both pickups sound ok split and with each wired in parallel. Cons: Grounding both PUs white/green wiires selects the inner coils, non humbucking in the middle position. Bridge outer coil is a bit shrill and weak, was hoping the greater distance from the bridge (1.75") would have helped tame the shrill, but not really. May work well with a fuzz pedal though. (A partial split on that coil tamed the ice picky tone and retains some of the output volume) Easiest work-around: Grounding the bridge PU's white/green and tying the neck PU's whiite/green to the neck volume hot selects the neck-most coils, and both sound nice and are also humbucking in the middle position. Best Alternate Sounds (IMO and in no particular order): The neck-most split coils (as noted above) Neck PU wired in parallel (dual sound wiring) Bridge PU wired in parallel (dual sound wiring) The bridge outer coil in series with neck inner coil (humbucking) The outer coils in series and out of phase (for a chimey/biting out of phase sound and humbucking) Both PUs standard wiring and also half out of phase (Paul Gilbert HOOP wiring) One or both PUs parallel wiring and also half out of phase (Dual Sound wiring with Paul Gilbert HOOP wiring) Weakest Sounds (IMO) Bridge outer coil (better with volume and/or tone rolled back and better with a Bill Lawrence partial split) Any pair of single coil in parallel and out of phase (series out of phase much better) Bridge-most split coils (maybe the best of the worst when both coils are selected)
Thank You so much for letting me know you like the review.... I know they are long reviews, but I try to cover everything I can about the guitar. I hope others well like this type of review and join in on the topics here.. Thank You for commenting... Please tell others about the channel !
HEY ! Jedi ... Well, it's the nut height and your bridge height... set your action height at the 12th just a little high from where you want it. Then check your first fretted note.... if it goes sharp most likely your nut needs to be cut down. Fret your 3rd fret G on the top E string... and check the space under the first fret.... this space should be .5 /.6 mm ( that is a guess ... I just know by looking at it and by touching) if its above that there is room to cut the slot in the nut down to low the string down to the fret board. What is happening is there is to much space there... and when you fret the first note you have to push the string down to much... which makes the string go sharp. You also have to keep in mind that the notes down the fret board are never spot on... set your 12 fret intonation spot on and then go back and check all your fretted notes... You see that they will be sharp and flat.... or all flat or all sharp. What your wanting is an Avg. once you know your adv cents out down the fret board you can nut the nut to match. its a balancing act.... FYI ... flat notes are more pleasing to the ears... a few cents flat off of true tune. So, if you're a little flat on adv ... I think it's better across the fret board...Remember if you play the 13th though the 24 fret you have to allow for those notes as well. It is an adv across the hole fret board.. Then take that info to cut your nut height. if your 2 cents off on adv FLAT... try to cut the nut down to give you that 2 cents off flat. Remember this is an adv... so you could go 1 cent flat or 0... just don't be out a lot or more than the adv across the fret board.
But I have to say, I didn't know what I was missing with this HH Tele model...and their FF338. Thanks to the Firefly quality & pricing, and to MusicNGear, I've been able to buy-to-try guitars I would have never considered.
You know.... I never liked the look of a Tele.... But in the last 3 years I have really come around to a lot of things that I didn't like before. I must say now. . . . I'm really like the shape. I'm a CONVERT now after playing a few of them and hearing the sound they make... Along with the feel the guitar has. Thanks Bob, for stopping by and letting me know I have some work to do here. My new goal is to get a TELE in your hands ! LOL
Ditto, I've been a Les Paul guy since '78, with an occassional Strat over the years. Up until the FFTLs, every Tele I had played had a baseball bat neck, never played them more than a couple mins. This past month or so, the Madcat and this HH Tele are getting the most play...and the FF338. But then again, they are my newest guitars. Never would have thought.
I have always played Les Pauls and Telecasters but until recently I had never had a 2 Humbucker Tele and I love it, It has a vibrato also so I have been playing some surf guitar and some Phantom Chords covers, of course it doesn't have that Telecaster quack but I have my Telecasters for that
Ask them about the carrier. UPS / FedEx come back and let us know what happens... So far, I haven't had a problem with shipping... I did order two guitars at one time once... They were delivered on different days.
Maybe this UA-camr is holding the guitar HOSTAGE.... I have heard about is... Once the product is no longer in stock, they got ya.... Just what I have been led to believe could be happening.... LOL . . . Thanks for the JOKES... I didn't get it until this last message . . . . OMG LOL @@BryanClark-gk6ie
Thank You for the comment on my playing . . . . I never know what people are going to say about it... This channel is more of a review channel so it's nice when someone likes the Demo Chapter of the video!
It'll really rock with some Burstbuckers or a set of Pearly Gates. Or Epiphone Probuckers or Alnico Classic Pros if you're on a budget. Guitar Madness has a non branded set of the A2 Tonerider Rocksounds with a 12K bridge in double cream bobbins that would look great, I have a set in my clammy paw as I write...
This Guitar needs the Pearly Gates if you're changing the pickups.......That is the set for this guitar... with push/pull volumes for coil splitting.... Just my 2 cents . . . . But I'm with ya on the Pearly Gates !
That type of switch is so much better than the rectangle box switches in most budget guitars. Did you notice that the pickups appear to be knockoffs of Fender CuNiFe Wide Range pickups? Notice where the pole pieces are. Or did I miss that.
I have seen many switches that look just like this one.... Install in this guitar. Some of them just don't feel every good or are not solid feeling in the Neck / Bridge location. This switch has a solid feel in all locations. It is not a Switchcraft switch.... I say that ... But I have seen some Switchcraft switch's that have not been too good.... Same with some of the newer CTS pot stuff. Time will only tell how well the switch holds up. But right now, it has a good feel to it. This pickup design has been around for YEARS AND YEARS... as far as how they look... The bridge pickup read VERY HOT on the meter but really doesn't have that HARD SOUND... It works well.. Pickup readings sometimes are very miss-leading. This guitar works well... I would like to see how well they do being spilt as single coils.
I have the FFTL with humbuckers but 1 tone 1 volume with the backwards wired coil split and no pick guard its an ok guitar I also have the FFTL red Paisley PuPs are kinda weak, I also have The FFTL white traditional that I gutted and sanded down to the bare wood rebuilt with Emerson premade harness and SD La Brea PuPs out of those 3 when I reach for a tele style I always grab the one I modded . For the price I paid for the guitar $169 I knew it was going to be a husk to mod I put $300 more into it and its 1 of the best playing and sounding tele style I own including my Fender American Performer Tele which I just sold because it just didn't make since to have that when my FF was so much better.
I love my FFTL in Blue... I did a video on that guitar about 2 months ago.. maybe 3 months ago... it is a Single coil bridge with the Lip-Sick single at the neck...it has a sound... Love the stock pickups.. It is all stock. Love it that way.
Scale length and other info is in the Neck Relief and factory string action Height chapter....36:52 mins 25.5 If I remember correctly... go to that chapter and check. Thanks for commenting and join in ! ! ! ! !
ahhh I don't have a P90 loaded guitar here for a review right now.... Funny you bring that up.. I ordered one.... But something happened to it in shipping.... after 3weeks I got an E-mail from the vendor saying it was lost in shipping.....So the order was cancelled. I do have a P-90 loaded guitar here already.. It has been reviewed already the FFDC by Firefly. I have some upgrade stuff setting here ready to do a UPGRADE video... It's in the works... You can go watch the review of that guitar to give you an idea of what is coming. with-in the next month . . .
Why would FF match a 14" radius board with a 12" TOM bridge? I emailed Aron when these first appeared, he said the board was 15" and I passed. If you were keeping this how would you solve this, file the saddle tops and recut the grooves? Certainly seems easier than re-radiusing the fingerboard but how to be accurate dealing with such small groove height adjustments? Pickups: the screw poles appear to be fixed slugs, no screw ends come through the back plates. Brass backplates, very likely brass covers, so they're cheap WRH knockoffs. Why they dont CNC drill the neck bolt holes in the body when it's on the router table is a complete mystery to me. I have an FFTL with that wallowed out top bolt hole, its so they can easily do the "UPS adjustment" on the neck side to side to get better string alignment at the heel end of the fingerboard. Note: if the screws threads catch hard in the body the clamping force of the screw heads is only transferred to the neck plate. If they're drilled out a size up so you can feel the threads have less bite if any the clamping force of the screws heads are then distributed across the neck plate and pull the neck heel into the neck pocket.
CNC work ... Maybe there NC router doesn't have an ATC... It just cuts out the basic shape... and a tool change (Manuel tool change) will aways knock off your steps... Re-Zeroing sometimes just doesn't make sense to then load the program to drill holes ... Just the neck hole in some cases would be 2 tool changes... without a ATC this just doesn't work in production.... Not saying this is why... Just guessing
@@DominionFretWorksThese are shaped/machined exactly like Sire bodies btw, the compound angle neck joint taper and spoon cut, belly cut and forearm relief, all Sire.
I don't have a Solid to DWG laser scanner at home to scan both guitars and check the point clouds on both of them. All these guitars are very similar... Are they using the same NC-G code ??? I don't know... Here in the US we don't share our coding from company to company... And we don't sell off old coding to other venders once new coding is done.... This was going to happen... When you outsource anything... There is a chance your coding and specs will be .... Well show up in other places. Now days with Mastercam, Fusion, BobCAD and all the other programs that self-write code... You just need the DWG file or Point Cloud... Your CAM software is going to rewrite it anyway... So is it Stealing ??? I can load a DWG file in Mastercam... let it write the code ... then repeat it ... Reload it and it will write some lines just a little different. Are they the same ??? We are at the point where it is not the design in most cases... It's the wood used or the time assembling the product. Mass production of every part on the guitar... Companies buy from the same vendors in some cases... Bridges, Fret Wire, Pots... All from China and or other offshore locations. I saw this going back 15 years ago... Hard to make a product that is your if everyone is pulling parts from the same 10 or 15 vendors. I don't know it any of its right.... I'm just pointing out what is... This company does very well at its price point.... right or wrong they are setting new standards for 200.00 dollars and under in some cases.@@oldasrocks9121
@@DominionFretWorksVery much appreciate your reply. I'm not sure stealing was what I was thinking about, I'm just saying it's not a FF innovation. China does knockoffs, we all know this. Maybe Sire code was "involuntarily" shared, they added Chinese production to their Indonesian wares. China is just different in this way to Western notions of proprietary design. I don't disagree with you FF is trying to stay in front in the super-budget segment and doing well but they still have the air of Asian Canal Street knockoffs. Even tho they're largely good. They aren't seeking a market position like Sire and others are. Big box retailers will never sell them except used. Certain details get under my skin, like a 14" neck with a 12" bridge, but Squier did the same thing on the Mascis Jazzmaster, 9.5 inch board with a 12" bridge. Which also bugged me. The Fender Mascis Signature has a 12" board. I think it's worth pointing out. One example of copiers' non-design: FF could solve age old Gibson tuning issues with a snakes head peg head, like Heritage does, but I suspect they would be shocked anyone suggest anything other than copying the Gibson peghead flares and tuner positions. It's just the Chinese knockoff thinking We'll have to wait and see if they'll resell and have the same cachet as Tokai, Greco, Burney and other desirable copies. It's impossible to know if that is even in the Firefly corporate mind. I suspect FF ambition is way more immediate.
I think Firefly a lot more " SMALLER " than you think Firefly is. They order by lots and ship from there receiving location. With each order I think they are able to UP there order totals.. I would say they are a UNDER 10 person company. Just a feeling I get from them.
Not sure how I missed it, but my Blue Metallic version of this same model has a not-so-great fit at the base of the neck pocket. It looks tight where the neck leaves the body, but there is a tiny gap towards the pickup side of the heel. Right before the rounded corner on the toggle switch side of the guitar. The heel fits well along the entire edge on the cutout side of the guitar. How would advise to fill that gap, if at all?
Does that model (Blue Metallic) have the Sqaure Neck plate on the body or the one that has an angle cut into it... ??? I have heard mixed reviews on the models with the angle back plate.
I only asked due to the ones that have the angle cut into the plate... I have heard mix reviews on those models... So, I have never ordered one. Maybe I should ... But I really need to sell off some of the reviewed guitars before anything else comes...... I have a RELIC ... I think setting here in the box.... Not sure what I ordered LOL... I think its a RELIC..@@maorienteg
BTW, you mentioned a mod video for this guitar in one of the comments. I looked through your channel and couldn't find it. I'd love to watch it if you made it. . .
It wasn't made ..... Sorry.... I sold the guitar in the stock form. The buyer wanted it this way. A lot of the fix video are done due to a problem with the guitar... This guitar didn't have really any problems... I thought the stock pickups were good... and a coil split would be nice. This guitar punches way above its price point! ! ! !
@@DominionFretWorks Thanks for the response. Yes, mine is also a very nice guitar, especially at its price point. I have bought several different Fireflys over the past four years and they all punch way above their price point. Thanks again, and again, try push-push pots. . .
I have a black sparkle tele with traditional pups. I also have two 338's. All of them were built under their newest specs. Locking tuners, stainless steel frets with balled ends, satin necks, etc. All three were perfect right out of the box. Personally, I don't think there is a better value out there. All those appointments and quality at a super low price point, and they also play and sound better than other much more expensive guitars. Great show and an excellent examination of the featured guitar.
This company has really up'ed there game... They have addressed the earlier problems with their pickups and have improved the product with each production run.
Every Guitar gets the same review. Yes, this firefly is a 180.00 dollar guitar.... Yes, The Schecter we reviewed is a 900.00 dollar guitar Both had the same reviews And now we know this 180.00 dollar guitar has a better fit and finish to the Schecter. Price doesn't matter here... QC of the product does. It is up to the viewer to make the call on buying the product at the asking price. This video is to give the buy a good idea as to what their 180.00 Plus Shipping Cost well get them. Thanks for commenting. Hope you check out some of the other reviews.
@@DominionFretWorksi talk abt the Schecter Sun Valley with the fluo/yellow color that was on ur wall. Ur opinion abt the sustainiac will be interesting.
Ya... I'm going to get though the guitars that are already here and waiting for reviews.... Thats 6 of them ... LOL But really have some other stuff coming as well... It will be coming ... The sustainiac is a 9v KILLER .... LOL but it is so much fun... @@colhad9505
@@DominionFretWorks i think that the Schecter are much better guitars than Firefly or other affordable guitars that u already reviewed. its just my opinion. i am interested in urs.
They are very nice guitars.... I wanted the SVS in the Tele model... But ended up getting the strat SVS.. I did a review on a Dean MD24 a few months back.... Another great guitar. I did the Kramer LP-FR Assault review... again great guitar! Yamaha ... makes some great models too... Really it comes down to what you bond too. I bond to the Older Peavey's... and some of the Older Kramer's. And it you can find one..... a Zion Super Strat... WHAT A GUITAR from the late 80's to eerily 90's@@colhad9505
That’s because that is EXACTLY what Fender had in mind when they first designed and released the Troublemaker Telecaster back in 2020, which is what Firefly has made a clone of here. 😎
Did you like the review ?? We are moving on to a HIGHER Price Market.. On the next few views....800.00 to 1,300.00 dollar market. and a mid-price point guitar at 500.00 with the case. I still have 2 more under 300.00 dollars guitars here to review... both are Firefly's
.... I picked this up as a ... cheaper Fender FMT. witch I want VERY VERY badly..... this model doesn't have the set neck that the FMT has .... but I can buy 5 of these for the same price... Sometimes the real thing is the real thing.... I know of no one that makes a set neck Tele other than Fender... So is it a replacement for the FMT ...no ... but it is still a great guitar.
There's no Epiphone equivalent for the $2500 US Troublemaker, but FF didn't give it a 12" radius board to match the fixed tune o matic bridge radius. Silly
Remember there is an OFFSET.. the radius on the fret board... The wood is not the same radius as the top of the fret... If I remember from doing this video the frets were 1.4 mm thick..1.3 thick... So it would be 14in R + 1.4mm + .07HE/>06HE action height So, the bridge should be a Larger Radius than the measured fret board. now comes the part of how people set there guitars up... most people don't add in the offset... They set their saddles to the same radius as the fret board wood. Both don't match... LOL or follow the radius offset. But you could just like how you do all bridges like this .... ReCut the saddle to your specs / offset.@@oldasrocks9121
Dunno . . . I have checked my E-mails and there is nothing about the guitar... going to need to dig deeper . . . LOL I'm sure there is something I'm missing . . .
I think the Guitars showing up here will slow shorty.... I have to move out some of the ones here from reviews before ordering more... I still have 4 or 5 to review sitting here... So, I have time to move some.@@AndrewAHayes
ahhh ..... sometimes they come back... It was in stock yesterday . . . I sell off the guitars here after a review.. This one has been cleaned.. 1) bridge trick installed 2) Action Height set 3) intonation set too an Avg. across all the frets and new NYXL strings installed. If you want it .. We can work something out. Repost here and let me know you sent me an E-mail.
If your watching this video.... Please Consider Subscribing ! and Hit the Like Button !
Videos like this take a lot of time to do. It is here to help you know what the product is like and what to expect if you buy one.
This is the best, most thorough guitar review that I have ever seen ( been playing 30 years) subscribed sir.
I got the Troublemaker blue one last week and I LOVE IT! That’s my fifth Firefly and I’m impressed with how the quality has improved over the years. I recommend them to anyone wanting a good guitar at a good price and they make for a good project guitar!
I agree.....
It really doesn't take much to make them play great.
And if you want to put $200 in one you can really make them a great
Where did you find it?
These are the most detailed reviews on YT. Thank you for your time & effort!
Thank You !!!!
I try very hard to do the best review I can!
@@DominionFretWorks Which is your favorite of all the Firefly's you have reviewed?
The MadCat is the overall winner....in its stock form it is good to go
The only thing I may do is upgrade the tuners.... I have had no problems with the tuners.... But some nice Gotoh Lockers would just be great!
As I said .... its good out of the box.
Next would be the Access Cut FFLP... love the guitar and the way it feels... It just has bad pickups IMO
a Set of SD Pearly Gates and you have monster LP with the Access Cut neck.
Next would be the Purple and Black FFST... Again, great player but needs a Bridge pickup... An SD JB pickup and it's a super strat.@@eearts
You are very thorough man. I learned a lot just from watching you go through the instrument piece by piece.
We try to do reviews of the product. Open and Honest. The chat and comment area are always open for people to share their experience with the product. Their feedback is key to the videos I do.
Please tell the people you know about the channel. The more input we have the better it becomes!
Thanks for letting me know you like the content and how we do reviews!
I’ve had this exact model for several months now… Great guitar for the price point
Yes, this guitar is very nice... I want to do a coil spilt mod on it !
To me ... This guitar is gig-able after this video.
I installed new strings.... Set the Action Height to 7.0 on the low E and 6.0 on the High E
And set the Intonation... Its good to play out right now.
Thx for the thorough set up. Appreciate you taking the time to explain every detail.
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed the detailed review...
And I really appreciate the Sub!
Excellent review. Please note that the square area by the output jack is very common on Telecaster guitars made by Fender and other makers.
WOW ... I never really paid attention to that . . . LOL ..
I'm going to look at my other teles now.... LOL
Thanks for letting me know.
Thanks for joining in on the fun here... Thier is a lot of review content on the channel...
Good to have another FF review to watch while waiting on the next drop.
Good to have you here .... Love your channel ! by the way ....
Thanks for commenting.
@@DominionFretWorks, thank you. Feel free to stop by anytime.
The eraser head trick worked like a charm, once I got the length correct :0)
1st go at it I cut the eraser too tall. Was concerned I was going to "push" out the pressed insert by cranking down on the over compressed eraser. Had to trim it back a bit.
Will pre measure next time as it was a bugger to get the eraser head back out.
The flat spot doesn't show on the front binding so that's a plus,these guitars are getting so much better, compared to just a few years ago,one no longer needs to get an expensive guitar to get a good one, probably the best time in history,to buy a budget guitar,the price hasn't gone up,but the quality sure has.
FYI ....
I have a Fender FMT on the way..
its a set neck Tele..
Blonde flame maple top ....
Thank you for the detailed review, I learn from watching you as well. I'm 68 and just started playing guitar less than 3 yrs ago (long story...) and on a limited budget, you help me a lot.... I just ordered same was 206.91 with shipping. I know what to check now. (but don't plan to take neck off) Will yry to update my response after I receive it... thanks again.
Yes..... Please come back and let us know how yours comes from Guitar Gardens. The more info we have on the product the better!
And it is never to early or too late to learn the joy of GUITAR !
Well, I received the identical one, same color, that you reviewed. Very beautiful, no scratches or dings. No issues with shipping, Very pleased, like I said, didn't take the neck off, but everything else was just as you found. No surprises, I am very happy, and it feels good to play.. Thanks again for your help.
I have 6 firefly guitars; they are incredible instruments. The specs on these guitars are unbelievable for the price. everyone I bought had fret buzz around the 9th Frett low E string for some reason. I would recommend A professional set up unless you're really good at it yourself. I cannot believe how much guitar you get for under or a little over 200 dollars.
Watch my mod videos on this guitar.... I take this guitar to the PRO LEVEL !
Your reviews are the best. . .
Just so you don't miss it, here is a repeat of my response to another commenter's detailed comment on coil splitting below:
"Wow. I had no idea there were so many coil split/pickup options. I got one of these exact guitars in this review and had someone put coil splits on push-push (much better than push-pull, imho, btw) pots for me. Unfortunately, I have no idea how they did the wiring and the coil splits have a pretty pronounced volume drop to where the single coil signals seem fairly weak. Nice tonal options, just weak signal when split. . ."
Try push-push pots; you'll never go back. . .
Cheers
ya sometimes they can have a BIG drop in output.
I got the white with square inlays. This my second firefly and I think they are awesome.
I saw one with RED PICKUPS ..... in the White..
is that the one you picked up ???
Love your playing and thank you for going through demo with this guitar. I bought the white and black one that they had and was blown away by it. It doesn't have the coil tap (like Fender), but that can be added. Fender version of this goes for 2500$ to over 3k and I saw no difference in how it plays. Same wood and you get belly cut and locking tuners.
.....Pearly Gates in this guitar and It's SUPER GOOD !
with Push/Pull volumes for coil split !!!!
and still be under 450.00 bucks !
Quick question;
What was the fx used on your intro playing? Sounded very Robin Trower-ish.
I this video all the FX are coming from the ART SGX2000 Express.
Compressor / Noise gate / Reverb /Delay
They older FX units had a low bit rate 24 bit ... which can give you a fake / not warm sound in the FX's
So, the FX loop of the ART SGX is run into an AMR tube Sweetener and a BBE to warm up the FX in the chain.
This tone can easy be done with a Line-6 Stomp HX... I have one and have been able to get very close just using the 1 HX stomp pedal into a powered cab.
Keep in mind the Line6 HX stomp is a modeler unit.... So, use it into a PA amp and Pa speakers / or a Guitar Powered Cab.
This is the guitar I bought. I had 2 little black marks on the edges and maybe 2 other small blemishes and about the same fret work which is really good. The Tuners seem ok but I might upgrade them just to be sure. The pick ups are decent but same idea could be upgraded. The bridge probably needs upgraded because it rattles. The Pots are probably decent but If I do upgrade the pickups I will be upgrading the pots also to make sure. Bottom line is that I am so happy with this that buying the next one is an easy choice.
Pearly Gates . . . Yep ...
I think a set of Pearly Gates and install a Pure Tone Jack....
If your going to upgrade it... Thats really all ya need to do.
If ya want to go next level....
Install Push / Pull volumes for each pickup and split the coils and upgrade your tuners.
Thank You for commenting!!! and check out some of the other reviews here on the channel.
@monty how much you think you would invest into the upgrades?
Pearly gates are expensive... 200 dollars without the chrome cover plate... If you like the chrome cover plate look like the guitar has... 235.00 just for the pickups... 15.00 dollars for the pull / pull volumes and 5 dollars for the Pure tone jack.
I would leave the stock tuners . . . .
I think I would do this .... Wilkinson Pickup link
www.amazon.com/Wilkinson-Vintage-Humbucker-Epiphone-Electric/dp/B0C53C6MH7/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3PRM47G3UWZL9&keywords=wilkinson%2Bpickups&qid=1705112599&sprefix=wilkson%2Bpickup%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685&th=1
Push Pull volume controls Bourns Pots
www.amazon.com/Genuine-Bourns-Push-Pull-Electric-Guitar/dp/B0763L9SRZ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=C0E7OHHD1EXB&keywords=push+pull+potentiometer+500k&qid=1705112695&sprefix=push+pull%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-8
Pure Tone Jack
www.amazon.com/Pure-Tone-Full-contact-Mounting-Hardware/dp/B0786WMY7G/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3AWTWHCGVJMS0&keywords=Pure+tone+jack&qid=1705112816&sprefix=pure+tone+jack%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
So, 82.00 dollars for this setup.....
@@Mr.PhatsVarietyVibesShow
Wish I could find one of these. Great video and great attention to detail 👍
guitarsgarden.com/collections/fftl/products/fftl-classic-model-electric-guitars-honey-burst-color
@@DominionFretWorks Thank you! Unfortunately, they are out of that model right now.
That is strange .....
It doesn't say out of stock on my end.
AND
It lets me add to cart and go to check out.
???
maybe send them an E-Mail.
@@jimlovett8275
@@DominionFretWorks I’m looking specifically for the FFST blue burst that you have or the FFMN that you modified/upgraded.
Just posted a video of the FFMN that was setup for a customer.... In that video the guitar is all stock. Just went though it and made sure everything was as good as it could be.
I have here both guitars you are looking for........ I sometimes buy more than 1 of these to make sure of the QC at Firefly or Leo Jaymz....
I have one more FFMN 2nd production run in the Yellow Flame top. and have the blue burst that was reviewed.
Let me know if you want one of them We can work out shipping and if you want any work done to them before shipping.
here is a link to the video of the FFMN I just did for someone last weekend...
ua-cam.com/video/eM9F74qA4Hg/v-deo.html@@jimlovett8275
You should open the pickups to see if they really are wide range humbuckers.
This guitar was the fastest guitar ..... Reviewed and sold within 3 weeks.
I posted for sale after doing a setup and cleanup and sold within 1 week.
I have to sell the guitars after the review... I have 20 guitars here at times.... The money then goes back into the channel for the next guitar.
If you see a guitar that has been reviewed here you want... just e-mail me and see if its still here.
I also do whatever you want to the guitar before I ship it to ya.
Beautiful guitar! Great video! Just wondering how you would adjust the truss rod? Does the neck need to be removed to get access to the truss rod?
This guitar has an adjustment spoke wheel at the base of the neck....
Witch I like more than the Allen nut at the top of the head stock.
If you look at the base of the neck you will see the adjustment wheel.
Absolutely the very best review I have ever seen
Thank You so much ! ! ! ! !
I try very hard to do the best reviews on YT !
Excellent job , such a great review
Thank You ! ! !
I try very hard to do the best review I can... I hope you check out so of the other reviews on the channel.. FYI the older reviews are not as detail as the new ones.. The channel as grown and is base on its Subs and Members. As people have asked for things in the reviews, I have tried to add them.
Thank You for commenting and joining in on the fun !
I just ordered my first firefly today its the ghost baby its available!!!
Is that the telecaster that is Ghost White with the Red Pickups ?
I just checked that ......and it is sold out now.....
@@DominionFretWorks yes that's the one and last I checked they still have them today btw
They did lol...
SOLD OUT !
You got one of the last ones !@@playauthentic1082
Great video again!
I scroll down some of the comments to see if somebody mentioned it but I did not see that they did.... this guitar is basically inspired from fender when they started doing their parallel universe line a couple of years ago. I believe this is called the troublemaker. Squier had a line called the paranormal universe... where are they basically mixed and match a whole bunch of different aesthetic features or functional features from the different kind of guitar models they have. However, I'm sure you already know this👍🏼😊
Actually I didn't someone made a comment said that it was a clone of the Fender Trouble Maker...
I would like to see a clone of the Fender FMT telecaster with the set neck !
@@DominionFretWorks oh wow....me too! I'd love to see that.
As much as your videos have helped decide whether to purchase or pass, there is also something so satisfying watching you review a model already owned.
Thanks for the pencil eraser trick! And the stool leveraging @ 1:23:43
I have the blue metallic version and lt has all the same positives. Only additional issues are the truss rod wheel is touching the HB ring and I can see a tiny sliver of the PU route along that same edge. Also the low e string action was a bit low at .05, high e was .06+.
FWIW, I will be adding push pulls for coil splits and half out of phase, will report back with results.
I'm waiting on the comment .....
NEVER USE YOUR STOOL AS A LEVEL TO ALIGN YOUR GUITAR NECK ! ! ! !
I'll be waiting on your REPORT SIR !
You ought to make 1:23:48 the thumbnail:0)
almost the same view . . . . LOL, you like that trick.. @@maorienteg
Trying to get you setup as a PRE-VIEWER of the videos... I'll e-mail you when I try to set it up in the UA-cam Studio Software.
I have a video almost ready to load so may have that video ready for you to Pre-View.
@@DominionFretWorks Excellent, thank you!
@@DominionFretWorks Here are my PU findings:
Bridge Pickup 14.8k 7.1H Inner Coil 7.47k 3.2H Outer Coil 7.57k 3.2H
Neck Pickup 8.3k 4.8H Inner Coil 4.17k 2.07H Outer Coil 4.26k 2.08H
Inner Coils are north polarity
Outer coils are south polarity
Mostly tested with a clean amp setting (Spark Mini, rhythm preset, Lux Verb amp, no drive, mod/eq or delay)
Both pickups sound ok split and with each wired in parallel.
Cons:
Grounding both PUs white/green wiires selects the inner coils, non humbucking in the middle position.
Bridge outer coil is a bit shrill and weak, was hoping the greater distance from the bridge (1.75") would have helped tame the shrill, but not really. May work well with a fuzz pedal though. (A partial split on that coil tamed the ice picky tone and retains some of the output volume)
Easiest work-around:
Grounding the bridge PU's white/green and tying the neck PU's whiite/green to the neck volume hot selects the neck-most coils, and both sound nice and are also humbucking in the middle position.
Best Alternate Sounds (IMO and in no particular order):
The neck-most split coils (as noted above)
Neck PU wired in parallel (dual sound wiring)
Bridge PU wired in parallel (dual sound wiring)
The bridge outer coil in series with neck inner coil (humbucking)
The outer coils in series and out of phase (for a chimey/biting out of phase sound and humbucking)
Both PUs standard wiring and also half out of phase (Paul Gilbert HOOP wiring)
One or both PUs parallel wiring and also half out of phase (Dual Sound wiring with Paul Gilbert HOOP wiring)
Weakest Sounds (IMO)
Bridge outer coil (better with volume and/or tone rolled back and better with a Bill Lawrence partial split)
Any pair of single coil in parallel and out of phase (series out of phase much better)
Bridge-most split coils (maybe the best of the worst when both coils are selected)
Excellent breakdown!
Thank You so much for letting me know you like the review....
I know they are long reviews, but I try to cover everything I can about the guitar.
I hope others well like this type of review and join in on the topics here..
Thank You for commenting... Please tell others about the channel !
Yes, will do!@@DominionFretWorks
How do you fix the issue with the first fretted note?
HEY ! Jedi ...
Well, it's the nut height and your bridge height...
set your action height at the 12th just a little high from where you want it. Then check your first fretted note.... if it goes sharp most likely your nut needs to be cut down. Fret your 3rd fret G on the top E string... and check the space under the first fret.... this space should be .5 /.6 mm ( that is a guess ... I just know by looking at it and by touching) if its above that there is room to cut the slot in the nut down to low the string down to the fret board.
What is happening is there is to much space there... and when you fret the first note you have to push the string down to much... which makes the string go sharp.
You also have to keep in mind that the notes down the fret board are never spot on... set your 12 fret intonation spot on and then go back and check all your fretted notes... You see that they will be sharp and flat.... or all flat or all sharp.
What your wanting is an Avg. once you know your adv cents out down the fret board you can nut the nut to match.
its a balancing act....
FYI ... flat notes are more pleasing to the ears... a few cents flat off of true tune. So, if you're a little flat on adv ... I think it's better across the fret board...Remember if you play the 13th though the 24 fret you have to allow for those notes as well. It is an adv across the hole fret board.. Then take that info to cut your nut height.
if your 2 cents off on adv FLAT... try to cut the nut down to give you that 2 cents off flat. Remember this is an adv... so you could go 1 cent flat or 0... just don't be out a lot or more than the adv across the fret board.
I'm not a Tele guy but I wanted to drop a comment to support the channel.
But I have to say, I didn't know what I was missing with this HH Tele model...and their FF338.
Thanks to the Firefly quality & pricing, and to MusicNGear, I've been able to buy-to-try guitars I would have never considered.
You know.... I never liked the look of a Tele.... But in the last 3 years I have really come around to a lot of things that I didn't like before.
I must say now. . . . I'm really like the shape.
I'm a CONVERT now after playing a few of them and hearing the sound they make... Along with the feel the guitar has.
Thanks Bob, for stopping by and letting me know I have some work to do here.
My new goal is to get a TELE in your hands ! LOL
Ditto, I've been a Les Paul guy since '78, with an occassional Strat over the years.
Up until the FFTLs, every Tele I had played had a baseball bat neck, never played them more than a couple mins.
This past month or so, the Madcat and this HH Tele are getting the most play...and the FF338. But then again, they are my newest guitars. Never would have thought.
I have always played Les Pauls and Telecasters but until recently I had never had a 2 Humbucker Tele and I love it, It has a vibrato also so I have been playing some surf guitar and some Phantom Chords covers, of course it doesn't have that Telecaster quack but I have my Telecasters for that
Yep.... This is a cool guitar. @@AndrewAHayes
I ordered the same guitar, it never showed up' got in touch with them, they said it had been delivere???
Ask them about the carrier. UPS / FedEx
come back and let us know what happens...
So far, I haven't had a problem with shipping... I did order two guitars at one time once... They were delivered on different days.
@@DominionFretWorks
They said they sent it to the wrong address by mistake?
WOW ... how did that happen... Or how could they make that mistake....
Did they say how it happened .... ????@@BryanClark-gk6ie
@@DominionFretWorks
They said they made a mistake and it was delivered to some fellow that makes UA-cam videos.
That's all they would tell me? Lol
Maybe this UA-camr is holding the guitar HOSTAGE.... I have heard about is... Once the product is no longer in stock, they got ya.... Just what I have been led to believe could be happening....
LOL . . .
Thanks for the JOKES... I didn't get it until this last message . . . .
OMG LOL
@@BryanClark-gk6ie
Another great review
Please tell others about the channel...
Thanks for letting me know I'm doing a good job !
oh they made my fav fender les paul like... i check that. great review !
Beautiful guitar. I wonder if this is a distant relative of the Troublemaker. Your playing during the opening... That was nice. all the best.
Thank You for the comment on my playing . . . . I never know what people are going to say about it... This channel is more of a review channel so it's nice when someone likes the Demo Chapter of the video!
It'll really rock with some Burstbuckers or a set of Pearly Gates. Or Epiphone Probuckers or Alnico Classic Pros if you're on a budget.
Guitar Madness has a non branded set of the A2 Tonerider Rocksounds with a 12K bridge in double cream bobbins that would look great, I have a set in my clammy paw as I write...
This Guitar needs the Pearly Gates if you're changing the pickups.......That is the set for this guitar... with push/pull volumes for coil splitting....
Just my 2 cents . . . . But I'm with ya on the Pearly Gates !
That type of switch is so much better than the rectangle box switches in most budget guitars. Did you notice that the pickups appear to be knockoffs of Fender CuNiFe Wide Range pickups? Notice where the pole pieces are. Or did I miss that.
I have seen many switches that look just like this one.... Install in this guitar. Some of them just don't feel every good or are not solid feeling in the Neck / Bridge location. This switch has a solid feel in all locations.
It is not a Switchcraft switch.... I say that ... But I have seen some Switchcraft switch's that have not been too good.... Same with some of the newer CTS pot stuff.
Time will only tell how well the switch holds up. But right now, it has a good feel to it.
This pickup design has been around for YEARS AND YEARS... as far as how they look... The bridge pickup read VERY HOT on the meter but really doesn't have that HARD SOUND... It works well.. Pickup readings sometimes are very miss-leading.
This guitar works well... I would like to see how well they do being spilt as single coils.
I have the FFTL with humbuckers but 1 tone 1 volume with the backwards wired coil split and no pick guard its an ok guitar I also have the FFTL red Paisley PuPs are kinda weak, I also have The FFTL white traditional that I gutted and sanded down to the bare wood rebuilt with Emerson premade harness and SD La Brea PuPs out of those 3 when I reach for a tele style I always grab the one I modded . For the price I paid for the guitar $169 I knew it was going to be a husk to mod I put $300 more into it and its 1 of the best playing and sounding tele style I own including my Fender American Performer Tele which I just sold because it just didn't make since to have that when my FF was so much better.
I love my FFTL in Blue...
I did a video on that guitar about 2 months ago.. maybe 3 months ago... it is a Single coil bridge with the Lip-Sick single at the neck...it has a sound... Love the stock pickups.. It is all stock. Love it that way.
Whats the scale lenght on this one?
Scale length and other info is in the Neck Relief and factory string action Height chapter....36:52 mins
25.5 If I remember correctly... go to that chapter and check.
Thanks for commenting and join in ! ! ! ! !
+1 vote for a P90 guitar next? Thanks for the great information Sir! Best Regards and Best Wishes!
ahhh I don't have a P90 loaded guitar here for a review right now.... Funny you bring that up.. I ordered one.... But something happened to it in shipping.... after 3weeks I got an E-mail from the vendor saying it was lost in shipping.....So the order was cancelled.
I do have a P-90 loaded guitar here already.. It has been reviewed already the FFDC by Firefly. I have some upgrade stuff setting here ready to do a UPGRADE video... It's in the works... You can go watch the review of that guitar to give you an idea of what is coming. with-in the next month . . .
Why would FF match a 14" radius board with a 12" TOM bridge?
I emailed Aron when these first appeared, he said the board was 15" and I passed.
If you were keeping this how would you solve this, file the saddle tops and recut the grooves? Certainly seems easier than re-radiusing the fingerboard but how to be accurate dealing with such small groove height adjustments?
Pickups: the screw poles appear to be fixed slugs, no screw ends come through the back plates. Brass backplates, very likely brass covers, so they're cheap WRH knockoffs.
Why they dont CNC drill the neck bolt holes in the body when it's on the router table is a complete mystery to me. I have an FFTL with that wallowed out top bolt hole, its so they can easily do the "UPS adjustment" on the neck side to side to get better string alignment at the heel end of the fingerboard.
Note: if the screws threads catch hard in the body the clamping force of the screw heads is only transferred to the neck plate. If they're drilled out a size up so you can feel the threads have less bite if any the clamping force of the screws heads are then distributed across the neck plate and pull the neck heel into the neck pocket.
CNC work ... Maybe there NC router doesn't have an ATC... It just cuts out the basic shape... and a tool change (Manuel tool change) will aways knock off your steps... Re-Zeroing sometimes just doesn't make sense to then load the program to drill holes ... Just the neck hole in some cases would be 2 tool changes... without a ATC this just doesn't work in production.... Not saying this is why... Just guessing
@@DominionFretWorksThese are shaped/machined exactly like Sire bodies btw, the compound angle neck joint taper and spoon cut, belly cut and forearm relief, all Sire.
I don't have a Solid to DWG laser scanner at home to scan both guitars and check the point clouds on both of them. All these guitars are very similar...
Are they using the same NC-G code ??? I don't know...
Here in the US we don't share our coding from company to company... And we don't sell off old coding to other venders once new coding is done.... This was going to happen... When you outsource anything... There is a chance your coding and specs will be .... Well show up in other places. Now days with Mastercam, Fusion, BobCAD and all the other programs that self-write code... You just need the DWG file or Point Cloud... Your CAM software is going to rewrite it anyway... So is it Stealing ???
I can load a DWG file in Mastercam... let it write the code ... then repeat it ... Reload it and it will write some lines just a little different.
Are they the same ???
We are at the point where it is not the design in most cases... It's the wood used or the time assembling the product. Mass production of every part on the guitar... Companies buy from the same vendors in some cases... Bridges, Fret Wire, Pots... All from China and or other offshore locations.
I saw this going back 15 years ago... Hard to make a product that is your if everyone is pulling parts from the same 10 or 15 vendors.
I don't know it any of its right.... I'm just pointing out what is...
This company does very well at its price point.... right or wrong they are setting new standards for 200.00 dollars and under in some cases.@@oldasrocks9121
@@DominionFretWorksVery much appreciate your reply. I'm not sure stealing was what I was thinking about, I'm just saying it's not a FF innovation.
China does knockoffs, we all know this. Maybe Sire code was "involuntarily" shared, they added Chinese production to their Indonesian wares.
China is just different in this way to Western notions of proprietary design. I don't disagree with you FF is trying to stay in front in the super-budget segment and doing well but they still have the air of Asian Canal Street knockoffs. Even tho they're largely good.
They aren't seeking a market position like Sire and others are. Big box retailers will never sell them except used.
Certain details get under my skin, like a 14" neck with a 12" bridge, but Squier did the same thing on the Mascis Jazzmaster, 9.5 inch board with a 12" bridge. Which also bugged me. The Fender Mascis Signature has a 12" board. I think it's worth pointing out.
One example of copiers' non-design: FF could solve age old Gibson tuning issues with a snakes head peg head, like Heritage does, but I suspect they would be shocked anyone suggest anything other than copying the Gibson peghead flares and tuner positions. It's just the Chinese knockoff thinking
We'll have to wait and see if they'll resell and have the same cachet as Tokai, Greco, Burney and other desirable copies. It's impossible to know if that is even in the Firefly corporate mind. I suspect FF ambition is way more immediate.
I think Firefly a lot more " SMALLER " than you think Firefly is.
They order by lots and ship from there receiving location. With each order I think they are able to UP there order totals..
I would say they are a UNDER 10 person company.
Just a feeling I get from them.
Not sure how I missed it, but my Blue Metallic version of this same model has a not-so-great fit at the base of the neck pocket. It looks tight where the neck leaves the body, but there is a tiny gap towards the pickup side of the heel. Right before the rounded corner on the toggle switch side of the guitar. The heel fits well along the entire edge on the cutout side of the guitar.
How would advise to fill that gap, if at all?
Does that model (Blue Metallic) have the Sqaure Neck plate on the body or the one that has an angle cut into it... ???
I have heard mixed reviews on the models with the angle back plate.
The plate is angled like you show @13:12, unlike the Madcat's which is square with the body
I was talking about the plate itself... does the plate have an angled cut. It's not a rectangle.... plate
@DominionFretWorks Oops, it is a standard rectangle plate with the plastic guard underneath
I only asked due to the ones that have the angle cut into the plate... I have heard mix reviews on those models...
So, I have never ordered one. Maybe I should ... But I really need to sell off some of the reviewed guitars before anything else comes......
I have a RELIC ... I think setting here in the box.... Not sure what I ordered LOL... I think its a RELIC..@@maorienteg
BTW, you mentioned a mod video for this guitar in one of the comments. I looked through your channel and couldn't find it. I'd love to watch it if you made it. . .
It wasn't made ..... Sorry....
I sold the guitar in the stock form. The buyer wanted it this way.
A lot of the fix video are done due to a problem with the guitar... This guitar didn't have really any problems... I thought the stock pickups were good... and a coil split would be nice.
This guitar punches way above its price point! ! ! !
@@DominionFretWorks Thanks for the response. Yes, mine is also a very nice guitar, especially at its price point. I have bought several different Fireflys over the past four years and they all punch way above their price point. Thanks again, and again, try push-push pots. . .
I have a black sparkle tele with traditional pups. I also have two 338's. All of them were built under their newest specs. Locking tuners, stainless steel frets with balled ends, satin necks, etc. All three were perfect right out of the box. Personally, I don't think there is a better value out there. All those appointments and quality at a super low price point, and they also play and sound better than other much more expensive guitars. Great show and an excellent examination of the featured guitar.
This company has really up'ed there game... They have addressed the earlier problems with their pickups and have improved the product with each production run.
Firefly CEO: It's a $180 guitar, homie.
Every Guitar gets the same review.
Yes, this firefly is a 180.00 dollar guitar....
Yes, The Schecter we reviewed is a 900.00 dollar guitar
Both had the same reviews
And now we know this 180.00 dollar guitar has a better fit and finish to the Schecter.
Price doesn't matter here... QC of the product does.
It is up to the viewer to make the call on buying the product at the asking price. This video is to give the buy a good idea as to what their 180.00 Plus Shipping Cost well get them.
Thanks for commenting. Hope you check out some of the other reviews.
Good review like always. thx for ur efforts❤. i wait for ur Schecter Sun Valley review.😊
I can just tell you . . . That is one fun Guitar !
That could be the next review on the channel...
Schecter SVS or the Epiphone LP-FR
@@DominionFretWorksi talk abt the Schecter Sun Valley with the fluo/yellow color that was on ur wall. Ur opinion abt the sustainiac will be interesting.
Ya... I'm going to get though the guitars that are already here and waiting for reviews.... Thats 6 of them ... LOL
But really have some other stuff coming as well...
It will be coming ... The sustainiac is a 9v KILLER .... LOL but it is so much fun... @@colhad9505
@@DominionFretWorks i think that the Schecter are much better guitars than Firefly or other affordable guitars that u already reviewed. its just my opinion. i am interested in urs.
They are very nice guitars....
I wanted the SVS in the Tele model... But ended up getting the strat SVS..
I did a review on a Dean MD24 a few months back.... Another great guitar.
I did the Kramer LP-FR Assault review... again great guitar!
Yamaha ... makes some great models too...
Really it comes down to what you bond too.
I bond to the Older Peavey's... and some of the Older Kramer's.
And it you can find one..... a Zion Super Strat... WHAT A GUITAR from the late 80's to eerily 90's@@colhad9505
Looks like Les had a Tele.
I was thinking the same thing . . . . LOL
It looks nice ! love the Honey Burst Color..
That’s because that is EXACTLY what Fender had in mind when they first designed and released the Troublemaker Telecaster back in 2020, which is what Firefly has made a clone of here. 😎
Because it’s a Les telecaster
Nice guitar !
Firefly has a winner here !
mr guitar inspector
Did you like the review ??
We are moving on to a HIGHER Price Market.. On the next few views....800.00 to 1,300.00 dollar market.
and a mid-price point guitar at 500.00 with the case.
I still have 2 more under 300.00 dollars guitars here to review... both are Firefly's
You bet! these are the best guitar reviews on YT!
Please tell others about the channel.... Lets make it a hang out and chat super channel !@@AndrewAHayes
FACT: It is clear that Firefly has basically made a clone of the Fender Troublemaker Telecaster. Why they cloned this unusual model, I’m not sure!
.... I picked this up as a ... cheaper Fender FMT. witch I want VERY VERY badly.....
this model doesn't have the set neck that the FMT has .... but I can buy 5 of these for the same price...
Sometimes the real thing is the real thing.... I know of no one that makes a set neck Tele other than Fender...
So is it a replacement for the FMT ...no ... but it is still a great guitar.
There's no Epiphone equivalent for the $2500 US Troublemaker, but FF didn't give it a 12" radius board to match the fixed tune o matic bridge radius. Silly
Remember there is an OFFSET.. the radius on the fret board... The wood is not the same radius as the top of the fret... If I remember from doing this video the frets were 1.4 mm thick..1.3 thick...
So it would be 14in R + 1.4mm + .07HE/>06HE action height
So, the bridge should be a Larger Radius than the measured fret board.
now comes the part of how people set there guitars up... most people don't add in the offset... They set their saddles to the same radius as the fret board wood. Both don't match... LOL or follow the radius offset.
But you could just like how you do all bridges like this .... ReCut the saddle to your specs / offset.@@oldasrocks9121
WHO sent it ???????????????
Dunno . . . I have checked my E-mails and there is nothing about the guitar...
going to need to dig deeper . . . LOL
I'm sure there is something I'm missing . . .
@@DominionFretWorksFACT: This is clearly a clone of the Fender Troublemaker Telecaster. You can find oodles of information if you look it up. 😁
@@DominionFretWorks Nice!, I wish random guitars would grace my porch LOL.
I think the Guitars showing up here will slow shorty.... I have to move out some of the ones here from reviews before ordering more... I still have 4 or 5 to review sitting here... So, I have time to move some.@@AndrewAHayes
Sold out? Guitarsgarden doesn't list it anymore. Sigh. Looks like once a model is sold out, it will not come back.
ahhh ..... sometimes they come back...
It was in stock yesterday . . .
I sell off the guitars here after a review..
This one has been cleaned..
1) bridge trick installed
2) Action Height set
3) intonation set too an Avg. across all the frets
and new NYXL strings installed.
If you want it .. We can work something out.
Repost here and let me know you sent me an E-mail.
@@DominionFretWorks Email sent.
Just sent ya an E-mail .... This guitar everyone wants ... LOL
It is a great guitar ! but it just sold today locally. @@andrezcabara2774