Firefly "Les Paul" Review: Let's Talk About Cheap Guitars!

#guitar #cheap #inexpensive #firefly #fireflyguitars #harleybenton #squier #fender #epiphone #demo #review #metal #dimarzio #tonezone #modification #upgrade
Today I look at the FFSP (Les Paul) model from Firefly Guitars. I take it as an opportunity to discuss what is good and bad about cheap guitars, and which ones are worth your time and money!
Guitar:
guitarsgarden.com/collections...
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0:00 Intro
0:31 A Few Days Earlier
0:57 Firefly Overview
6:34 Better than Epiphone?
8:45 Firefly Tones
12:59 Cheap Guitar Discussion
14:15 Squier and Harley Benton
17:05 Cheap is not Beginner!
21:50 Cheap is for Mods!

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Disclaimer: these are anecdotal observations, and I am not trying to make definitive statements. I too have limited data to draw from and only want to foster discussion for the benefit of players, especially those just starting their journey! Check out the Firefly stuff here: guitarsgarden.com The audio on some of the plug-in capture for this video got a little fudged in OBS. So bear with me as I try to work out some kinks! 😂

[@scentia_est]

This is such a cool channel! Love how you do your vids!

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Thanks. Sometimes the ad lib and edit method works! Sometimes I have to put a little more thought into the structure, but I try not to go off any script or prompt unless it gets super technical.

[@cigdamagelungs]

Love my 8 ff

[@JediJingleMaker]

Great video. I love the firefly for what it is, several mod videos on my channel.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Thanks, a checking out your page now. I need to roll the dice on another and see what kind of consistency I get. I have a suspicion I got a little lucky here just based on some of the feedback when k post this video on forums and pages. But, I can’t complain too much given the price point!

[@Durkhead]

I have a squire bullet that i put an emg in its great! You should do a video on it. Oh yeah! You allready did! Thats how i found your channel.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Ha! Bullet strats, even those made out of ply wood, have been one of my favorite used finds in shops. $80 for one of the most playable necks you can get!

[@tyrannosaurusriffs]

That guitar does sound nice. Listening to you talk about the setup I was like oh I need to learn that’ll stuff. 😂 you really don’t have to spend much for a good sounding guitar. I’d like to try a 10S single cut from China

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Just buy a beater guitar to play with. Rip out the electronics, get a fret leveler… watch even more KZbin! Turn it in to the best guitar that you ever spent $80 on!

[@mattdylan664]

i own American and Japanese Strats i own a Japanese Ibanez RG550 etc and one of my current favorite guitars is a Fesley FDK800 i paid $189 for, go figure. no need to change the pick ups or tuning machines as both are great , it looks and sounds incredible, if i could make one critique it might be the ever so slight fretsprout but even that is so minimal i feel embarrassed bringing it up as it in no way hinders my ability to shred up and down the entire neck. the only caveat here is that ordering online with budget brands the QC may not be as consistent, no problem you have 30 days to return it and ask them to ship another, and ive had to but only because UPS poor handling wrecked the first one i got (chipped paint from being thrown on and off who knows how many trucks) , bottom line being i am super impressed with Fesley so far

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Fesley is on my radar after seeing a couple other YT channels look at them recently.

[@assmaster420]

i have same model that got 2 years ago, had 2 loose frets that needed to be tapped down, replaced tail piece and bridge with epiphone(seemed better, maybe not) and put a JB in bridge, only issue is a grounding humm but easily ignored----good bang for the buck or by the pound(just under 10lbs)

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Loose frets is up there for poor QC. 😂 still within my tolerance though for a cheap guitar. I actually like the stock bridge on this one. I have never been a fan of the ABR-1 bridge with the wire. I had one on an Epiphone and swapped it with a graptech bridge.

[@extremesecrecy]

Where did you buy that one? I got the 338 from Guitar Garden, but I did not see that one. Also, how is the neck? I have been thinking of biting the bullet on a Gibson, the only thing I have felt on Gibsons is that their Neck feels super good. Other than that, even a sound is not much different.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@extremesecrecy I got it from guitars garden as well. They don’t always have the same designs all the time. They seem to do batches. The neck is thicker like a 50s less Paul. Feels similar to a Gibson, but the finish is poly instead of nitro so it won’t soften over time. The one I got here still has nickel frets, but they (firefly) are starting to put stainless steel on their newer ones. Gibson still uses nickel, but they also pleck all their guitars. If you like the Gibson, it is hard to fully compare these 1:1, but I would grab one of these over most Epiphones I have played recently.

[@extremesecrecy]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio I went to a guitar show and tried many Gibsons and honestly they don't have magic dust hahaha, I was expecting it to be magical. The new ones do have some frett boards that just feel great. The sounding part, I can do the mods like you did and get to sound how I want it. I love the Sonic pickups, that is what I am getting on my 338. So far that 338 is great! Thanks for answering!

[@eclipsetheraindanbutler2478]

Did you notice the stainless steel frets? I've wanted one ever since they started making their LPs with them. I have 2 strats and a Tele (EART) with stainless frets. EART just made me fall in love with stainless frets. Obviously I'm curious about the feel on an LP style neck.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

This one I got was actually one of the last they made that I can find that still have nickel frets with cut ends. So I can’t really speak to that. My only hang up with SS is that if they are not done well, they can be a headache to fix. But if they are good, they are an invaluable feature!

[@eclipsetheraindanbutler2478]

@BaritoneGoatStudio agreed. I had the neck with SS installed by a professional, and set up (any leveling and the regular). It would have been only 45 to 65, since he was also installing the neck. With the SS frets, it was 145... with the cost of the neck, it was MORE than my Firefly, but I have the unique flag strat that I love though. Like playing BUTTER!

[@guarddog318]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Squier strat. I've got a Squier tele I like, and just want a start too. I wouldn't even consider it if I were paying for a branded Fender.

[@jcatkins5536]

Forget the Squier. I have one, and it's going to be sold and replaced by a Firefly.

[@douchecraft3113]

New series idea: "Does it Wax?" Where you dip various things in wax and see how it changes the tone or sound of something musical.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Ha! Right. I can’t believe I pulled that outta my brain. As soon as I said it I was like… “yeah that is BS”… wax potting did mess up what I liked about the pickup. But I can definitely get down with wax dipping a harmonica and trying to play it.

[@douchecraft3113]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio Wait is that a legit process? I'm genuinely curious - lmk if you have any vids about wax dipping (or make one! sounds weird as hell lol)

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@douchecraft3113 it is. Pickups, passive ones anyway, are usually vacuum potted with paraffin/bees wax to keep the copper in the coils from vibrating and becoming microphonic. If the copper vibrates against the poles you will get a microphone! You can check out many videos on YT that go over it!

[@HighSpeedirt1]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio I"m always surprised how quick people toss them for being microphonic, like they're no good. I've found some to be quite good after dipping them. In your case, I wonder if popping the cover off might have helped?

[@1satisfiedmind]

I took a hot wax bath and can confirm my screams sound louder, clearer, and higher pitched.

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

Things have changed mightily since the pandemic. Beforehand, I used to laugh at guys with their "-" killer Epi that was like $800 new. I have 1600ish in a 1H Melody Maker, a 24 fret 1H SG, and a beautiful Les Paul Studio with AAA top. I saw a Tommy Thayer Epiphone going for $200 more than my LP in the same market weeks after I bought it. I think that's kinda nuts. Now? An Agile 3010SE that I paid over the 10 years ago new price ($400) is a relative bargain. All my Gibson guitars doubled in value, but that isn't a trend that's going away, and I won't sell - because I wouldn't be able to replace them later. If you can get the real thing, do it. If it's not, there's little shame is a well made budget axe, and especially nowadays. But, I still think it's funny that there are Epiphones with higher price tags than a Gibson Tribute, currently $1399.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

The Epiphone situation is almost comedic. Gibson is pushing the inspired by narrative hard. And to be fair, they are killer guitars some of them. But the ones that come out of China, some are near 1k, are still suffering from some issues like uneven fretwork and rough hardware. I don’t think people should have to roll the dice when paying near 1k for a guitar. As I said in my video, I have a high threshold for issues as I know how to deal with most of it… but that isn’t true of the average consumer. I am impressed with how Fender/Squier is keeping thier low cost products pretty consistent. I got a chance to play on an entire lot of the Sonics. Basically every version was on display at my local shop. They all were near perfect matches between each other and played well. Mediocre electronics to be sure, but the one I bought had alpha pots and an orange capacitor. Minor fret end stuff up near the neck joint, but that was really it.

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio I've owned 3 Slick SL59 "juniors" and their P bass. You should give them a try, the Fender types are really cool, and now they have sandblasted ash finishes in addition to the relic types. Swamp ash, brass & rosewood, good shit for under 3 bills. Brass hardware, graphite nut, crowned leveled & polished frets, good pickups, raw neck (I just slather some coconut oil on once I make sure there's no need to return it. Wipe off & play.) The 2024 SBS line have roasted flame maple necks, alder or poplar, gloss or relic, jumbo frets, floyds, again good pickups, and come in trad strat, superstrat & offset shapes. Selling my SL59 again to make room for an SBS. I don't know about Xaviere, but the Slick and SBS lines are really hard to beat in the under $400 category. The relics get way cooler with a little real battle scarring, perfect stage & rehearsal beaters. Guitar Fetish sells a steel & brass Floyd for about 80 bicks, only thing I might upgrade on any of them. FWIW, I find the 24 3/4" models really satisfying to play as a Gibson guy, and are unique enough that the differences vs the inspiration don't matter. They're their own thing, and it's good - bought it 3 times! 😁

[@fletcher75er]

I had 1 of the thinline Tele guitars from firefly but sold it. It was a really good axe, but just didn't care for the semi hollow tone. But great guitars for the price

[@johngonzales8224]

black beauty is a three pickup

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

That’s true. I never could get into that setup. Firefly does make one though.

[@MichaelVician]

Company is in China. Distribution warehouse is in California.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Yeah. That makes sense. They do seem to be fairly active in the realm of social media and I would be curious to find it more about their business structure. They are at least not some enigmatic black box like some of the “brands” on temu and AliExpress.

[@2dazetake]

I love my firefly LPs, my champagne pink metallic elite is a favorite, but I have moved to chibson, the cherry burst standard LP with a one piece body and one piece neck, sold me on trying one,plus the nitro finish out shines the flys, and for $220 delivered to my door, why not, we buy budget guitars, so we can have something as close to the real thing,as we can get,my chibson LP blows my fireflys away,if you can get over the logo,the guitars are what a great guitar should be, extremely playable,with no upgrades needed, or fretwork, even the pickups rock, since Gibson is making a copy of a fake,ie Slash guitar,they made it ok to own a fake,so I do now and couldn't be happier.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Yeah. With how they have been treating the Epiphones as of late, and the prices! I can’t blame anyone for going the Chibson route. I am actually just not a big fan of nitro finishes myself. I own a couple Gibsons, but I have preferences for other brands in terms of looks and features. Although, I have been keeping my eye out for an older MIJ “Les Paul” in decent condition to pop up.

[@vanillaoud9861]

Thats nice! No upgrade or work on a Chibson makes me so curious and excited. Where did you buy your Chibson? And whats the name of the store? 😁

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

I got a number of MiJ Orville LPs, HMU man, would love to see one on your channel ​@@BaritoneGoatStudio

[@2dazetake]

@@vanillaoud9861 random sellers off aliexpress choose one with good reviews,I just go with the lowest price best review rating sellers,check Fulton street beats you tube channel for more info.

[@JohnDoe-nl9jv]

don’t be shy .. send the link to the chibson.

[@timesurfingalien]

Learn to work on them yourself and youll be fine. Ive seen bad and good reviews off budget brands and name brands. Buyer beware and learn to work on them

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Best thing you can do is learn to setup and solder! Save money and you can make most guitars playable!

[@GuitarDaze2023]

If you’re hoping to test drive a Gibson LP get a chibson,firefly LPs are more like a viper or LTD guitars.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I have a couple Gibson LPs. The way they built these elite black ones are ticker than an EC1000 and very heavy. There is no belly cut either on this one. It feels closer to a Gibson than my LTDs, although the neck isn’t as thick. Firefly seem to have redesigned the heels on the LPs to be more modern now, and they seem to be making more variations of the LP shape. Crazy how they can have so much variation, but maybe that is part of having things contract built in batches.

[@GuitarDaze2023]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio yeah I have a firefly elite with a slim tapered neck and a lizard burst LP that has a neck like a 58 LP ,super thick neck but really comfortable to play.

[@scottkeane53]

I have a question..... Is "Garden Guitars" the ONLY place to find these firefly guitars? Because their selection of guitars totally suck A** ..... Thanks for any feedback 😎

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Guitars garden are the primary place. They drop a new batch of guitars almost monthly. The same models and color options aren’t always available. They do limited runs and sometimes they have a lot of stuff, other times it is slim pickings. They also have a handful of guitars right now on Amazon, SG styles I think. They have an eBay page too.

[@user-qd9mm5mt4i]

Cheap guitars will only ever be that. They're likely not getting you your money back if you sell them. X guitar is not a Les Paul killer. A Les Paul or SG or any American guitar from the big brands will hold value and increase in value. If you have inexpensive guitars, just play them and have fun. Hoarding them and pretending it's a collection is a waste of time.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I generally agree in terms of investment potential. The market is a bit more diverse it would seem in respect to some of these inexpensive brands. Anecdotally, in terms of legacy brands, I have been able to flip a Squier for more than I paid through the used market, but with Epiphone I typically break even or take a hit. Gibson, and to a lesser extent Fender USA will always keep value on the resale market and they can appreciate. Brands like Harley Benton and now Firefly have developed cult followings and there is a market for them. HB and Firefly often do sell above thier MSRP on FB marketplace and Reverb. The Firefly’s more so due to the nature of the “drops” that guitar garden does. They are random and more specialized to specific colors and features (planned scarcity in a way), and HB is mostly US and Canadian buyers not wanting to pay fees and shipping to import from Thomman. Ultimately, no one can upend a legacy brand by making a similar quality product for cheaper. It is just a different kind of product really. The majority of consumers will entertain owning both cheaper products that are worth having and more expensive products due to brand integrity or familiarity, or hell, even pride! I know I am not running to sell my Japanese ESPs to fund having a bunch of sub $200 guitars anytime soon!

[@FlorentChardevel]

In my experience, cheap guitars are great for the studio, as long as you put nice pickups in them and you know how to do a correct setup. I also enjoy setting them up.

[@TWANGROCKS]

why sell one? if you're buying to sell, then yeah. it's no Rickenbacker. but the important thing is do you play it and are you happy with it. I have three, I didn't buy them to resell them. it's a moot point.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@TWANGROCKS I don’t think most people would be doing so. I myself typically only sell something if it seems redundant or it isn’t getting used for anything (rare but it happens). Also, if it is inspiring me to play more because it is a good guitar. I would need to be desperate to let it go. But, the argument for seeking something out as an investment gets levied against the “value” of cheaper guitars all the time. I don’t think that aspect of it is holding true anymore. Obviously a $200 guitar won’t turn into a $2000 guitar at the current inflation rate, but certain cheap guitars seem to get eaten up on the used market at cost or higher. I have been seeing the mid range guitars being the ones going for less. I think it has to do with the microeconomics of affordability in the short term.

[@Eventheodd1]

I've seen people selling my exact Firefly guitar for twice what I paid for it.

[@randallhaney7909]

WTF? You start by saying (paraphrasing here) While holding a FF.LS. Sating this guitar feels authentic, I haven't put it down. I changed some stuff, ..A lot of stuff. But to be clear I didn't have to change anything. To make it playable or sound good. Then by the end you're saying that a cheap guitar; is not good for a "beginner". Because they .. (The beginner) .. Will need to cough up an addental 2 or 3 hundred Bucks, To make one (a cheap guitar) playable. So buy a $500.00 guitar that will be better Makes no sense? Especially after your Epiphone story, I'm outta' here. A good guitar is a good guitar, Regardless of "Price Point or Name on the headstock. The same goes for a bad guitar. PS. Don't talk to me about "Gibson" Quality I know better than that; on a personal level.