Firefly's Little Step Sister? - $199 - FFLS

Keith take a look at one of Firefly's newest models, the FFLS. Can this little step sister stand on it's own, let's find out.
Time Stamps:
Intro/First Impressions - 0:00
Stock Demo - 2:10
Overview/Takeapart - 3:36
A Look At The Little Sister - 6:51
Wrap Up/Final Thoughts - 7:41
Where to buy:
guitarsgarden.com/collections...
Wilkinson Bridge Used:
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LGVFPZ9?...
Keith Leedham is an independent recording artists/studio owner/tinkerer.
He owns "The Tape Farm" a recording studio that specializes in transferring "pro-sumer" analog tape formats from manufactures like Tascam and Fostex.
Website: www.thetapefarm.com
Facebook: / thetapefarm
As an independent recording artists Keith has released singles, EPs and full length albums. With styles ranging from Progressive Rock to Country to Singer/Songwriter to Hard Rock to what ever the song dictates.
Website: www.keithleedham.com
He also tinkers with various audio equipment such as tape machines, guitars and guitar amps. When he comes across something interesting he posts the progress/results on KZbin.

[@TheTapeFarm]

***NOTICE*** The_Tape_Farm1 IS A FAKE ACCOUNT CREATED BY A SCAMMER! DO NOT REPLY TO THE CLUMP OF HUMAN REFUSE PREYING ON FELLOW HUMANS.

[@leodanryan966]

Awesome review, I wish Dan & I could do half the job that you do. I love the way you get the job done without any nonsense. Hats off to you sir 😉👍!

[@UncleDunk]

No need to apologize, you and Leo are awesome, reviewing budget guitars and always posting an informative review, keep the coming!

[@TheTapeFarm]

@@UncleDunk nailed it.

[@zuperdee]

@@UncleDunk I also concur with what you said! 😉

[@fretworkband3204]

@@UncleDunk Ditto.

[@fatabeeno]

I really like this video. I was unaware that Firefly made a knock off of the Little Sister. Good presentation. thank you.

[@UncleDunk]

Great review, nice to know there is an alternative to a very expensive Little Sister guitar.

[@jessewalker2729]

Great presentation on the Little Sister! Really love the song.

[@daveroach4204]

Thanks Keith another great review. This guitar is worth looking into.

[@ikehightower4878]

Just received my new FFLS this noon. Love it!! Nut was spot on., bridge intonation was good. String height was nice and low though did raise the high E leg 3/4 of a turn frets ends? Highly impressed!! Slightly dirty. Did find as is the norm.. Unable to tolerate the feel of a lacquered neck. Wow! These P90's and dime size still give a really decent, bluesy sound! Way to go Firefly!!

[@mveitchmunich]

Great review. I got one and I'm very much liking it. My rattle disappeared when I put new strings on. Pickups sound GREAT !! Sustain is great! Sounds good for practice without the amp. Neck feels perfect for my small hands. Price is amazing. I notice the single cuts were sold out the other day. No surprise. A real winner from FF!

[@ikeus6857]

Agree.. My most common reaction shortly after playing a newly acquired guitar is dumping the electronics. This guitar sounds great as it is....!!!

[@brianbrown6658]

Loved the video and the guitar. I got the same color but without the cut out. My bridge doesn't rattle (yet) but I always replace them if they have the retaining wire. Eventually it will start to rattle. Great production on the musical side as well. I always enjoy your performances!

[@zuperdee]

1) Congratulations, this guitar is ALMOST as lightweight as my IYV IPF-300 semi-hollow PRS clone, which weighs 5 lbs, 4 oz. 2) One other review I’ve seen of the FFLS mentioned that the nut was cut way too high. Did you have that problem? 3) I’ll be honest, I had NEVER heard of the Little Sister guitar before seeing this clone of it! I had trouble finding out about it on the Internet too, because the search engines kept thinking I was looking for Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Look at Little Sister.” It certainly gives new meaning to that song, doesn’t it?!? 4) Given the way this guitar is constructed (i.e., neck joint at the 14th fret and all that), I’m guessing this model is better suited for things like jazz and rhythm than for shredding or high-flying lead solos. 5) It’s interesting how Firefly has chosen to clone some truly esoteric and highly EXPENSIVE boutique models like the Little Sister or the Languedoc G2! Nice to see that they can dare to be different and not just do the usual Strat/Tele/Jazzmaster/Les Paul/SG/ES-335 clones that practically everyone and their mother are making these days.

[@TheTapeFarm]

My nut seems fine, no issues at all. Yeah, this not a shredders guitar. Jazz, rhythm guitar, and for me trying hardest to sound like Mike Campbell.

[@lonesurvivingcourier1670]

Another excellent review. It sounds great and looks gorgeous. Id love a B&G guitar but they're way out of my price range 😢 this would be a great affordable option. C'mon Firefly, send some to us in the uk 🙏

[@rogersilcox524]

Ant seem to find these guitars in the UK. Pity, I would like to try one.

[@ikeus6857]

Very good vid.. on this lil sis clone. I recently acquired my non cutaway ox blood lis sis and love it.. For those unaware most guitar hobbiest love guitars of this type.. decent bones and not afraid to get their hands dirty working to make theirs play better. my changes are: Roller bridge for the rotomatic buzz elimination .,, 500k CTS pots with The PRS Tone Treble bleed circuit.. wow!! Love these tones and plays great! Handy and light. Surpassing my modded Stat as new favorite!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Good bones… that’s really what I look for, everything else can be changed… and that’s half the fun.

[@frankfarklesberry]

Thanks Keith! Your review format keeps getting better and better. Question about replacement bridge chosen: Is the Wilkinson better/same specs as the Guitar Fetish one you've been using as a replacement, or is it a different TOM? Amazon is a lot easier to order and deal with if the specs are the same.

[@TheTapeFarm]

That’s the reason I got it, because it was quick. I’d say it’s just as good as the GF bridge. It has some nice weight to it.

[@ericwallace8118]

What did you think about the tone differences between neck and bridge pickups? Mine is distinctly different between the two, providing some great tone variations. The tone adjustments are very dramatic as well, more so than most of the ff I've played. Great review, but would love to hear you play without the backing track to really get a good listen to the raw guitar played by someone with far more skill than I have!

[@vanshankguitars]

I wonder why they don't ship to Canada still... I'd love to buy one.

[@ENSOTAVES]

great review! about the frets, gritty? sprouts? traditional or rolled end?

[@TheTapeFarm]

Thanks. No fret issues at all. No sprout, no grit. They could have been more highly polished, but they weren’t bad at all. The fret ends weren’t as rounded as they were on the FFLX or the FFLV, but they are comfortable.

[@Ksantipacat]

I'll have to replace the bridge on mine, getting ridiculous buzzing on the G and B string as well. The drill holes on my headstock are pretty clean. Although I will install a new bridge, a little intimidated by the string replacing situation. I'll get over it though, because I can't play this thing with the bridge the way it is. I was also thinking about getting some aged P90 covers from guitar fetish. I think they would look pretty cool on this guitar. How is the nut? Mine feels a little high.

[@louisfryzel4618]

Thanks. I am surprised that Firefly chose to use that bridge with the retaining wire. My first-run gold-topped 338 has a bridge with that wire and I've bent it a little so I don't get the rattle. But I know the bridge got a LOT of complaints and I understand the newer 338s have a different bridge without that wire.

[@TheTapeFarm]

I mean I get it to a point. They are trying to hit a price point, sub $200. But honestly charge $10 more and put a better bridge on the thing. I mean… I get it, I just don’t understand it 😁. That said, it really is a great guitar, and even better with a bridge that isn’t expending half it energy vibrating itself to death.

[@freddymclain]

you have to know how to attach the string to the 'post'...it's the same principle, only the post is horizontal. A 'bunch of wraps' isn't necessary.

[@jasonkesser]

Would you say this guitar would do well with a bigsby?

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

I have the King branded version of the same guitar. Firefly must be using the same OEM because the King is identical in every way. The King has been around for a couple years, so it appears that Firefly just decided to rebrand the guitar without any changes.

[@hailtothe_rooster1572]

I’ve seen this with other products where several brands are made by the same factory. Depending on the brand name possibly different quality materials. Glues, metals, glass, electronics etc. I’d be weary of anything being produced in 2021 to 2022 time frame after this global shortage of just about everything. Knowing the demand increased for instruments during that time QC was probably not the best.

[@Viper-dz2kw]

How did you get a single cut? Did they change the model design that fast? The only ones now are the no cut ones (which I prefer for the Little Sister aesthetic) but I didn’t know they already had a different variation as I was under the impression these were very a new firefly model

[@TheTapeFarm]

When I bought mine there were 4 models available. Single cut and no cuts in the natural and bursts. The single cuts sold out quick.

[@ikeus6857]

Yeah just checked Guitar Gardens site. They have sold out on the 2 cut-away versions.. the blond or amber and sunburst one's.

[@1satisfiedmind]

Looks identical to my KING B&G Little Sister clones.

[@breevwhyman2985]

wow.....it sounds SO good..........i expect a lot of expensive gear is used in processing and recording it? i can't help but wonder , if the factory is buying in "bulk parts" or "overspill" on the cheap and knocking together something very unusual?...... (clearly they found an inspiration to explain it ....BG LS) Is there anythng wrong with a factory doingthat?......nope. The bridge issue is very off putting. i can't believe a factory would NOT know that bridge flaw and actually still allows the guitar out in that condition? but ofcourse, then you see the price of a BG LS versus the FF.......LORD.....the facoty does not have the time to check every single little thing.....at that price point. a bargain really. best wishes.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Exactly!! The number one thing that affects the cost of any product is not materials, it’s time. Not sure about the “expensive gear”. I guess that’s a matter of perspective. The main guitar parts were recorded using a Vox AC30 plugin that ships with Logic. The “Lead” guitar used the Overloud plugin that is part of the Slate Digital Everything Bundle. Then some standard stock plug ins for reverb and modulation. Maybe one day I should do a video on how I record the stock demos and such. I’ve had a number of people ask what gear I use and such. That said, one of the very first videos I did on the channel was called “It’s not the gear, it’s the ear.” It’s amazing how much you can do with very little gear.

[@rogersilcox524]

Can’t find any in the UK 😩

[@TheTapeFarm]

Yeah… eBay might be the only way. For some reason they are US only.

[@3cardmonty602]

Does it feedback?

[@TheTapeFarm]

Are you talking about the fun feedback or microphonic squealing? I did not get any squealing. With enough volume, anything will feedback. But I had no issues with anything being out of control.

[@rob_in_stowmarket_uk]

You failed to notice that the tuners fitted in the (appallingly crafted) headstock of this B & G knock-off are classical guitar tuners for nylon strings - big barrel, low ratio.. ok for nylon string but rubbish for tuning steel strings. Steel string slot headstocks have steel post tuners with a diameter similar to normal steel string tuners. Just crap.

[@michaelnugent9758]

I can deal with the bridge, but those frets are atrocious.

[@davisworth5114]

Sound test is a waste of time, turn off the effects and let's hear the guitar.