Firefly semi hollow body guitar review with added (GFS pickups)

This is a short review of the mysterious "Firefly" semi hollow body guitar with added GFS pickups. Very well built. Chinese company and a start up, so never know how long they will be in business.

[@bradprather6749]

Great review, thank you. Mine is also a 2018 model and is nearly flawless. It's a beautiful instrument for 140.00.

[@patrikgibbons7560]

Just got mine two weeks ago, absolutely love it! I am gonna change the tuners and am also looking at GFS PU’s. I’m leaning towards the Nashville Vintage Filtertron’s. Thanks for the great vid!

[@DavidTheFixerofThings]

I have really grown to like mine a lot! its my most favorite to play right now... have fun!

[@lousimpson3070]

Thanks for the heads up on the GFS's..I went with the KMIINI Pro II Series with the Alnico II magnate pickups.. a substantial improvement

[@2bikemikesguitartopics145]

I found my pickups to be microphonic also and subject to increase the feedback. I wanted to replace them and was thinking about GFS since I used GFS on all my telecaster bills. I'm going to look up the ones you mentioned and have a look at them thanks. I also have had the problem with the jack. It seems that the g string has a vibration harmonic that makes that little spring clip want to diesel around a little bit. I replaced it with a roller bridge. So the GFS pickups sound reasonable.

[@rkg456]

I have a first run Blue / Black burst FF338 and a Green FireFly thinline. I want one of the FFDCDS but they are always out. I want am waiting for their LP to come round again.

[@derek-press]

I have yet to see a bad review of these guitars and I have watched over 20 at least ... so something must be good!

[@michaelmillican5592]

Great video! I bought a new firefly sg style version and compared to the Grote guitars, I think they are inferior.

[@richardfinney8784]

I just got my 2019 green burst Firefly, same buzzing but on three strings, it is the saddles, the adjustment screw doesn't fit very tight causeing the string vibrations to move the saddles. Used clear nail polish or silicone to fix the concern.

[@DavidTheFixerofThings]

correct. On G.B,E strings. it is on the saddles. On the original Gibson "tuno-matics" they would put a spring on the screws. On this knock off, it does not have them. The retaining spring bar across the back also adds buzz. I removed this, and I then cut small silicone tubing (hobby engine fuel line), and slit it, then force it over the screws. This created a "spring" effect and keeps the buzz away! Enjoy!

[@clos5700]

Richard Finney I got mine yesterday. I have the same issue. The B and high E sound horrible. I’ll change out the strings and make the adjustments. But overall I’m happy with it.

[@DMSProduktions]

Causing.

[@jameswilliford5478]

Thanks for the info guys...I'm a novice and had noticed a slight buzz on the g...didn't really bother me but will try your fix. I got the red 338 and love it. Can't justify paying for a Gibson and like this better than my epiphone (nothing wrong with my epiphones just my personal preference).

[@caelachyt]

I have two of these and a friend got one too. He ended up having a problem with that input jack so I replaced it for him. They can be a problem point. Overall, great guitars for the $$$.

[@robertwatkins8220]

Thanks for your video! I didn't think any company set the intonation, or setup on new guitars anymore. I do think they should! Maybe they don't because not everyone likes a guitar setup the same?

[@ronaldmayfieldsr.4899]

I am interested in the Firefly electric guitar I would like one in the blue I said I was 70 but I am a 77 year-old man

[@pappychubby]

I had the same problem on my Firefly. Replaced the saddle, problem fixed.

[@DavidTheFixerofThings]

yeah actually it turned out to be the small spring wire that goes across the back of the saddles. Very common for these to "buzz". I removed it, and used small silicone tubing on the saddles to mitigate any buzz.

[@georgefurman7652]

Me too. Replaced the bridge with a roller style. Got it on Amazon for $10. No more buzz. That's the only mod I have made.

[@Realroyrogers]

@@georgefurman7652 ? which one fits ?

[@georgefurman7652]

@@Realroyrogers I actually replaced the cheap roller bridge with this one from Amazon. It drops right in the original threaded studs. The bridge that came with it is junk. Take it off and shake it and it sounds like a baby rattle. Gotoh Tune-o-matic Bridge with... www.amazon.com/dp/B0751SQJKN?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@georgefurman7652]

I also replaced the tuning machines with these locking tuners. Again they dropped right in and work great. The originals were okay, but they were very loose as well. Guyker 6Pcs Guitar Machine Heads... www.amazon.com/dp/B07MQCHZHG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@earlclark5830]

Has anyone tried potting the pickups...Of course, I have a set of older Gibsons waiting for my Firefly to arrive.

[@anticsofahusky]

yes. Actually I potted these in paraffin wax and then put them in another guitar I had. They sounded much better after that. no more microphonics.

[@AndrewCCM]

Mine came in last week. Overall happy... but tuners are garbage. 3 of them can turn a quarter without moving the string. Saddles loose on bridge and pickups highly microphonic and feedback like crazy with anything more than light gain. All will be replaced. Tuners and bridge on the way...gotta figure out which pickups I want. Thanks for the review.

[@DavidTheFixerofThings]

I got lucky. my tuners are fairly good. But the TOM bridge buzzed bad. I put silicone tubing on the screws and fixed that. But someday I may change it out. I really like the GFS pups I chose for it. Really is a sweet sound. I own about 18 guitars. This one is my most favorite guitar to play. I LOVE the neck and has a great sound now too. Once you get those minor things fixed you should have a real nice player!

[@martinodelazzari6373]

I was thinking to install a P90 and an HB on a Firefly... If I can find a red one....

[@bigjohnson9561]

Unfortunately the Firefly I received had damaged on the binding so I returned it. Originally I wanted to exchange it but they were sold out so I've been waiting for them to be available again.

[@johnwelch557]

I have the latest issue(now sold out again) and have NO defects. The pickups now are heavily wax potted to stop microphonics. The pickups measure 14.4 and 15.2 resistance matching my Gibson. I don't think there's any reason except maybe fear to change 'em out. Sounds exactly like my 335 and plays better. The big mystery isn't how to make a fine guitar for small money, it's how we humanoids have fallen for such bogus things as name and advertising. I have a room full of guitars and the ones i play and gig with are the inexpensive ones. It's become a source of embarrasment to display a brand name on a guitar. BTW a kitchen mixer is 10 times more complex that our simple guitars...Thx!

[@AndrewCCM]

Just received mine. Still highly microphonic. Feedback machine with anything more than light gain. Will be replacing.

[@benshapiro5039]

my firefly semi looks very different much more 335 not pointed edges

[@QS-si3cq]

Yes, they changed them in more recent batches from the Mickey Mouse ears to look more pointed like an early 80's Ibanez.

[@ronaldmayfieldsr.4899]

Play my guitar to me I would like to try it and have one of my own

[@bradsparks6008]

These guitars are more famous than Gibson at the moment!!!

[@mojooftheg5961]

Geez David, what do you want for $140 guitar.

[@DavidTheFixerofThings]

I want a $140 guitar but I got about a $120.... ;)

[@phileckert4122]

What pickups did you replace With?

[@DavidTheFixerofThings]

HI. I used GFS pickups. The neck is a Mean 90, and the bridge is a Fat PAT. I mentioned these at 5:30 in the video. The mean 90 sounds great! the fat pat sounds good but is a little less weak than the mean 90 IMO. but for sure better than the stock pups.

[@phillipholt6005]

I wouldn't never known he's not affiliated with fire fly! Lol

[@fatherof3kidz]

"None of the other videos tell about the setup"? You apparently didn't watch very many lol