Firefly Super FFST: Best budget super strat, or bust?

A first look at the Firefly Super FFST guitar. A basic unboxing video goes amiss when problems arise.

[@Kennardy]

Thank you for this review. I have been eyeing these and I have a feeling that most of the “influencers” are getting perfect guitars that have been fully inspected before being shipped for a compensated review (keeping the guitar or whatever). I have a feeling that your experience is closer to the “real world” experience when buying something priced so low.

[@3randommonkeys]

Fireflys have all been hit or miss for us. but the bodies and necks have all been nice. So if your not afraid of potential repair or mods these seem to be pretty good for the price. You get the real world with our video's, just a couple old guys having some fun. Thanks for watching!

[@AlgorithmicApostasy]

@@3randommonkeys I've purchased 3 Firefly guitars and none of the locking tuners work... They seem to be solely aesthetic.

[@3randommonkeys]

That's odd! I only have the one with locking tuners, and they work and it stays in tune. Thanks for watching!@@AlgorithmicApostasy

[@user-zi8hj5ne1z]

I also grabbed one of these the day they were added to their website. I think it might be their first run of the super strat model because I couldn't find anything on the internet about them until your videos and a single listing on reverb about a week after you posted this. Wiring and soldering on mine was solid, and my push pull pot is wired the proper way. A couple of sand marks under the finish on the back of the body that you would never see while playing. Overall, I've been pretty happy with the guitar. Whatever pickups these are sound much better than I thought they would for the price. But yes, It seems like QC is the general issue over all firefly guitars, and it's a coinflip whether you get a good one, or have issues. It also may just be because this is the first run of the super strat model, compared to the rest of the guitars they have listed currently that they have made previously.

[@3randommonkeys]

"Thanks for the comment! We're glad you got a good one. We're going to be shooting this Firefly super strat against an Ibanez RG Prestige model in the near future. That'd be a $200 guitar vs a $2000 guitar. These Fireflys definitely punch above their weight, QC issues notwithstanding" Thanks for watching!!!

[@Raildig]

I was tempted by this model... waiting for either just the right Firefly 338 or Tele. Even with the issues, this a really handsome guitar and overall... I think buying these Fireflys looks to be kind of fun for a couple hundred dollars. I do wish they'd be more detail oriented on their site when t comes to describing things like the neck width at the nut, fretboard radius, etc. I guess you could consider it kind of a $190 lottery ticket where you're guaranteed to get something!

[@3randommonkeys]

Of the four Fireflys we have had our hands on only the 338 was good out of the box. The others needed some work but in the end were really good for the money. I think they are a great way to add to your collection on the cheap . Thanks for watching!

[@tomnelson1971]

Oh crap, I just ordered the green one so I guess I will have to get used to the black one...been a year since you posted, I hope they fixed the problems as I will have to pay someone to do the set up... Have the 338 and it is a great piece, right out of the box...

[@3randommonkeys]

Hopefully your luck is better then mine and it's green.😂They're great guitars though. At least 33% of the time. Good luck with yours!

[@eclipsetheraindanbutler2478]

All of the Firefly reviews, and the one that I purchased for my girlfriend, with coil split are set up backwards from normal. It's not a QC issue, just seems something that they do... The wiring issue sucks. Also that they sent you the wrong one. I've only ordered 2 guitars from them, and they were both perfect. The huge selling points for me are the price point and ESPECIALLY the stainless steel frets. I'm spoiled on those ever since I got my EART Telecaster... but the FFs are half the price, and even my EART had fret leveling prices. I would have bought one of the red FFLPs with stainless steel frets by now, but when I tried the site was glitching and just restarting the payment process every time it should have been finishing... 3rd try and I was done. THAT makes a person nervous, so unfortunately I think I'll be sticking with Amazon available purchases, and FF lost future business with me.

[@3randommonkeys]

If Firefly could only get their QC issues solved. The price is right but it may come with some hassle. Thanks for watching!!

[@hadleymanmusic]

It all depends is the bridge plate thick or punched metal? Is the body thick and heavy full size or little like that affinity crap?

[@bluwng]

OMG definition of bad arse! They don’t have them anymore.

[@edbogus]

Hi just seeing this…I ordered a flat black same version and received a metallic green model. Instead of shipping it back guitars garden offered my $16 back to keep it. The bridge pickup didn’t work but I didn’t try the push pull knob…I will check out the soldering job thanks to you! Everything else about the guitar I like (I immediately changed the strings and replaced saddle with roller bridge as I do with all my Firefly models). In general I’ve been very happy with their products but really wished I received the flat black version that I ordered. Keep Rockin’!!

[@3randommonkeys]

Thats crazy, I wonder if the SKU's are similar on the black and green. Firefly's do have a lot of bang for the buck, as long as you don't mind doing some work. Good luck with your pickup issue. Rock on!!

[@jaymesmustaine684]

I’ve had several Firefly guitars and loved every one of them. Very nice for the money! Just so you know with the satin black finish you will get finger prints in the way of shiny spots.

[@3randommonkeys]

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. It's a total fingerprint magnet. Satin finishes might be cheaper to produce than glossy, but there are certainly other drawbacks. Thanks for watching!!

[@momcilopucar8749]

I think you've use eyes glasses👀 to see better. I've seen👀 immediately that first E string isn't seating on neck I don't know what's it holding on the neck edge if frets are rounded???? It has taken you to play even then you've not noticed that string isn't seating properly??😮

[@3randommonkeys]

Yup, we got a laugh later at not picking up on that high E being caught right away. I think you need to re watch the video at 5:41 and you will see what the string was caught on and the other problems encountered with this guitar. Thanks for watching!!

[@chucklee347]

Man it's a awesome looking guitar. But it is weird how some are great some ok. Some horrible. I have 4 fflp. One is a double cut LP style. The others are single cut LP style and honestly other than just basic setup I've had to do nonthing and 2 of the 4 is 2 piece body 2 piece neck and seems to be excellent quality of wood and was built very nice. All 4 has great acoustic qualities and the whole guitar vibrates like hell when strummed acoustically. And has really good sustain. I believe you. You have no reason to lie. I've heard other people say they've had 5 or so and 4 were junk. I'm curious why there's not better QC. But I know it costs more so tack a extra 20 on the guitar. Do you think what you got out of box was worth what it cost. If I may ask. I was thinking about that same guitar I've never played stainless steel frets before. Thanks.

[@3randommonkeys]

If you're comfortable doing your own guitar work, then yes go for it. You have had better luck than us. Once fixed though with a proper setup, I feel this is a stellar guitar and will be using it in the studio! Thanks for watching!!

[@SouthFLSteve]

The horns on that guitar look absolutely huge. Will that thing fit in a Stratocaster case? Are the horns closer in size to a Fender Strat or an Ibanez RG? Thanks for the review, I'm keeping my eyes on Guitars Garden for when these show up again.

[@3randommonkeys]

It is very close in size to my Ibanez RG prestige. Almost like they're copying that....almost. Thanks for watching!

[@3randommonkeys]

Tried a strat case and its a no go so maybe the RG case would fit.

[@SouthFLSteve]

@@3randommonkeys Thanks for checking! Maybe a gig bag would work better?

[@3randommonkeys]

@@SouthFLSteve We managed to cram all our gear in the back of my pickup with a topper on it. The guitars would not have survived with out hard cases. Otherwise I think bags are better.

[@spokes28]

Would you say the high E string is too close to the edge of the fretboard?

[@3randommonkeys]

Not particularly. Tapping the fret edge back into the fretboard fixed the issue. Thanks for watching!!

[@exheads]

Did you know they shipped me the wrong guitar as well, the same one you received. I ordered the green metallic which pissed me off and turned me off to Firefly. I got $25 bucks back from them but still turned me off.

[@3randommonkeys]

I'm sorry to hear that. Dana was not a happy camper either. I had to edit out a lot of "They sent the wrong guitar" while putting this video together. Of the four Fireflys we have dealt with only one was good to go. Thanks for watching!

[@exheads]

@@3randommonkeys Also the Bridge plate and the block are not aligned so you cannot screw in the wiggle stick. I have not changed strings yet but will try to see why it is not aligned.

[@3randommonkeys]

@@exheads Sorry to hear that. That's one problem we haven't had yet . Fireflys seem to be hit or miss but it's hard not to try one for the price. I hope you can get yours going. Drop a comment when you get it figured out. Thanks for watching!

[@charlotteglover2159]

It seemed to me at certain angles it seem like a very dark drab olive green only on certain angles though it may actually be green but looks black at certain angles

[@3randommonkeys]

You know I looked back at the video and it did, but in person it's flat black no matter how you look at it. Thanks for watching and commenting!!

[@jimgray774]

It seems like firefly has ben messing up alot on the little stuff lately.

[@3randommonkeys]

Well I guess it depends on what you call little stuff. If you can work on your own guitar it's all good. Thanks for watching!!

[@creepinonthebabes]

that would have been perfect if it was a Hardtail

[@3randommonkeys]

Hardtails are nice, especially for tuning stability. One could certainly deck the tremolo and effectively turn it into a hardtail. Thanks for watching!

[@joshthomas83]

If you let them know they sent you the wrong color they will give you a refund probably like 25 or 30 bucks

[@3randommonkeys]

Thanks! I assumed they'd want me to send it back, and the cost of shipping and associated hassle just didn't seem worth it for a $170 guitar. Plus, black is totally metal!!

[@jimgray774]

Firefly isnt so perfect anymore.i think leo jaymz is a much better guitars and cheeper and only $7 shipping instead of like 30$

[@3randommonkeys]

We havn't got a hold of a Leo Jaymz yet unless you count the kit, might have to check them out. Thanks for watching!

[@ss_whole]

Unfortunately all they have left is the gay pink ones

[@3randommonkeys]

🤣You made me look! Yup there's a reason those are the ones left. Thanks for watching!!

[@bluwng]

All gone now.

[@hadleymanmusic]

Paint it