Gothic Guitar Elegance... for UNDER $200 - (rounded ball frets, brass roller bridge!)

Satin black finish with blood red accents! Locking tuners, rounded ball fret ends, block inlays, set neck, AND a roller bridge with brass rollers! All for $189? Get right out of there! This new, very sinister looking, guitar from Firefly Guitars is perfect for the darkest sounding metal! Let's check it out!
This guitar here: guitarsgarden....
I used the BOSS IR-200 for the demo: amzn.to/3MCGaJU
Shred with my instructional programs: maxcarlisle.se...
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Rubric: -5 points for Danzig references. -5 points for not reading the description. -5 points for not watching far enough into the video to answer your own question. -5 points for misquoting me in your comment. 20 points possible. Everyone starts with an A!

[@ride4kix]

They should have put a red LED inside the body to make the cutouts glow.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

That would be sick!

[@oldschoolfunkster1]

Great idea!! Even better if it flickers like a fire does.

[@Living_EDventures]

Maybe at least paint the inside bottom red.

[@michaelbutler275]

Killerrrr!! Ideeaaa!!!!!!

[@johnnywithnell2806]

I have a BC Rich Dagger with that built in....unfortunately, it needs to be rewired.

[@kevinkinnu341]

The tone of that guitar has some balls. Actually one of the best sounding guitars you have ever demoed

[@nunninkav]

That body shape with 2 buckers is time tested to work and be the most versatile.

[@Run-Riot]

More guitars need block inlays. It's such a slick look on everything. Block inlays with binding on the neck and body is the way to go. Hell, put some binding on the headstock while you're at it!

[@r.b.rozier9692]

I like when binding matches the paint, normally, I don't like the breakup. But the red on this one looks slick!

[@Drewkungfoo]

it just gives it that premium feel

[@flackanator1]

Thank you so much for these affordable demonstrations and technical analytics.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

You're welcome!

[@donaldscheer5206]

Watched This Videro Max! & I Immediatly Purchased This Guitar. I Now Have 6 Firefly Guitars (Less This New One) I've Been Totaly Satisfied With Every One! Great To Play! & Awesome To Display! Thanks Again Max!

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Nice! You're very welcome!

[@walkingdirt138]

Pepper Keenan uses his old Gibson ES335 in drop B when he plays in DOWN. Massive heavy tone. Those semi hollows are bad ass. Great demo. Sounds killer dude!

[@benpowersguitar]

Been seriously looking at this guitar for a while. Great video Max.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Thanks Ben!

[@bradcarr2444]

I love this color combination, it's different and looks good I hope other companies take note and start making them in this color.

[@MashaT22]

Now that’s a cool 338! Epiphone, take note!

[@RobVespa]

Thanks for the commentary and playing. Wish the other models had all of these upgrades. I would never have noticed the bridge had you not pointed it out. They do themselves a disservice with the lacking descriptions (and photos). All the best.

[@pedrocrush]

You finally did it.... I went and ordered one of these 2mins into your video when I was supposed to not buy a guitar for a couple of months...

[@theubie]

That thing looks and sounds amazing. I've never been a fan of that body shape, but I'm giving this serious consideration for when I buy my next guitar.

[@charleslowrey7242]

I bought one of their strats out of the previous batch. Natural finish ash. Locking tuners. Bone nut. Compound radius fretboard. SS frets. Cool truss rod access. HSS pickups. I think it was $179 or $189. I don’t know if it’s the CR fretboard (I had never played one before), but it plays like a dream. I have trouble picking up my other guitars now. Then some of the other colors went on sale. I bought a white one for my wife. Then she surprised me with the black one. Each was $149 on sale. They are SSS pickups. I agree with other poster who said they do themselves a disservice by not using better photos, and giving a fuller description with all the features. I almost bought the white 338 from the current batch, but it sold out quickly. If I had noticed the brass roller bridge in the picture, I would have pulled the trigger. This black one is cool too. The picture didn’t do it justice. I don’t care for the remaining colors enough to buy one, but I will definitely be getting one of these from the next batch if they have same specs, and a color I want.

[@odie5268]

That thing looks fantastic for the pittance. The fact that it's a semi-hollow means nothing outside of how it sounds acoustically. For high gain metal it should be fine, the pickup inductance isn't at all acoustic. As long as it stays in tune it shouldn't matter at all. The only thing that matters as far the guitar itself from those humbuckers is the pickup output, EQ if it's an active pickup, and maybe tolerance of the pots, caps, resistors in the tone circuit. Otherwise the body style matters zero outside of what you can hear sitting close enough to it. That doesn't translate at all through the pickups.

[@wasteddude9387]

Hey Max dude! On the very next day, those guitars were sold out! WOW! Do you carry weight! Hahaha! Freaking awesome! I’ll catch the next elevator. Hey, that squeezed note at the end of your intro jam hit me unexpected! That was so nice. That texture was like you grabbed the notes with a pair of pliers and pulled them up. LOL. That was great. I noticed something else today about your playing. You do a lot with dynamics, don’t you? Always did. That’s something a lot of guys don’t do. And it’s such a basic, but important tool. Nice stuff, Max! Thanks for another great video.

[@Synsizer]

To me this company is a shameful joke. Runs that only last for a few days? How tiny are they? A few ppl get one, then they're gone. Fender and Gibson would have never made it with such poor business management.

[@strangeuniverse1199]

A bunch of Gothic dudes lurking in the shadows sold this guitar out pretty quick after the video was released.

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

Cool, now they can do an ES 175 style in that look. Only saw one once, but it was so Ministry, it should come with a fucked up black cowboy hat.

[@agentofchaos8679]

Yea and I'm fuckin pissed

[@dresdensinn6669]

You sold me at "Blood Red"!

[@alanhollis9610]

This is a stupid awesome guitar, Maxx! I'm really excited about the color. All of my guitars are red, so I can live with the satin black/bloodred scheme

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

If I leaned more toward being a metalhead and didn’t already own a traditional semi hollow model that was to my liking, this Firefly model would likely speak to me.

[@Getsmore]

It’s either not released yet or it’s not available anymore. There’s three of them there’s a light blue with a darker blue stripe, some type of sunburst, and a purple or pink light shade available as of now.

[@loufher284]

This guitar is now SOLD OUT.....AGAIN!!!! Every time he reviews a guitar I can NEVER get one because they only make so many and EVERYONE orders them all at once! It's nuts..

[@Synsizer]

This company is a joke. It's not Max selling them all out. It is ridiculous miniscule runs. Seriously? Sold out in days? How pathetic. Totally done with this joke of a company.

[@johnnywithnell2806]

Just bought one. Thanks!!!

[@timmackenzie8145]

I love Firefly guitars, I have 5 of their FFSP line (Les Paul style), and love them all. I just wish more than anything that they would ship to Canada.

[@fader_dragon]

Not a huge fan of ES-style guitars but this one looks cool.

[@jcatkins5536]

Oh, my. This beastie looks so much better here than it did at the Garden. I didn't know it was a Bat, either. And you bring it to life so beautifully, Max!! As per usual. Hmmm.

[@dmett3828]

I’ve got the same model but it’s older so it doesn’t have those upgrades BUT it’s got bat inlays 😊 like with wings 🤘 and it sounds killer also. Gonna upgrade the tuners soon. Do not be afraid to buy a firefly guitar, they sound and play great. And if your guitar snob friends, have anything to say to you about your purchase, tell them up yours. Rock on 🤘

[@killacoiler1707]

Couldn't find that color anywhere but I will say this it is a beastly sounding unit and performs in the darker genre of music much nicer than a Gibson would have. For a fraction of the cost at that.

[@1satisfiedmind]

Last month I bought the black FF338 Pro, BB King Lucille tribute (no f holes), with the 5 position Varitone control, and let me say..it's a beast. I play the blues on it, but the thing will ROCK!

[@nunninkav]

Can't get it to sound bad. This one is a serious studio weapon with that bridge and those tuners. You're going to stay in tune between takes and you're going to sound great on any setting.

[@thegolem9325]

My bank account hates you. You introduced me to Firefly and now I can't stop buying them. And how did you get yours so fast? They only posted the new batch a few days ago!

[@dominic5602]

i bought a 3 p90 LP from the new batch the minute it came out and got it 6 days after. pretty sure it was 1 of 1 too

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

He gets sent products for review for free, has priority to show free advertisement

[@MashaT22]

Gotta be in it to win it! (Maybe he also had inside info too, and more power to him because he’s earned that right if he does get advanced warning, lol)

[@thegolem9325]

@@dominic5602 That had to be a good feeling.

[@thegolem9325]

@@MaxisBallinonaBudget I'm a terrible guitarist but I'll advertise for them, too!

[@Rhosow]

Wow, looks really cool! If we talk about colour I would say, they should use a all black pickguard or even with a red second layer - the rest seem to be a perfect match! Thanx for showing...

[@M4DR1U5]

That's actually pretty funny-- last FF I bought was an EX. Pickups were still pretty bad so had to change them out. Also the thing simply wouldn't intonate. Nut was OK so I swapped out the bridge... for a roller! Fixed it right away and plays like a thousand bucks!

[@stephenreese9841]

As always, I enjoyed your review, I was wondering when you were playing the "Sabbath" like cords, why not be in the neck position? In the clean tone, it sounds really nice, and like you said, dark but articulate... I'm gong to have to get one.

[@leetaylor7543]

I ordered this a few minutes after this video went live. Good thing I did, checked back a few minutes later it was no longer listed. The only thing I didn’t like is the weight, feels like a Les Paul, really heavy.

[@docf.n.t.2310]

When doing these reviews of budget friendly guitars, you should do a microphonic test. It costs next to nothing to wax pot these pickups when they are made. However, replacing, or removing/resettig them after wax potting them is a major pain on a semi hollow guitar especially ! Give us the word up in the review. Beat twop blocks of wood together while the strings are off, right in front of the pickups. This would be a great microphonic test !

[@ralphdrees4413]

Need this guitar with a black binding and really black everything. Can do without the red on there. Looks sick just needs all black everything including fretboard and inlays.

[@Myrrhkuri]

thats quick..i just looked at the link,,,this guitar model in this color is already sold out..lol

[@Peasmouldia]

I've been looking for a guitar like this for ages. I have an Epi Dot and Epi Casino. I wanted something for giging.. I looked at shed loads of semi- hollow till I went 335 blind! This banjo is perfect. It has everything I've been looking for. Problem? You can't get Firefly guitars new in the UK..... These things are sent to test us.. Ta Max. Blessings .

[@jamiesexton1786]

Cool guitar!!! I didn't know Pierre Poilievre was shredder!!!! Badass! I'm pulling for you as the next Canadian PM!

[@gbenselum]

And.... Is gone

[@neilstern7108]

Ive been holding off but this is surely a beautiful guitar for the money.

[@ShadeAssault]

Got my first Firefly guitar for Xmas from my fiancée's family this year. It's the 'Pure' series Strat-style. It's black with purple (not on the website anymore though). Honestly, it's a nicer guitar than my Fender Squier Tele. Might have to get one of these 338 Pros, particularly the sunburst one to match my Ibanez Artcore-series AFB140 bass that I love playing.

[@Almonzo246]

Thank you, I had this guitar in my cart waiting for my payday, now its sold out.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Ouch!

[@greyarea132]

Am I the only one that still can't see their website

[@MikeDragonborn]

I bought a couple of firefly strats and they're pretty good. One had an issue with a high fret hanging up the high e string which was a necessity to file down. I feel like the pickups with most of these guitars are the fault. They just need better quality decent pickups or at least maybe an option for the customer to choose to pay a little more for a better pickup, maybe even one that's more customizable to the customers style that they select. It's just an idea in the wind... Yes, you can buy these and put better pickups in them which i have done BUT it would be cool to get the guitar with pickups that are good from the get-go.

[@samsbudgetguitars830]

As I,m a Goth. I would definitely buy this guitar to add to my growing collection.plus I,m after a semi accoustic guitar..👍🇬🇧🤘

[@officialdandaman]

Aloha, 😉🤙 Another year or so & Firefly guitars will be the top source for guitars.

[@vincesforza9479]

By the way just love your show and all the input that your give us on these guitars. . Thank you. Very helpful. Vince S

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

Mine arrived today! I chose the blueberry burst. Sad to see it does not have the roller bridge like the black one in the video, not sure why.. I assumed they would all have the same hardware. It has the locking tuners, rounded ball frets, but a standard tunomatic bridge. It plays pretty amazing for the price, definitely a dark tone good for shredding and classic rock chords etc. Definitely plan to swap one of the pickups out and I think with that, and a mild fret level/crown it will be fantastic. As is, with a simple bridge adjustment, it was 85% of the way there, just some fret buzz.

[@Hobinator17]

Aw but I thought you need to try it first. Only first year players order their guitars

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

@@Hobinator17 this dude searched my entire profile and read all my comments out of sheer loser neckbeard spite. What basement are you in dude. IDK where I ever said you CANT order a guitar online I just said that being able to try it in person first is extremely valuable. Which it is. You know how many guitars I've had over the years even the same models that play totally differently from each other.

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

How many comments are you going to search and reply to? You're breaking records for beta male energy right now

[@Hobinator17]

@@MaxisBallinonaBudget hey friend sorry I cant understand? You must be a first year English speaker I get it, i was an immigrant too once

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

@@Hobinator17 your life must be one sad spectacle after another. I can't imagine you'd have a girl or wife if you have this much time to go off on someone for making a comment you disagree with. Thank God for the block feature. Improve yourself dude you are a mess.

[@norseman61]

“Sinister”. Great description. Forged in hellfire! Ok, so I’m a little dramatic. The only thing I don’t like about flat black finishes are the shiny wear spots that develop almost immediately. Cool guitar, though!

[@cancelbubble6535]

Not a fan of the color combo on that model but if it plays well and stays in tune well, you can't complain about the price with those specs. I do like the racing stripe version of the model.

[@marvinwindsor2999]

Mine will be here this week cannot wait

[@akwamarsunzal]

I want it! Swap out the neck pickup for a P90. Bareknuckle Blues in the bridge... Perfect blues guitar! COME ON! Sadly, living in Europe, never gonna happen 😞

[@davidtguitar]

I wonder why they dont have anything for the european market :/

[@akwamarsunzal]

@@davidtguitar No idea! This looks like the perfect "fun" guitar to turn up at a blues jam session and play blues! 🤣 I would want to switch out the neck pickup for a P90 but could probably get away with the bridge, especially as I dont use it very much anyway! I have some pretty cheap guitars are have put my Fenderand GIbson in storage because they are as good and it matters not if they get wrecked! So, no issues with cheap guitars!

[@sodapopkidd]

And it's already sold out

[@Jeff-ne1lh]

Wow that is a insta buy for me so cool

[@logicalone41]

This would be a good axe for The Dark Knight! Wicked!

[@Terami90]

No way 200 Bucks omfg 🎉

[@thegolem9325]

Firefly is a great company.

[@scottwhitt9379]

It’s sold out already. Same with the white with red accents. Hopefully they’ll make another run.

[@Synsizer]

Pathetic company. Runs seem like they are made by two guys in their garage. Two days sometimes and gone. Not credible.

[@studiotyson2963]

Sounds Amazing! Wowzers! Looks cool too!

[@chrisdigital]

I've had this in my cart for a week and I was going to buy it, thanks Maxx now they're all sold out..😢😢😢😢

[@SavageJaceClark]

Wow, that sounds way better then I was entisapating from a sub $200. Looks way cooler then an epiphone too

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Right?!

[@DavidThull]

I've been meaning to pick this guitar up... and now it's sold out.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

That was fast! Seriously though, check back again in a couple days, they might have more of them they can get ready for sale.

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

No it's not

[@DavidThull]

@@MaxisBallinonaBudget thanks for the heads up. I just bought one!!

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

@DavidThull me too! I got the blue burst after a really damn hard back and forth. Everyone convinced me the matte black is a fingerprint magnet that will get shiny where you rest your arm and that burst had those cool blue diamonds on the inlays so I said f it. That black is still awesome regardless tho!

[@DavidThull]

@@MaxisBallinonaBudget i almost bought that one too. This is my 3rd firefly. My son just got one yesterday. They are really nice, especially for the price.

[@KeithJBrett]

Any points for saying you look like the main character, Eddie Riggs, from BRÜTAL LEGEND? 🎸

[@yargor-ch8ob]

Squier contemporary starcaster is a beast as well.

[@michaeljarvis5489]

Those are so strange looking that I have just about decided to get one.

[@yargor-ch8ob]

@@michaeljarvis5489 very fast fretboard, clean tone on neck pickup has instant george Benson sound.

[@jamesharden8033]

LOVE YOUR VIDEOS MAN…and yes this does look badass but elegant ❤

[@PAINFOOL13]

Maxx 👍🏻👍🏻

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

🤙

[@keithmartin1067]

Great review! Thanks! Rock on!

[@luigigetsu]

Loved the drop D tones, is it the first time? maybe I missed them in other videos, you dont play them very often in your demos but they are sick!

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Yeah, not that often but once in a while! Sounds great on this guitar!

[@SuperBigPetey]

17 hours after this video hits, SOLD OUT!

[@johnstewart1266]

Nice 338, I want one, but when I went to buy one they didn't have it listed. Damn.

[@AlienFrequency]

I really dislike f sound holes, but somehow, I dig them on this guitar.

[@herewegoagain7403]

SOLD OUT. PAIN

[@michaelbeem1737]

Hey GM, Did you notice any problem with the pups being microphonic?

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

No I did not.

[@zenistermister9695]

I ordered 1. Looks amd sounds badass 🤘

[@j.dviant]

Damn its beautiful. 🧡 Its not on their website at all.

[@Krullmatic]

It would've been killer if they would've made the blocks red!

[@rusty_shakleford3395]

Can't find this guitar either. The black with red binding or the rockabilly king that's white with red binding. Can't find either one. Looked everywhere.

[@kellyp9438]

Sold out

[@davidyoung8875]

That guitar is stunning

[@WalkenDead]

I also have to say it is very reminiscent of the Black Widow color scheme

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Good point!

[@glahome1]

Just an observation, pleas buy a contour gauge to use when reviewing neck profiles. $10, tops. Cheers :)

[@bigsalupnorth]

Having the Harley Benton HB-35, how do you compare the two? Quite similar? I'm partial to the blue burst

[@Ataraxia_Atom]

It would be cool if they could do diamond cutouts or some other shapes

[@ernestotoole1176]

Can I get a hard case with it

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

No.

[@kyleabrams5036]

Fits the sides of my acoustic case nice and snug but I take off bottom strap retainer.

[@zeuszoos8386]

So now you showed me Firefly's Demon Guitar straight from Hell so that now I want no other, my birthday's in a week and I can't find it anywhere (Guitars Garden, Amazon, eBay). That's it! I now officially hate you! And I'm tellin'! 😆😆😆

[@breevwhyman2985]

_ .......Damn Max, that is a gorgeous guitar.......an out and out winner for me it's perfect Many thanks Max Vin

[@picksalot1]

If I remember right, not too long ago someone was faking "Firefly Guitars." Did that situation get resolved?

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

I think it's still a problem.

[@onsesejoo2605]

Alex Lifeson and Ted Nugent proved that you can play heavy stuff with semi acoustic.

[@hiramabiff2790]

I can afford alcohol but not a guitar 😂…..good demo 😊

[@Kahuna54]

I went to the link you listed but none shown in black and red!

[@WalkenDead]

An all satin black guitar with red binding and the nut is...... off white. Somebody dropped the ball on that one. Guitar sounds great through the set up you are using but how would it sound live with a amp? changing pick ups in a hollow body is a bitch.

[@keithsmith9889]

That's a lot for $200. Don't own any fireflies or 335 but at that price and those features I'm sure I will soon

[@donvivan6150]

Wondering if they ship to EU and how much it will cost.. Cool guitar - both aesthetically and sound

[@LarrytheMan-uc4ev]

Its not an Epiphone or Gibson so i would not waste any money on that firefly its a nice looking guitar but nice looking doesn't cut it

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

😆 do epiphone or gibson sell guitars better than this for 200$? Last time I checked you get a piece of crap lp special for 200$, this is light-years nicer than that. They are great mod platforms, very small minor upgrades and they are great guitars

[@LarrytheMan-uc4ev]

@@MaxisBallinonaBudget I don't know since epiphone returned to professional quality in 2019 I only play high end Epiphones..so you have me on this one..

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

@LarrytheMan-uc4ev I've got high end gibsons, and replica Chibsons. There are phenomenal guitars coming out for 2 and 300 dollars these days, it's not how it used to be. Having owned both, more often than not I would rather buy something like this and mod it , and have a superior instrument than paying $2000 for a name so they can use mediocre pickups etc and make a killing.

[@MoeVanprick]

​@@MaxisBallinonaBudgetI wouldn't call Epiphones Pro buckers mediocre my friend they are highly acclaimed pickups..and so are the Gibson burst buckers pickups so hopefully your not saying them because if you are you not even slightly close to being right..

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

@MoeVanprick ahh those 100$ pickups make you feel better about spending $2,000 on a guitar? Again, I'm practical, maybe because I'm an engineer. You realize you could buy this firefly and stick your probuckers in it for 100-150$ and be damn near finished? MILD fret level/crown if that, MAYBE change out the bridge, neither of which are even needed. These budget guitars punch way above their weight class these days, period. I enjoy a high end guitar as much as the next guy or I wouldn't have so many guitars, but you have to be real about what you are paying for. Half the time you aren't even getting exotic woods anymore for these multi thousand dollar guitars.

[@kaptkrunchfpv]

I want a tshirt that just says " Rounded, Ball End, Frets."

[@egroegmcdonald9870]

Sold out as of 7:30pm 2/28

[@Living_EDventures]

Max definitely deserves a cut, haha

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

Idk why everyone's saying this I checked out 2 min ago.

[@thomasd9237]

Sweetness .!!. 👍👍

[@stonecoldval]

Sold out already... as usual

[@TeleportFPV]

sweet guitar. those pickups come with the black covers? and is the cost about to jump?

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

What could use upgrading on this guitar to make it great? Just pickups? Highly tempted to pick one up!

[@nunninkav]

A red camo pick guard.

[@Hobinator17]

Make sure you try out those pickups in the store! You can't just do research and order something online, thats cheating. Professional musicians go to the store like MEN and try their gear because that is what professionals do

[@loudguitarist]

2017 is back in the day wow.....