Firefly Guitars Vs. Westcreek... is it just the same guitar??

[@radtats6899]

I like the looks of the Westcreek, but the pickups in the Firefly sound better, in my opinion.

[@SpaceJockey805]

They literally sound identical

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

@@radtats6899 firefly puts good ones in theres

[@peterloy8904]

Firefly ligter sound. Westcreek darker sounf r@@SpaceJockey805

[@captainkirk70]

I noticed on Amazon that the new Firefly model has the exact same body now. Plus it comes in just plain black. Looks great!

[@KevinWindsor1971]

Both made in Weifang, Shandong Province, China. Westcreek by Weifang Hengyl. Firefly by Weifang Jeson (Why it say backed by JSN on the headstock). Other Weifang guitar companies are Weifang Rebon (Reebon Guitars), Weifang HongYun, and Weifang Dison.

[@paan36ty]

…., Weifang Nange, Weifang Datang, Weifang Enxi, …

[@sealedgravy3702]

I believe I have a newer Firefly Explorer-type guitar I got in April 2024, and it now has the notch at the bottom, though it's a shorter notch than on the Westcreek, so it's still different---the notch helps the guitar stay on a regular guitar stand that I have.

[@robertholtom9345]

All I can say is that I am glad that West Creek came out because you cannot buy Firefly guitars here in Canada, but regarding West Creek you can buy in Canada, and they now have about 6 or more different guitar designs, so that is very good and cool. And yes, they are all very affordable guitars, built very good and most of the reviews here on You Tube have been very positive. You want to buy a Gibson explorer and pay $3000-$6000 dollars, even the Epiphone explorers range from $929-$2500 dollars Canadian, very expensive. Anyways thanks for your input Max on these great budget guitars. Cheers and Rock On!

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Interesting! And thank you!

[@0Nafod0]

Absolute truth, it is frustrating when a youtuber talks about the newest low cost guitar only to find out that the actual price in Canadian is usually double the amount and that is if you can find one available. Or, the price to ship it is almost the same price as the guitar.

[@BuffaloC305]

I've always wondered why Firefly didn't sell in Canada. I have wondered if they were thinking on nuking Canada, or simply invading and wiping the population first? "We don't want to slaughter existing customers, so let's not sell there THEN we've got an open road for conquest!"

[@No_Comment87]

Thomann is a good option. Although shipping is just over $100 right now... Also Long & McQuade

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

Go to USA then and buy some?

[@mishmashmedley]

i closed my eyes during the whole sound comparison section, and i couldn't tell any remarkable difference between the two.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

No he’s done this, I wouldn’t mind if Max did a comparison video between one of these and a Korina Explorer reissue.

[@tomgoodson345]

Hey! Me too!

[@Gregster1234]

Max, your reviews are the best! Thanks and keep em coming.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Glad you like them!

[@jamiemetz3019]

I've noticed a lot of explorer type guitars usually have a neck dive issue really bad so do these have any neck dive issues.....???? I bought a Harley Benton type explorer last year because somebody sold it to guitar center so I saw it used for 125 dollars...it had Chinese EMGS IN it so I bought it but I never play it because it's heavy like 14 lbs and the neck dive is really horrible so I basically never play it it sits in it's case just collecting dust unfortunately​@@GuitarMAXMusic

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Trust me I have since the 80's redesigned guitars to be practical for mass production. I have worked closely with factories mostly in Asia. A company would never put the down time into to making 2 near identical guitars when simply changing paint colors and perhaps knobs or pickguards when their was zero reason for the end user to even care.

[@timnimigean8971]

Yeah but I'm fairly sure Westcreek and Firefly are both brands, not manufacturers. They both could have sent slightly different specs to the same guitar manufacturer, they could be made in the same factory even with slightly different specs

[@tylerwalter2314]

I bought that exact Westcreek guitar recently. It was great out of the box and looks fantastic. The stock pickups are pretty good, tuned down to drop C and it was still fairly clear. As Max mentioned in a pervious video, the neck is fairly thick, its not bad by any means but as someone who prefers a thinner neck, I filed it down and took about an eighth of an inch out of it and It feels a lot better, hopefully in future models it comes with a thinner neck as a stock feature.

[@captainkirk70]

Fleor makes a set of Alcino 5 pickups that sound great. Video on KZbin and you can't tell the difference between the DiMarzio set.

[@captainkirk70]

Curious, would you say the body is the same size as an Explorer? In some videos, it seems smaller. I'm a big guy so I'm looking for the same size.

[@NegdoshaManido]

I had both of these. The Firefly was setup from the factory much better. Nice low action, right out of the box. No setup needed. The Westcreek was not bad setup wise, but just not as good, at least for my preferences. I gave my Westcreek to a young guy, who was just getting started with guitar, but I kept the Firefly. I like the blue better!

[@Zombie_13x33]

the comparison video we all wanted.

[@richarddwyermusic]

I am selling off my PRS McCarty 594 SE and keeping my Westcreek JX-50 Superstrat. I love what Westcreek is doing with their affordable guitars. With brands like Westcreek and Firefly I don't need to spend $1000+ to get a great sounding and playing guitar.

[@j7cc]

Your reviews of budget guitars is great. Lots of info. 🤘🎸🎶

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Glad you like them!

[@robertvarner8195]

Great video! I tend to agree with you about those guitars but I'm happy with my Schecter model with the Floyd Rose.

[@immrsam]

Living in Australia, I don't have much of a selection of affordable guitars but these look and sound amazing. From what I can see, Firefly guitars don't ship internationally but the Westcreek website has free international shipping on orders over $200.

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

it's still very likely that these were made in the same factory. Seeing the serial numbers would be very telling. Typically the serial number formats differ between factories, so if they had the same overall format (same number of digits, same prefix letters, etc) then you can be pretty sure they came out of the same factory. The differences in shape and any potential differences in pickups don't mean that they didn't come from the same factory. The fact that the fretboards, frets, inlays, binding, and overall hardware is so similar indicates that these likely did come from the same place.

[@dennyreyes666]

I just picked up a West Creek Cerbus blue Sparkle flake. Very 80's plays and sounds great. The tuners could be better but they work.

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

I'm stocking up on guitars.

[@adamhowemusic]

Awesome review! It is amazing what is available at the lower price point for guitars these days. Thanks for all the helpful info. It was great to run into you and talk about guitars for a few at Sharkys the other day! If you ever want to collab on a video... or jam in the freeway tunnels, let me know! haha. Have a good one!

[@Ksantipacat]

Definitely a question a lot of Firefly fans have been asking. The only problem is that the Firefly you were using is the old version. The new one they sell on Amazon is even more like the West Creek as far as body goes.

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Keep doing these videos. I want to know about what you can get for very little money. I found a Chinese luthier about 12 years ago that would build or source almost any electric guitar I wanted for under $300, including case and shipping. I never got ripped off, the quality was decent and shipping took a long time 😞. I had no expectations. When I got a good guitar I was thrilled! They are all players after some simple adjustments. I gig them out and have never been called on it. They are tools for me to make a living. If I drop one, oh well. If one gets lifted while I am taking a leak, sucks for me. No one in the audience cares. They came to drink and try to meet girls. $5K guitars? Put them on your wall!

[@jfrankcarr]

Most guitars made in China are assembled in one industrial city in Southern China dedicated to making musical instruments. So, it's quite possible that many of the same parts would appear on these guitars since the parts factories are right next door to each other.

[@alexchimienti9872]

Having said that, I actually purchased a Chibson ,Slash AFD from Market Place and the guitar had an Epiphone bridge ,written in the bottom ,yes it was dulled out but it clearly was an Epiphone bridge. So I believe there is a lot of shared parts and components being spread across these Chinese manufacturers

[@HenryR-i3u]

I believe that it is very possible that the factory is the same, but the, "Brand" ordering the guitar is different. Both guitars look and sound very similar. Bottom line is that for the price, they are both fantastic guitars when compared to what the same amount of money would buy you just a few years ago. Great video, awesome playing.

[@Daverotherham]

Ah, when you took the gain down the character came out. The Firefly has more warmth, the Westcreek more cut. The Firefly for being the only guitarist in a 3-piece, the Westcreek for being lead in a 4-piece

[@lowalkoroc]

Great video. My personal opinion is these are two separate brands that have the same factory building guitars for them to slightly different designs approved by each company. I think the similarities outweigh the differences. My hotter take suspicion is that these come from the same factories that also produce counterfeit guitars 🤔

[@joaocoupe]

Nice video Max. I bought the same color Westcreek guitar. I had to raise the action as I had fret buzz. I have upgraded the bridge pick up with a spare I had from a Jackson guitar and it sounds much better. 😊

[@MaximusAdonicus]

A Jackson stock pu sounds better?! 😱

[@rindred]

It might be worth pulling the pickups long enough to flip them over and see if they have the same maker's mark on the back. A lot of cheap imports seem to use the same humbuckers, across multiple brands.

[@inteq9]

I love my Westcreek Revenge!

[@Nellosphere]

😯 Who would have thought these two guitars would sound so different the Westcreek does a fuller bodied sound really well. But that Firefly is just so Crisp and has that bite.

[@DavidSmith-vc5rn]

I have a few firefly guitars,and a couple west creek although both are great budget guitars along with Leo jamez guitars.

[@leblon712]

Some here, but I don't have a WestCreek yet.

[@javier232]

I'm lucky to have the Red Revenge and the White Revenge. Those guitars sell like hot cakes on Amazon. Whenever they have white, olive green, or black Revenge guitars in stock, they will surely sell out in a day or 2

[@keithhampton9700]

I bought a Leo SG for only 116$. Neck pocket was gouged.The controls were not working.Pickups were not wax potted.Only great thing was it had a really great neck level job with jumbo fretts.I decided to mod it with P90s and a roller bridge and G400 Epiphone controls.I also fixed the gouged neck pocket. To top it off,I painted the headstock black and ordered sum custom waterslides.DOOMSTAR!!!! NOW IT'S PLAYABLE!!!!

[@marlan3rd]

Interesting comparison, I would be curious to know if the K values on the pickups were the same or if they were different.

[@bryanwilliams3665]

The DCR `K' tells us very little about sound unfortunately. eg.. '7k vs 14k pickup...Which one is louder/output? which one has more treble?.. Neither can be answered.. Me?.. I make pickups.

[@bofuscrapshaw]

Very good demo

[@pyyktodd]

I like them both.

[@alexchimienti9872]

Hey Max great video as always. I absolutely agree with your opinion ,and you have been fair to point out that QC and soldering could perhaps be a factor in the difference in tone. I myself have bought some of these affordable guitars and like Chibsons,you can tweek them to sound better ,and that's because I have put the effort to upgrade the nut, pups and harness, etc. The steel rounded frets are one great thing, my question is how was the neck and fret set up from the box??? Thanks again Max!! Alex from Toronto Canada.

[@robjones7725]

It's quite possible they come from the same Chinese factory with the ability to rapidly switch production with CNC methods. Sound wise they split me because at times I liked one and then the other on different tonal settings. I have the Westcreek Revenge and it is a well made guitar and is very well finished for the budget price point. The Firefly is in the same ball park really - I prefer the Westcreek looks marginally but they are pretty much the same guitar!

[@MotorRoseMusic]

I love my Revenge. I did put Wilkinson cream and black pups in it. Matches the binding really well. Awesome guitar for the money

[@asmcint]

Objectively, the Westcreek seems to have some advantages... but on an emotional level I kinda just like the Firefly more. The body profile looks nicer to me, and though the sound isn't as punchy, it has a kind of chipper quality to it that's very pleasant.

[@stevemora7845]

They both sounded great! I wouldn't say one is better than the other.

[@thewaltzinggorilla8533]

Hmm... what are the possibilities of two different manufactures buying necks from the same outsource. Hence the essentially identical head stock, frets, neck and fret board wood. Each manufacturer slaps the same neck onto their only somewhat dissimilar bodies, hardware and electronics. Makes sense to me. BTW All manufactures out source something on their products.

[@glenfreeman8520]

Max ..I got a Firefly West-creek explorer clone I guess ..westcreek body style black pick ups firefly logo on the headstock purple flame top …knobs are in the firefly configuration covers on the back are firefly configurations ..strap knobs are placed different than both of your west creek and firefly ..plays good for my armature skills

[@boomerbassmeme]

The Westcreek reminds more of an Ibanez Destroyer and the Firefly is kind of like if Washburn had made the Explorer ... just how they look to me. Both are cool!

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

I think that you hit the nail on the head regarding the control cavities. There is no reason in the world that a business would add the complexities to their business that are required to produce two different types of cavities on their otherwise very similar instruments. 🙂

[@mishmashmedley]

they aren't made in the same factory, and thats a good thing. and at the same time, it doesn't matter. what matters is quality and performance and both do well overall.

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

Didn't think would be that heavy though but I love it.

[@billgregg6836]

I have a WC Revenge from the first batch that showed up on Amazon back in late ‘22. Absolutely love it, it is hands-down the best of the 10 axes in my humble budget-friendly collection. Came right out of the box that way needing only minor intonation adjustments. I have an old screen cap of the Amazon listing that shows it spec’s with a maple neck, whereas I recall FF having mahogany. That - and pickups of course (which vary wildly within the same models from FF) could be a big reason for the brighter sound on the WC.

[@gnovaplanet]

Great video comparison! I find myself watching your picking hand. You're a great player! Ever had breakfast at the Maltby cafe? I live close to Woodinville....You go back a ways I think.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Maltby?! Yes I have had breakfast there, long time ago. Even a lot of people in Woodinville don't know about Maltby I think.

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

Interesting comparison... Yeah the West Creek Guitars are definitely Awesome 😎. Both Firefly and West Creek make good guitars. Cheers 🍻 🥃🥃 🎸 🎵🎶🎶🎶

[@JoeR203]

I like the horn and the knob placement of the Westcreek. Not a fan of that little curve on the bottom near the strap button though.

[@tymanngruter1808]

The colour is different, but when i heard you playing my choice is the yellow one! 🤤

[@brandonc2859]

I have that revenge in purple my best friend bought it for me as a divorce present. I love it, it competes no problem with my 02 Gibson classic and every custom i have ever owned, Dean USA and Korean Models, is ten times better than a prs s2. It just needs some pickups and electronics upgrades. Incredible value

[@eearts]

Awesome video Max 🎉

[@patrickwright7851]

I ordered the firefly, and the vendor substituted and shipped me the Westcreek. I am thrilled with this guitar and will be using to gig at some point in the near future. I have more expensive guitars, Gretsch, schecter, and Ibanez. The Westcreek plays as well as any of them.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Wow! Cool!

[@MaximusAdonicus]

Which vendor?! I thought u can only buy Firefly from Guitars Garden and possibly Amazon?

[@jeff6969]

Is it just me, or do the mids sound more scooped on the firefly?

[@RedRavenNine]

Honestly @ the end of the day those bodies are just a model they stick in a CNC machine. The only reason to keep the cavities the same is to maybe save a few pennies on covers by ordering bulk. Or we could have two factories using the same necks from a supplier, because neither want to spend money on machinery and time to make their own necks.

[@samright4661]

The purple guitar has hotter pick ups !!And it’s sounds clearer. Overall it sounds better to my ears

[@DavidCharlesGarlandOldGargoyle]

I like the lighter blue one, it sounds a bit " Fatter", and is great colour. Great review, many thanks from Dave, in Hastings, South England, Coolio, Bruv!

[@christopherbutler1563]

Like the color shape and clean tones of the FFLX. Like the distorted tones of the Westcreek. Westcreek pickups are brighter

[@90AmpGuitar]

There’s a lot of different cuts in the body shape. Judging by that and the cuts for the controls and the placement of the controls, I would say the bodies were made in different factories, but the necks were probably made in the same factory.

[@TheMetalMag]

love the wreck sound and shape

[@Numocron]

Wow Max this is such an awesome video I love it. Shred on dude.😃👍❤️🔥⚡️🎶🎸

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

Up and down picking it

[@Lordbaccus]

I like the shape of the Westcreek better! but want it as a BASS GUITAR

[@SnarlyCharly]

Your playing demos always make me want to go listen to "2 Minutes to Midnight" by Iron Maiden

[@nulife022]

Amazing what you can get for a couple of hundred bucks these days. I bought a Censtar 24 fret Ibanaez style guitar, put in some good pickups and simplified wiring, and it keeps up with or exceeds my expensive guitars. Stainless steel frets, too.

[@sams.4388]

I do like these affordable guitar choices. I do wish that they would offer simpler colors, either solid colors or plain tops. It seems they are all offering flame tops or racing stripes on their models.

[@michelewade5415]

My FF seems to be a good copy of a schecter which I like a lot

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Which model of Schecter?

[@JohnnySilverhand-k3u]

Hey guitar Max!!?? Can you review the zakk camo firefly??? 😅

[@erickbertin78]

despite the obvious similarities, definitely 2 different guitars, warmer, more mid-rangy tone on the Firefly (at least that's how I hear it), sharper and more high range on the Westcreek.... Firefly for me, thank you very much!

[@hillrocks]

You forgot to mention the Pots, Westbrook has full size Pots, did you like the placement of the knobs?

[@BShredZillaD]

which came with better intonation and fretwork?

[@Shane_Bozelie]

Would you ever consider doing a collab with Glen of Spectre Sound studios, as he is also in the journey for great affordable guitars. I think your expertise in guitar and his knowledge of soundstudios and music production as a whole, would be a very interesting synergy. Great video!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Q: Will you take Tyco or Lego? A: Yes. The Westcreek model puts me in mind of the body shapes that Dean has been making that keep triggering Gibson to take Armadillo to court. Nothing against Firefly, but I think that’s partly why I would probably most likely get the Westcreek model if I wanted one of these for me.

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

You and many other shredder love westcreeks

[@wasteddude9387]

Bingo, “to the Max”! Awesome video, bro. Ever since I saw them in one of those China apps, I sometimes wondered about the similarities/differences. The WestCreek one was there for a little while, then it was gone and the FireFly showed up. Made me real curious. I like the WestCreek better because of the sound quality. The WestCreek just sounds stronger by a noticeable notch that’s hard to miss in every setting. Is ir just a matter of pickups? Thanks for the bullseye topic. 🤜💥🤛

[@atsfandy]

Max they are different, similar looking but definitely different

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

You make that look easy

[@stephenskiles7782]

Firefly now has the notch

[@bluesoulzero7754]

They look identical except the notch on firefly fits schecter e1 design and west creek fits closer the agile ghost pro series

[@stephenskiles7782]

@@bluesoulzero7754 westcreek is almost identical to an Ibanez destroyer

[@Wejohnsn]

i got a westcreek racer. the neck feels kinds thick and the frets are too small but they are shiny and smooth. The neck has alot of play and giant neck dive on it

[@pfrench477]

Dude what’s with the hallicrafter in the background? I have the sx111

[@teenlaqueefa8339]

Hey Max, what are those middle eastern sounding scales you’re always doing when demoing guitars? I’d like to know what to look up to learn them.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Sure thing, just look up the "Phrygian Dominant" scale!

[@teenlaqueefa8339]

@@GuitarMAXMusic Great, thanks!

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

Both are amazing guitars

[@josephrizza5486]

I think you are correct

[@bhpictures]

I'm looking at Guitarsgarden right now, and the Firelfy FFVK body now looks identical to the Westcreek. I think you're comparing an older model maybe?

[@Lcg503]

I own one of each. Both are SG types. The West Creek played and sounded much better and was setup perfect out of the box. Not to say the Firefly was horrible it wasn't.

[@panthercoast]

In your future videos, it would be great if you could check the pickup output. I Asked 6stringstanger and bald shredder to do this, and they do it in every video now

[@russellmcgovern7783]

The West creek is the better sounding of the two with a much fuller range of sound from the pickups. I own a couple of Fireflys and they are great budget guitars. I like that Westcreek gutiar better for the full sound not being muted like the Firefly guitars. That one difference in sound can be atributed to the capacitors being of proper UF .022 is th optimum with a 400 v output for a humbucker pickup. I personally if I could get them is the Mallory .022 Uf 600v electrolytic capapcitors for humbuckers Like I used with the Di Marzio super distortion II humbuckers that created such great tone and susutain on a guitar that built my self.

[@johnsurreal]

No! They are of different colors! Totally different!

[@allan2519]

They're even different shapes... 0:31

[@Steve.Cutler]

Are the pickups set at the same height? That can make a huge difference

[@mangotango5988]

I'm listening on a good set of studio monitors. Pups in the Westcreek crap all over the Firefly when playing high gain power chords. I own 2 revenges and I love the pups especially for drop tuning. They are just hot enough and clean up great. But I may prefer the Firefly for the clean tones.

[@eriktheredd6036]

But, how do these compare to the Dean guitar of the similar bodystyle?

[@mangotango5988]

The factory uses CNC machines to carve the shape. The factory makes it to the specification to the brands wishes. May very possibly be made in the same factory.

[@TheStrykerProject]

I was actually pretty surprised at how different they sounded. I mean, it's not huge difference, but enough to definitely notice. I thought the Westcreek was a bit crisper than the Firefly.

[@wasteddude9387]

I had to do another comment about cnc issues because it’s an interesting topic to me. As far as whether they were made in different factories, I initially agreed about trying to rationalize the oddly specific differences. But I saw a comment about cnc programming, and now I’m not as sure as I was. It’s true that it’s just a matter of entering a program. But I have questions about whether it’s worth it. Is it really as easy as entering some new math? If the same cnc is used to make two similar designs, is one copied and modified for the other? I tried to think of how physical labor would be a factor, but as far as I could figure, it’s just another build, like any other model contracted for production. I’m thinking maybe those guys had a point. Maybe those odd little differences would have a significant impacr if there was no cnc, but I don’t think it’s a big deal with cnc programming. Dude, thanks for the interesting cognitive exercise. 🤜💥🤛

[@bluesoulzero7754]

Firefly has a new design got the purple one from Amazon when they released it

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

They sound awesome

[@990rallen]

I disagree with you Max. As a CNC programmer, it wouldn't take much editing to the program to get the difference you see in the two guitars. One factory- two guitars...easy.

[@MalisaDonnelly]

As a programmer I will confirm you are correct ✌️

[@wasteddude9387]

Great perspective guys. I don’t know the terminology, but is it just a matter of entering some new math? And if you already have a similar build in the cnc, can you make a copy, then just modify some details? Would you charge for a whole new build regardless? Or do you have to start from scratch? I like to know what’s going on. I watch those multi-hour video tours through Martin, PRS, Gibson, etc.

[@990rallen]

@wasteddude9387 yes,it is different math from one job to the next but you don't have to write a brand new program, you can copy and paste or use macros as well.

[@wasteddude9387]

@@990rallen Thanks for the info.

[@MaximusAdonicus]

I think the Westcreek surely sounded better on the palmmutes, thus better for metal! Other than that, no major differences in sound. I prefer the shape and color of the Westcreek as well 💜 Too bad it's NEVER been available to order from the German Amazon, which is the only place that I've found it here in Europe... And I do believe they might be coming from the same factory, they just use different blueprints for the shapes to differentiate the brands, as almost everything else is the same, as u pointed out. One thing that is telling is the package! If they came packed EXACTLY the same, they probably come from the same factory!

[@TonyLawson-gl7ue]

West Creek sounded better to me but the first volume knob might get in the way though. Both of them are on my pawn shop list.

[@tjmagnafie]

How do they compare to the schecter e diamond series you reviewed? Not counting the Floyd rose but neck feel and build quality?

[@unk-tu-amunthelastpharaoh553]

Great Demo..I think that the West Creek has a heavier brighter sound than the Firefly..

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

I agree!

[@gregsguitartone]

The new Firefly body has a notch and a different horn more like the Westcreek. I prefer the older Firefly body like you have.