Late 2022 Firefly FFDC - A Nearly Perfect Budget Guitar

Keith checks out the 3rd edition of the Firefly FFDC. Let's run it through it's paces and see what this $169 guitar can do.
Links to reviews of earlier versions of the FFDC and about wax potting pickups:
1st Run - • $130 Firefly FFDCS Gui...
2nd Run - • Firefly FFDCS - 1st Ru...
Wax Potting - • Firefly FFDCS Guitar -...
Time Stamps -
Intro - 0:00
Versions and First Impressions - 0:21
But first... - 1:30
Intonation/Bridge Position - 2:16
Stock Demo - 3:33
Microphonic Pickups - 4:38
Take Apart/Overview/Pickup Install - 5:54
Before and After - 9:44
Wrap Up/Final Thoughts - 10:52
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.
Progressive Rock by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@mikestillwagon5675]

Just for giggles I ordered a set of those Epiphone P-90s. I liked them so much that I ordered 2 more sets. They offer a lot of bang for the buck.

[@rogereverett4467]

I just got a yellow one yesterday. So far, so good. The binding on the fretboard is a little sharp. I guess I’ll be getting some new calluses.

[@TrumpIsGoingToPrison]

Bought two of these...put the same P-90s in one and a set of Wilkinson Minis in the other. Also added TP-6 Tailpieces and Roller Bridges...less than $400 each. KILLER GUITARS! :)

[@oldasrocks9121]

Put a Firebird pickup in the bridge, kept the P90 in the neck.

[@billsmith5054]

Great review. I really like those DC's and the Red is beautiful. Thanks for the pot waxing recommendation. Also another way to solve intonation problems. I am ordering one tomorrow.

[@2dazetake]

Firefly seems to be stepping up it's game,the last couple of guitars I got were flawless,intonation was perfect with both the Metallic blue LP with P90s and an elite Metallic pink LP with humbuckers, they seem to be listening to the customers,if this guitar was blue I would have got it,unfortunately my collection is complete for the time being.

[@bradshannon862]

I wish I was quicker when these drop! Also being a Vet waiting for disability does not give me any monetary wiggle room. I would love to ad a DC with dual P90's to my collection! I'm glad to see the selection, hardware, pickups and QC (fingers crossed) has improved over the last few years. I always mod my budget guitars just to make them a bit more playable. I have de quervain's tenosynovitis and stage 4 arthritis in both hands so modding is almost a must. Then I lose all control and just swap almost everything out. FF guitars are super mod platforms and great looking, feeling, playing guitars when you put a little elbow grease into them! Great video! I hope to grab one of these when they next drop. I will probably put a set of Gretsch staple pole Fidelaionic 90's in these or some GM, Fleor or G&B (if I can track some down) A2 or A5 in them. A blend pot to replace the 3 way switch and leave it at that.Have you tried the budget Guyker bridges for under 10 bucks and how would you compare those to the stock FF bridges?

[@TheMerc1950]

Also can't wait for more color options in this line! White, Pelham blue...

[@TheTapeFarm]

GOD YES!!! I’d love an open pour white or Pelham blue.

[@LightWingStudios]

@@TheTapeFarm Yellow and Midnight Blue too. :)

[@jamesbridgman5223]

Great review as always. I wanted the green SG version of this when they came out but missed out on those. Still waiting to see if they come back in stock. I typically swap out the bridges on these budget guitars for roller bridges. Having the saddles flipped around drives my OCD crazy. They are relatively inexpensive on Amazon. Looked like the base E string was riding on top of the saddle rather than in the groove before you took it apart. Agree on the pickups.

[@papablue3015]

Thanks for the info!

[@TheMerc1950]

Algorithm fodder. Picked up my latest. A FFLX. Other than one high fret, for the price I paid, what a banger!!

[@TheTapeFarm]

I appreciate you contributing to algorithm fodder!

[@Vicos]

11-FEB-2024: New ones just showed up on their site in the past day or so.

[@LightWingStudios]

Mine is FLAWLESS as well. Oiled up the fretboard, installed a TP-6 Fine Tuning Tailpiece, set of 9's, minor Intonation adjustment made it perfect and played away. LOVE the slim, narrow neck and it sounds good but the PUPS gotta go...putting a set of Mini HBs in it to take it over the top...$197 SHIPPED to FL! No wonder they sold out in under 24 HOURS! How do they do it folks? HOW DO THEY DO IT?!?! :)

[@TheTapeFarm]

If I didn’t already a set P90s with nothing to do I would have just wax potted the stock pups. Other than the squealing they sounded pretty good. Mini hummers would great too.

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

wow.... this neck is WAY thinner than the last run. My neck from the 2nd generation batch is .88" (22.3mm) at the 1st fret and 1.03" (26.1mm) at the 12th fret. Additionally, the profile on the 2nd generation has a lot of shoulder (D-shaped) so it feels even bigger than it measures. I was really wanting to try one of these because of the stainless frets, but now that I know that the neck is thinner, I'll stick with the one I've already got. Also, one of the big changes of the 2nd generation from the 1st was that the heel block was moved much closer to the body. It seems like on this 3rd generation, they went back to the larger heel block used on the 1st generation.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Yeah. But so thin that it feel unsubstantial. Really nice neck.

[@theguitarprofessionals8584]

NICE!!!!!!

[@1959LP4U]

Looks like it has an arm carve on it! If so, did the previous editions have it also? Thanks for the review, as you said it looks like a lot of fun for the price!!!

[@TheTapeFarm]

It does have a bit of an arm carve. The others had it as well.

[@Icantdrive55]

Good review and information as usual 👍 Typical Firefly they they always need a little work but still a good value for the money even if you have to replace a few parts. Body and neck are usually good but hardware and electronics need work.

[@geezerbliz]

Flipping the 3 saddles will give you a bit more play should you have needed it. Also, nicer, fancier headstock shape on the new ones!

[@TheTapeFarm]

Good call.

[@robraaiii]

Dude, I watch for ALL the FF releases and I did not catch this guitar. When did you get it? From GuitarsGarden? How many versions and colors?

[@gasaddict]

Weird I never saw this come available and still don't show any on their site. I have their 2nd generation and it's a great guitar.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Apparently they came and went pretty fast.

[@TheMerc1950]

Upon watching, I think I'll switch my 10s to 9s on the explorer. Mine has issues intonating on the bass side.

[@TheTapeFarm]

My old man hands require 9s these days.

[@chucklee347]

Man i have a double cut dual P90's from the 2nd batch they made when they first came out. I new ive always liked their P90's now i have a better idea why. Im wearing a quality set of earphones and i swear their was such little difference in the tone i wouldn't have cared which one was in my guitar.

[@TheTapeFarm]

The main difference is the mircrophonic aspect of things. I could have wax potted them, but I had those Epiphone P90s just laying around so I just used those. But if I didn’t have them, I would have wax potted the stock pups and been very satisfied.

[@oldasrocks9121]

Its hard to imagine how it's possible to screw up a P90, its only just-that-much more difficult to make than a Strat single coil... Those Epi FB720s are the best bargain going, $30 a set on eBone!

[@bradleyclosson5042]

Don't you know you can flip those saddles around to get more intonation travel?

[@TheTapeFarm]

Yes, but it intonated just fine, so no need to do that. But with that said, knowing the finicky nature of TOM bridges on Fireflys it’s not something I would recommend. I’ve had at least 6 or 7 and all but 2 of them needed to have the bridges replaced, mostly because of loose fitting rattling saddles.

[@BunkMasterFlex77]

Can you recommend a replace bridge for this model?

[@TheTapeFarm]

Big fan of this one: www.guitarfetish.com/Large-Bushing-Tuneomatic-Style-Chrome-Bridge_p_444.html

[@BunkMasterFlex77]

@@TheTapeFarm awesome thanks!

[@leodanryan966]

So, they don't sell these yet?

[@TheTapeFarm]

They just sold out. I noticed that as I finishing up the video.

[@LightWingStudios]

Sold out in UNDER 24 HOURS! YOWZA! :)

[@johnpittman3756]

I liked the FF pups. If wax potted you might too.

[@TheTapeFarm]

I’ve potted them in few other videos. When properly potted they are very serviceable. If I didn’t have these other pups laying around I would have just potted the stock pups.

[@paullatta]

Link to guitar?

[@TheTapeFarm]

After finishing the video I went to get the link and found they were sold out. When they had them it was at www.guitarsgarden.com

[@paullatta]

@@TheTapeFarm Thanks, Keith. Keep up the good work!

[@rob_in_stowmarket_uk]

Just reverse the saddle of the ‘G’ string!!!!! Jeez.

[@buffdaddy2032]

Firefly should just ship the guitars without pickups cuz there all complete garbage

[@TheTapeFarm]

If the stock pickup were potted they’d be fine, at least on this one. But yeah… that would be a great option. Just ship me the husk and I’ll fill in the blanks myself. That would be fun.