Hey guitar enthusiasts! Following up on my initial impressions of the Firefly FF338, it’s time for a thorough review after spending considerable time with this guitar. Let me cut to the chase: for the price, this guitar offers incredible value, arguably the best bang for your buck I’ve ever encountered. However, be aware that it requires some adjustments to be truly stage-ready.
Check current stock and price on Amazon!
Currently priced around $149 on Amazon, the Firefly guitar often sells out quickly due to its popularity. Let’s delve into what makes this affordable instrument so compelling and where it falls short.
The Pros of the Firefly FF338
Playability: A Comfortable Neck
For me, playability is paramount, especially with set-neck guitars. The neck on the Firefly FF338 is remarkably comfortable. It strikes a perfect balance – neither too thick nor too thin, truly a middle-of-the-road profile. In this price range, guitars often feel cheap in the hand, a sensation difficult to articulate, but you know it when you feel it. This Firefly neck, however, feels smooth and substantial. A minor truss rod adjustment was needed to add a touch of relief, and thankfully, the truss rod functioned as expected. A welcome bonus was the inclusion of an allen key for adjustments – a lifesaver, as the right size always seems to be missing when you need it!
Bonus Accessories
The Firefly guitar package includes some handy extras: a 10ft cable, the previously mentioned truss rod allen key, and a small bag of picks. The cable has served me well for home practice, though online feedback suggests these cables might not be the most durable for heavy gigging use. For serious performances, I’d opt for a more robust cable. Pick preference is subjective, and while the included picks aren’t my personal choice, they are a nice inclusion for beginner guitarists or those who haven’t yet built up their accessory collection.
Fast Amazon Delivery
Firefly guitars are exclusively sold new through Amazon.com, and Amazon’s delivery speed is a significant advantage. Within the contiguous US, Amazon’s shipping is incredibly efficient. My Firefly FF338, ordered in the morning, arrived the very next day with free shipping. This level of service is unlikely if purchasing a used Firefly guitar on platforms like eBay.
Areas for Consideration
Fretwork: Good but Not Perfect
The fretwork on the Firefly FF338 is commendable for its price point, but not flawless. Crucially, there are no dead frets, indicating proper leveling and crowning. Impressively, sharp fret ends, a common issue in this price range (encountered in about 75% of budget guitars I’ve played), are absent. The guitar also doesn’t exhibit fret-out when bending notes. However, the frets could benefit from a final polish. String drag was noticeable both audibly and tactilely during bends and vibrato. Fortunately, a simple fix with some fine steel wool (.0000 grade) should resolve this minor issue.
Sound Quality and Pickups
Typically, with guitars in this budget category, electronic upgrades are almost immediately planned. In my initial Firefly FF338 impressions, I hadn’t yet tested the guitar at band volume. Surprisingly, the stock electronics are decent. The tone is mellow, as expected from a semi-hollow body of this style, and the humbuckers seem to be medium output. However, playing at gig volume revealed that the pickups are microphonic. At higher gain and volume levels, feedback becomes a significant issue. Initially, I attributed this to the semi-hollow construction, but further investigation and online discussions confirmed microphonic pickups as the culprit. While manageable – even lending a raw, almost Black Flag-esque feedback element between songs – this is a point to consider for high-volume players. For home practice through headphones, the stock pickups are perfectly adequate, and I may postpone upgrades given my current reduced gigging schedule.
Finish: Acceptable with Minor Flaws
The finish quality is “questionable” not because it’s poor, but because it’s typical for a guitar in this price bracket. It’s not a bad finish job overall, but imperfections are present. Personally, I’m not overly critical of minor cosmetic flaws. The gold sparkle finish looked fantastic under stage lights, drawing compliments on its appearance (and sound) from audience members. Closer inspection revealed a small scratch on the lower body and some less-than-perfect binding work within the F-holes. These flaws are only noticeable upon close examination. For the price, the finish is impressive, but it wouldn’t meet the stringent quality control standards of guitars costing $1,000 or more.
The Downsides of the Firefly FF338
Hardware: Tuners Need Immediate Replacement
The tuners on the Firefly FF338 are simply unusable. They exhibit significant “jumpiness.” Turning the tuning peg half a rotation often results in no pitch change, with the string shaft visibly static before suddenly jumping and altering the pitch abruptly. Replacing the tuners is an immediate necessity. I opted for Wilkinson Tuners (available on Amazon.com and eBay.com). These Wilkinson tuners were a direct fit, reasonably priced, and function effectively without requiring any modifications to the guitar. While more expensive tuners are available, investing heavily in tuners for a budget guitar seemed unwarranted.
The bridge is also somewhat questionable. While intonation and height adjustments were possible, it rattles audibly when played unplugged. This rattle hasn’t been noticeable through the pickups, but it’s apparent during quiet practice. Bridge replacement is a potential future consideration.
Nut: Slots Require Filing
Four of the six nut slots were cut too high. High nut slots cause intonation problems, particularly in the first 3-5 frets. This results in open strings being in tune, and barre chords higher up the neck also sounding in tune, but open chords in the lower fret region sounding significantly out of tune. Even when playing barre chords in the lower positions with a band, my pitch sounded sharper than the rest of the ensemble. This issue is correctable with nut files and some careful work. After gigging with the Firefly FF338, I filed the nut slots to the correct depth and applied graphite for lubrication.
Final Verdict: Exceptional Value with Caveats
For approximately $140 on Amazon, the Firefly FF338 guitar is an exceptional value. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that it requires some work. If you’re not comfortable performing adjustments yourself, factor in the cost of professional setup, which could approach the guitar’s purchase price, especially if you also opt for pickup upgrades. The Firefly’s affordability stems from skipping some of the finer points of the manufacturing process – those time-consuming details like meticulous fret polishing and precise nut slot filing. Personally, I’d prefer a slight price increase to cover these crucial final assembly steps rather than the included “free” cable.
To reiterate, the Firefly FF338 is an outstanding guitar for the money. Expect to invest some time and effort, and at minimum, a tuner upgrade, to make it a reliable instrument. This is typical for guitars in this price range. If playing at higher volumes with gain, pickup replacement is also advisable unless you embrace feedback. With upgrades, the total investment could reach $300 or more if you don’t perform the work yourself. However, even with these upgrades, you’ll have a great playing, sounding, and visually appealing guitar that remains an incredible value proposition.
Cheers,
Chuck
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