Firefly Guitars fill a market gap between the student or learning instrument and a premier quality piece.
It’s the perfect option for someone who knows a few chords and wants to invest in their future playing without spending money on a top-of-the-line instrument.
When you try to find a Firefly guitar online, it can seem like an impossible task.
Even when you search specialty sites, auction houses, and off-line venues, these instruments are simply gone.
On the rare occasion when you do see a listing for sale, the guitars are gone before you click on the button to buy it!
Why is it so difficult to find a Firefly guitar for sale?
What Happened to Firefly Guitars?
Nothing happened to Firefly Guitars as they are still manufacturing instruments. This brand’s popularity, combined with its limited manufacturing runs, causes instantaneous sellouts whenever new items are listed for sale. It is not unusual for a store’s new inventory to be gone within six hours.
Firefly is one of the few independent guitar makers that still produce high-quality instruments.
Although they mass-produce them in China, the quantities are kept low to ensure the quality standards exceed a player’s expectations.
Two e-commerce platforms sell new Firefly guitars almost exclusively: Amazon and Guitar Gardens.
You can find one for sale at local music stores occasionally when consignments are available.
Other sites where used Fireflies are sometimes available include eBay, Reverb, Mercari, and Etsy.
The Santa Cruz Guitar Company makes a Firefly guitar series, which adds more confusion into the mix. Their Fireflies are not the same as the Firefly FF-338.
Since the company doesn’t have a reference website of their own to reference, how can you get your hands on one of these affordable guitars?
Why Choose a Semi-Hollow Body Guitar to Play?
One of the benefits you receive with a Firefly guitar is its hollow body design.
This creates a lightweight instrument that moves with you while playing, creating dynamic rhythms without compromising each note’s quality.
The sounds you receive from a hollow body guitar can be quite unique. You can harmonize effortlessly with the rest of the band while pushing the melody or nailing a solo.
If you’re on the fence about using this guitar construction style, here are some of the pros and cons to expect when making this investment.
| List of the Pros of Semi-Hollow Body Guitars | List of the Cons of Semi-Hollow Body Guitars |
| A semi-hollow body guitar is much lighter, making it easier to manage for almost all players. | Semi-hollow body guitars don’t always offer a full sound, especially if the vibration along the surface becomes intense. |
| It’s a design that’s suitable for children to learn how to play. | Each note’s tone can sometimes sound thin or pitchy, especially when you’re not sending the output through a preamp. |
| You’ll have a comfortable experience during extended gigs or practice sessions with this design. | Many semi-hollow body guitars (not Fireflies) have a woody sound to them that feels almost like a piano when fingerpicking. |
| The look of a semi-hollow body guitar is traditional, classic, and clean. | Your positioning on the stage or while practicing is critical because you’ll get feedback in front of your amp. |
| Each guitar offers a different approach to sustain and tone to provide unique playing experiences. | The sustain on a semi-hollow body isn’t always what you’d like to achieve. |
| You have better control over the feedback and distortion when using this design. | |
| The cost of most semi-hollow body guitars is cheaper than what you’d pay for other designs. |
Why Choose a Firefly Guitar Today?
If you select the Firefly FF-338, what you’re purchasing looks like a direct copy of a Gibson ES-335.
Gibson’s guitar is the cornerstone of their ES lineup. It first appeared on the music scene in 1958, setting a standard that other instruments struggle to reach.
Everything about the Gibson ES-335 says that it’s created for the serious player, the enthusiastic beginner, and everyone in between.
The standout feature is the Pearloid dot inlay with a rosewood fingerboard.
The dark, natural tones work with cherry, sunburst, or black finish to create a guitar that demands attention.
When you play multiple musical styles, Gibson delivers a versatile result that offers precise annotation and tuning stability.
You’ll also appreciate the aluminum ABR-1 bridge on the Gibson ES-335.
Here’s the primary difference. If you want to play the timeless tradition of a Gibson guitar, you’ll pay about $3,000 for that honor.
Unless you play left-handed, this guitar is almost out of stock as often as the Firefly FF-338.
If you don’t have $3k to spend, the Firefly delivers a similar tone and playing style for under $200. That’s why it is so popular and hard to find!
What to Expect with the Firefly FF-338
When you’re purchasing the Firefly FF-338 to play, it is encouraging to see a lot of hype coming from experienced players.
Although the company got ahead of the curve in terms of overall marketing, you don’t keep seeing people talk about something that they hate.
That’s not to say an experienced player won’t find some potential issue with this guitar. You’re not buying a $3,000 model, after all!
If you’re wondering what happened to Firefly guitars, some players decided to return or resell their instrument because the maintenance wasn’t worth the hassle.
- The Chinese factories where the Firefly FF-338 is made have low-quality tuning machines. The stock strings don’t hold their note at all, which means an immediate upgrade is necessary when your guitar arrives.
- Although Firefly replaced the nut on their guitars because it was problematic, some issues still exist to the point where you need to file it down or replace it.
- The bridge tends to be a little buzzy, especially when you don’t do anything with the nut.
- When you use the tuners, they tend to feel a bit mushy or loose. That creates an issue for strings that won’t lock down a note in the middle of the song.
Although you’ll find some complaints about the nut on the Firefly FF-338, the manufacturer upgraded from plastic to bone without adjusting the price point. It’s those details that cause people to come back to this design.
Why Are Firefly Guitars Hard to Find in 2021?
Fireflies are built in Chinese factories. Although you’ll get some criticism about pursuing an imported instrument, the truth is that most entry-level and mid-range brands produce guitars overseas.
Even a few of today’s top brands are sourcing materials from China to assemble their instruments in North America or Europe!
The entire process happens in China for the Firefly FF-338, which is why it often retails for about $139.
With the problems that the 2020 situation caused for all supply chains, it has been more challenging than ever to secure inventory from China.
Everything was disrupted from toilet paper to fried chicken.
With people stuck at home earning enhanced unemployment or getting a $1,200 stimulus check, the ultimate affordability of a Firefly guitar made sense.
Whatever inventory was left of Firefly FF-338 went away almost immediately.
It wasn’t until the late summer of 2020 when many of the factories came back to start making instruments again.
Are you playing a knockoff when you grab a Firefly guitar? Sure – but it’s also the perfect investment as a learning instrument or to play with style.
■ What Does It Mean If Firefly Guitars Are Backed by JSN?
Although there isn’t an official answer about the “Backed by JSN” comment found on the Firefly FF-338 and their other models, you can trace the manufacturing chain back to a specific company.
The Jeson Guitar Factory develops modern musical instruments to establish one of the best mass-marketed products you can buy at an affordable price.
Transitioning from “Jeson” to “JSN” for the current player takes away the potential stigma some might face with a Chinese instrument.
What Happened to Firefly Guitars to Make Them so Good?
The Jeson Guitar Factory brought in consultants from South Korea, Japan, and the United States to develop the instrument manufacturing processes.
Instead of maintaining complete control over the quality management, it gets outsourced and standardized to other industry professionals.
That’s how the instruments are made to such exacting dimensions and standards.
They have figured out how to maintain craftsmanship while improving production speeds.
What Happened to the Sunburst Finish on Firefly Guitars?
When you see the questions asked by potential customers to Firefly representatives, a couple of them tend to get posted more than others.
- What happened to your gold guitars?
- Where are the sunburst guitars?
If you’re lucky enough to get a Firefly FF-338, the actual color might not matter as much as the fact that you got a fantastic guitar at an incredible price!
When you do care about the color, the sunburst pattern tends to disappear first.
The original reason for the sunburst finish was to duplicate a popular aged German look from the 1930s.
It replicated the patina that you’d get on unfinished instruments that received a good polish from the player’s strumming efforts.
It would eventually become one of the most famous finishes for the Gibson Les Paul guitars that Firefly emulates with its manufacturing practices.
Since the Firefly FF-338 uses maple in the body, the sunburst also creates more definition to display the wood’s natural grain. That makes it a superior option compared to alder or basswood.
Firefly Guitar Alternatives to Try
Since it could be 6-12 months before the next restock of Firefly guitars, you might want to grab a similar design from a different manufacturer.
In the time it takes to wait for your Firefly, you could learn how to play most of the primary chords on a guitar.
When it comes back in stock, you can snag one right away and play it like a pro!
These Firefly guitar alternatives offer a similar look, feel, and price without forcing you to wade into the used market for your instrument.
1. Hagstrom Tremar Viking Deluxe Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar
What is there not to love about this beautiful guitar? It features maple throughout the back and top, with natural details featured throughout the body.
The finish is downright gorgeous, with the dark tones flashing bright with its glossy finish.
It uses the contoured flame shape to distribute sound, custom pickups for a throaty delivery, and a thinner neck that makes it easy to play.
This Hagstrom Tremar guitar creates a consistent sound by using a resin-based fingerboard and pearl block position marks.
It’s a design that produces more stability to create more forgiveness when playing.
Although the guitar weighs about eight pounds, you won’t notice it with a sturdy leather strap to support its weight.
You’ll receive nickel strings upon receipt, giving you some fantastic action right out of the box.
2. Ibanez Artcore AGS73FM Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar
If you’ve never tried playing a guitar from this brand, you’re missing out on a pleasurable experience!
Although the shape is a little different, you still get the flamed look that encourages the instrument to sound like a Fender.
It uses classic elite pickups to distribute a sturdy sustain while delivering the right tone and quality for plucked notes.
When you grab the Ibanez Artcore to play, the maple back and sides pair well with the walnut fingerboard to offer warm sounds.
It feels a little heavy in the hand, but you’ll get a lot of versatility out of this instrument.
You might notice some fret buzz at first. A slight neck adjustment often takes care of that issue.
When you first hold the neck, it might feel a bit large, but it becomes comfortable after a few sessions.
3. Epiphone ES-339 P90 PRO Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar
When you prefer the double-cutaway body instead of the flame or flare, consider giving this Firefly alternative a closer look.
It uses a top lamination paired with a maple finish. You’ll pay a little more for the mahogany neck, but the investment is worth it once you hear the string action.
If the Epiphone ES-339 looks a little familiar, you’re not wrong.
This semi-hollow body guitar is a throwback to the 1950s and 1960s when some legendary instruments were recording albums.
You’ll find that the fit and finish is terrific. The guitar feels comfortable immediately, even though it weighs 12 pounds. If you plan to do some gigs with it, a hard case is highly recommended because of its design and weight.
Are You Ready to Discover Firefly Guitars?
Firefly Guitars is one of the best value investments you can find today if you play this instrument.
Although it is technically a knock-off of some other famous designs, the quality you’ll find for the price you get is unheard of in the industry today.
That’s why you’ll find people on waitlists for over a year sometimes to get this guitar.
When you look at some of the used listings on other websites, Fireflies often sell FOR MORE because it is so difficult to find them at retail.
If you get lucky enough to buy a Firefly guitar, treasure that moment! When you want to learn how to play right away, consider an alternative while you wait.
It is more important to learn at the end of the day than it is to get a specific instrument. The Firefly guitar will come with patience. You can start your musical journey today.