Here’s a preowned Santa Cruz Firefly in very good condition, one ding on the top, and some general play wear — light pickmarks on the top, some light scratches on the back, but no structural issues. Nice opportunity for a “player” version of Santa Cruz’s fine little guitar designed for travel — and at almost half the price of a new one.
It’s impossible not to smile when you play this little guitar. Much more than your typical boxy sounding parlor, the deep body and 24 scale combine for a rich and full sound. The short 24 scale lowers the string tension and makes bends and vibrato effortless — this is a great guitar for people dealing with hand issues. The deep body makes the tone nice and throaty. The guitar is as light as a feather. Its 14-fret construction is unusual and welcome in such a small instrument. The small headstock looks just right and the mini Gotoh 510 tuners are awesome. Santa Cruz designed this guitar so professionals could fly to sessions with it and still get terrific tone. It worked. I can’t put it down. With original Ameritage case.
Some impartial observations from Guitar Player Magazine: I’ve never reviewed a guitar that caused so many people to utter some variation on the phrase, “This might be the best guitar I’ve played in my life.” “This isn’t just the best small bodied guitar that I’ve played in years – this is one of the best guitars I’ve ever played period.”
A little Lightning Hopkins:
Condition: Used, very good; Top: Cedar; Back and sides: East Indian rosewood; Neck: Mahogany, ebony fretboard; Nut: 1 11/16; Width: 13; Depth: 4; Scale: 24; Binding: w/b/w; Purfling: w/b/w; Rosette: w/b/w; Orientation: Lefthanded (of course)