Epiphone Firefly 30 DSP Combo

The thing I wanted most in this amp is the tube sound with footswitchable clean/overdrive channels. I didn't really care about effects because I have a multi-effects unit to handle those needs. I don't expect an amp to do everything. Most don't do both well in my opinion...if you want a good amp sound get it, if you want a good effects selection...get an effects pedal board or a processor. That being said, the effects are really pretty cheesy sounding with very little room to dial in what you want from the delay, chorus, and flanger. The reverb sounds pretty good and I like that it has its own separate control.

I own a 1963 Gibson Falcon GA-19 RVT, but it isn't the most reliable to gig with(better for recording)...kinda tempermental and quirky but I am hesitant to put the money into it that it really needs. So I wanted something to come similar in sound without having to pay a full "tube" price...
This seemed like the perfect fit for me at this point...a solid state reliable amp with tube tone...but I had never heard one before. No one in my area sells these in store, so I had to make the purchase blind...or rather...deaf.
I was absolutely astonished by this amp. The clean is very, very good. The overdrive is also good, better than the effects module I have anyway. It has the warmth I was looking for and the large cabinet gives it a really full...no BIG sound. I am using an epiphone les paul through it right now and the bridge pickup is great for clean strumming and picking while the neck is fat...VERY FAT...with tone for leads. I couldn't be more impressed with an amp at this price with this tone.
When I plugged it in at practice for the first time our bassist made the comment, "is that tube?" I just smiled because I knew I had a winner. When I told him it was solid state, 30W with only a 10" speaker he was floored.
I was also impressed with the volume sensitivity to the intensity of playing. Much like a tube amp, it seems to have great ability to scream if you want it to and come down very quietly without having to change gain/volume settings. Between this and the tone itself I think they have absolutely nailed the tube feel and sound.
The only one negative I have is that the EQ leaves a little to be desired. I have all of the lows rolled off and the highs cranked and it still seems a bit low heavy for my taste. I may have to do some additional EQing with my effects module, otherwise it is nearly perfect.

I've only used it for a few full band practices at this point and a little bit of practice on my own, so I can't really answer this one. But from the looks of the construction, they did NOT go flimsy on the cabinet by any stretch of the imagination, so I can't imagine it being anything other than rock solid for gigging...we'll see...

I've never had to deal with the company

I've been playing on and off for about 17 years now and this is by far the best "new" amp I've every owned. The 1963 Gibson may never be beat, but this epiphone has come pretty close at this point.
Whatever epiphone did you capture the tube sound via solid state electronics worked in my opinion. If it were stolen I would most definately buy another. I ordered a footswitch for it, but I couldn't find an epiphone footswitch with dual control for both the channel and the effects switching...oh well...they could just charge an extra $20 and include it with the amp...it would be well worth it.
If there is something out there better than this for the price...let me know because I haven't seen or heard it.

What can I say. The bargain of the millenium. Grab one before the price goes up to where it should be, around 2X or 3X it's current price. Feature-wise, it may be perceived as limited with ''only'' 16 adjustements. They are however very efficient at what they do. I feel this amp should be regarded as a straight sound box with the extra effects being just that - extras. The fact that it comes with a very nice ''vintage'' pedal switch, on top of aux input with adjustable volume controls, two channels, and headphone jack is just icing on the cake. Add to this the incredibly cool vintage red ''leather'' wrap, fully enclosed back with metal grill (nice E for epiphone on the speaker, nice touch), vintage knobs and cream white metal plate (almost identical - maybe they are the same - as on expensive Gibsons), very heavy construction (around 50 pounds), and you may wonder if they make any money on this one. I tried the 60 watter before purchasing - same sound , but the 30 watts sound huge so I went for it. It is a GREAT looking amplifier, with the retro styling and all, and does not look like all the other black/grey boxes out there.

I bought mine for the incredible vintage tone this baby is able to provide. It has a ''clean'' tone that is VERY much like tubes. For me, an amp without a clean tone is not an amp. I can always add a Line 6 pod to simulate sounds if I want to - and you will need a clean sound for that anyways. The overdrive knob o the Firefly is pretty efficient as it comes on softly at first, but can crunch like mad fairly quickly. If you go all the way to the max with the overdrive, you are in metal zone with a bullet. Sustain, by the way, is endless, as good as some megabuck amps and better than many. Who designed this thing?

Again, I feel that this amp shines mainly for its vintage clean, but can do a great blues tone and even a decent ''George Benson'' jazz guitar sound if you use a hollow body guitar.

The choice of a 10 inch speaker is a wise one, as it does provide the right bloom and rich sound one needs for vintage tones. This amp NEVER sounds thin or bright.

It just sounds as good as it looks, unlike the flimsy 10 pound ear-bleeder you usually get in this price range.

My rating for the sound of this amp - and especially at this ridiculous price, should be an 11 !!

No much reliability issues to report on, as I only owned the amp for two months. I had a 10 year on and off ''gigging career'' with various bands but no longer active . I did take the Firefly for a ''one shot'' special gig at a closed party, and all my musician friends were in awe at this red box - first for the looks, (hey, what's this red amp about? Epiphone? ) then of course the sound. So far so good for reliability. Since this amp seems to be massively built, I don't expect much trouble.

No history to report on.

If stolen, I would replace it for sure. I own 2 other amps (Fender and Johnson, and a Fishman accoustic). Sometimes, when products look really good (no, make that stunning) such as this one I tend to think that all of the money went into just making an ordinary product on the INSIDE. Adding to this a ridiculous price, and the biggest irony is that this amp will probably not be taken seriously. Do yourself a favor, check one out, but not without cash as you will go back home with it for sure.

It says it has 30 watts. Seems like more to me. 16 Digital sounds. Flanger, Delay, and a great sounding Chorus. 2 Channels. With 3 channel EQ for each. Auxillary input with seperate volume control. Extension speaker output. Headphone output. Foostswitch hookup.

How does it sound? One word. Incredable. I can't believe this amp has only a 10" speaker. Nice full tone and deep bass. Effects are great. 2 Channels. And the overdrive is great. Great tone. I just can't get over this amp. Can't believe they can sell an amp this good at this price. More on this later.

Don't know. Just got it. Seems solid. Time will tell.

Don't know. But it comes with a 5 year warrenty.

This amp is absulutely incredable. I just can't get over how nice it looks and sounds. And that they sell it for $150 is just mind bogeling to me. It just makes me want to play. I can't recommend this enough. They offer a 60 watt for $225. I bet it is great as well. But the 30 is loud. Plenty loud for me. What more can I say? Great looks, great features, and incredable sound.