Legator Ninja Performance 7 Multi-Scale Ebony Fingerboard Electric Guitar Pastel Green

I have the 8 string version of this, and I understand that in the past this company hasn't had the best rep, but what they're dishing out now a days is leagues above what they were doing a couple years back. They've really stepped up their game and producing great entry/intermediate level multi scale extended range guitars. Sure they aren't Mayones or USA custom shop schecter or whatever, but they're still quality instruments, and the people working there are always available, ready to answer any questions and make you feel like a part of the family.

I had heard about Legator as a custom builder of guitars for many years, this seems to be their first foray into mass production. Although I am a hardcore Ibanez fanboy, I feel it's important to see what other brands are doing, because you never know who could come along and knock your socks off. I was hoping Legator would be one of those, so I picked up this model as I am a proponent of multi-scale for extended range guitars and liked the looks of the Bocote top. Right out of the box, the guitar was very light, and the feel of the neck was FANTASTIC. Super thin, silky finish, EXTREMELY fast. I am not a shredder by any means, but I felt like I could burn up some runs on this neck. As far as asthetics go, I feel like the burst was a bit too heavy. It didn't allow the grain to pop the way it could have, but it still had a nice understated look to it. And that's where the pros ended... I did a quick, very basic intonation check with a clip-on tuner to get me in the ballpark. It was so bad it made the guitar unplayable beyond the 5th fret. I started by adjusting the saddle on the lowest string. By the time it was pulled back as far as it would go, it was still nearly a quarter step flat at the 12th fret. Despite that, I still intonated the rest of the guitar. It was better on the subsequent strings. And then I tried playing above the 12th fret... Someone didn't do their math right. With proper intonation at the 12th fret on the high E, by the time you get to the 24th fret the intonation is once again almost a quarter step flat. At this point I plugged in just to see what it sounded like, only to discover that the bridge pickup produced no sound. Wow. Just.... wow. How did this make it past QC??? I wanted so, so much to like this guitar. If it was decent I would have gone on to try their more expensive offerings. As it stands, this thing is firewood. That makes me sad. I hope Legator fixes its issues; such great potential ruined by pathetic engineering and workmanship.