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ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
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Playability
82
Sound
76
Build
74
Value
77
Score
77
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Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
67
Value
73
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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LTD MH-1000 Baritone vs Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label

Reasons to Get
LTD MH-1000 Baritone over Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Extra Thin U vs Nitro Wizard
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
77 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label over ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone

Neck Profile
Nitro Wizard vs Extra Thin U
Thin neck for playing fast
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
LTD MH-1000 Baritone vs Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label

Bridge Pickup
EMG 81 vs Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
EMG 60TW-R vs Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Panga Panga
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 6
Different Headstock

Shared Features
LTD MH-1000 Baritone vs Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone is the better choice.

The ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2022 MH series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany / Maple Cap body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60TW-R (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru bridge
  • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2019 RGD series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • Panga Panga/Walnut neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Mono-rail bridge
  • Nitro Wizard Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label

Panga Panga wood pattern used for guitar building
Panga Panga
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Panga Panga is an African wood very similar to Wenge. It comes in a very dark color with tight grain. Its tonality favors the low-to-mid frequencies.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone's switch options
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 77

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone compares to the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone has a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone
Quality of materials 61
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 74
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
Quality of materials 51
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 67

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone Nut Width
ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone Nut Width
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label Nut Width
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone's Scale Length
ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone's Scale Length
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's Scale Length
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone has the longest scale: 27". The Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label is only 26.5" long. This is a 0.5'' (12.7mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone Neck Profile
ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone's neck profile
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label Neck Profile
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone has a U type of neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

The Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label, on the other hand, has a Wizard neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

Fretboard Radius

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone Fretboard Compound Radius
ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone's Compound Fretboard Radius
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone Frets Size
ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone's Frets Size
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label Frets Size
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's Frets Size

The ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label's Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 90
Playability 82
Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD MH-1000 Baritone vs Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
General LTD MH-1000 Baritone Ibanez RGD61ALA Axion Label
Brand: ESP LTD Ibanez
Year: 2022 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: MH RGD
Colors: Black Black
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany / Maple Cap Ash
Bridge: Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru Mono-rail
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Bolt-On
Tuners: LTD Locking Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Panga Panga/Walnut
Decoration: Offset white pearloid block White Step off-set dot
Scale Size: 27" 26.5"
Shape: Extra Thin U Nitro Wizard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 16"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG 60TW-R (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0