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ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label
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Playability
75
Sound
80
Build
79
Value
78
Score
78
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Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
64
Value
77
Score
72
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LTD SN-1007HT Baritone vs Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label

Reasons to Get
LTD SN-1007HT Baritone over Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
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
Thin U vs Nitro Wizard-7 XL
Comfortable neck with more grip
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs Coil Split
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
78 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label over ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone

Neck Profile
Nitro Wizard-7 XL vs Thin U
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Multi-Voicing
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
LTD SN-1007HT Baritone vs Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic vs DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico vs DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Nyatoh
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
7 vs R7
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
LTD SN-1007HT Baritone vs Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
7
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
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone is the better choice.

The ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron 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 SN-1007HT Baritone
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron 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 SN-1007HT Baritone Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2022 SN series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Swamp Ash body
  • 5Pc Roasted Maple/Purple Heart neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2020 RG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Nyatoh body
  • 3pc Maple/Bubinga neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gibraltar Standard II-7 bridge
  • Nitro Wizard-7 XL 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 SN-1007HT Baritone

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

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.

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Winner: ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone.

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 SN-1007HT Baritone's and use them on any guitar:

The ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone's pickups are Active while the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label's are Passive.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

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 give you different pickup mod options.

The ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone offers Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label comes with the following: 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 SN-1007HT Baritone pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone's switch options
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron 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 RGIXL7 Iron Label.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 80
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 67
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 SN-1007HT Baritone compares to the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron 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.

The ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label comes with a Plastic nut. 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.

Winner: ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone.

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 SN-1007HT 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 SN-1007HT 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.

Both have a 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: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • 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
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone
Quality of materials 86
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 79
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label
Quality of materials 51
Features 70
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 64

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 SN-1007HT Baritone Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 48mm (1.89'').

This is considered a wide width for a 7-string guitar. It gives your fingers the extra space you need to play without muting accidentally, but this also makes bar chords harder to perform, especially if you have small hands.

Scale Length

ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone and Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 27".

This is a scale used for baritones and guitars with more than 6 strings. Since the scale is so long, the tension of the strings will be higher. This means that bending will require a lot more strength than with a shorter scale. However, it also allows you to use really low tunings without causing fret buzz and without needing to increase your string gauge too much.

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 SN-1007HT Baritone Neck Profile
ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone's neck profile
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label Neck Profile
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron 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 SN-1007HT 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 RGIXL7 Iron 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 SN-1007HT Baritone Fretboard Compound Radius
ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone's Compound Fretboard Radius
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron 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 SN-1007HT 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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone favors large hands more than the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label.

ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone Frets Size
ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone's Frets Size
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label Frets Size
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label's Frets Size

The ESP LTD SN-1007HT Baritone has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron 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 SN-1007HT Baritone
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD SN-1007HT Baritone vs Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label
General LTD SN-1007HT Baritone Ibanez RGIXL7 Iron Label
Brand: ESP LTD Ibanez
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: SN RG
Colors: Black Black
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash Nyatoh
Bridge: Hipshot w/ String Thru Gibraltar Standard II-7
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: LTD Locking Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 5Pc Roasted Maple/Purple Heart 3pc Maple/Bubinga
Decoration: Dots
Scale Size: 27" 27"
Shape: Thin U Nitro Wizard-7 XL
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 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: Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active) DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active) DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0