In Episode 2 of my quest for the “perfect baritone,” I’m putting two ESP/LTD 7-string baritones head-to-head: the Phoenix Baritone 7 and the EC 1007B. I walk through the real-world spec stuff that actually matters when you’re trying to live in low tunings—27" scale, mahogany bodies (with that maple cap you can’t even see under solid paint… still don’t get it), Macassar ebony boards, locking tuners, and Fishman Fluence Moderns with active/passive voicings. The Phoenix is the stripped-down metal machine vibe: single pickup, single volume, direct-mounted humbucker (no wobble issues), and a big, unique body shape that looks cool but can be a little large and annoying when it comes to finding a case. The EC 1007B brings more traditional “Les Paul-ish” flexibility with two pickups, independent volumes, a tone control, and the big differentiator: the Evertune bridge. I’ve been on the fence about Evertune for a long time—sometimes I felt like it sucked the life out—but on this guitar it just worked and made a ton of sense for 7-string baritone stability. Bottom line: I scored both guitars an 8.5. Your choice really comes down to use case—simple and aggressive vs. more tonal options and Evertune stability (and yes, I still think not including a case at this price is a travesty).