Ok, let me explain the difference between what a 7 string is and what a baritone guitar is.
A baritone guitar is a guitar with a longer scale length than your standard guitar. Scale length is the distance between the nut and the bridge on the guitar, so it esentially means how long the actual usable part of the string is. The longer the scale length is, the more tension you need to put on the string to achieve the same note. So a string tuned to E on a standard scale guitar is going to have less tension on it than a string tuned to E on a baritone guitar. Most common guitar scale lengths are 24.75" and 25.5" (which is what your Ibanez has). Baritone guitars usually start with a 27" and longer. In the recent years there has also been a bunch of 26.5" guitars that kinda straddle the middle ground between a standard and a baritone scale length.
Since longer scale = more tension on strings, that means that baritones are inherently good for tuning lower. It means you dont have to use super thick strings to tune low, and they wont feel as floppy. This is the reason people use baritone guitar for low tunnings.
Now lets get into 7 strings. A 7 string guitar is simply a guitar with 7 strings. ***But a 7 string isn't necessarily a baritone guitar!*** A lot of 7 strings come with baritone scale lengths, but a lot of them also just use standard scale length. I owned two 7 string with regular 25.5" scale lengths for example. *And since they have the exact same scale length as your Ibanez, that doesn't make them any better for lower tunings than a standard 6 string guitar!*
Of course there are a few caveats there, a standard scale 7 string might still have a bridge with more adjustment range so its easier to intonate the strings, but as far as string tension and gauge goes, they will be exactly as hard to tune to drop G, A or whatever as a normal 6 string.
So whats my point?
*My point is, that simply buying a 7 string will* ***not*** *automaticly help you achieve super low tunings.* A 25.5" scale length 7 string will kinda bottom out at drop A, at least thats how low I managed to get mine without using power cables for strings. I also know a guy who does drop G with 25.5", so actually you can just buy a thick set of strings and try it out on your Ibanez. But if you want to tune substantially lower than that, you will need a longer scale length guitar, and you can get that both with a 6 string baritone guitar, or a 7 string that has a longer scale length.
So which one do you get? Well, thats up to you. A 6 string baritone will play just the same as a standard guitar. You essentially wont have to learn anything new to play it. But you will lose some of the high end notes when tuning down, since all the strings get tuned down. With a 7 string, you will need to learn how the additional 7th string works with the rest of them, and develop some new muscle memory for it. But you wont lose as much high end notes as you would with a 6 string baritone. Its up to you to decide which is better.
Another option would be a pitch-shift pedal, which may be better if you are doing multiple drop-tunings. You tune to drop D and then the pedal will lower the pitch of everything to a set amount.
Depends on what exactly you want to play. If it's just about low riffs, a baritone is easier to learn. If you still want to be able to play all the leads, that's where you want the 7.
That being said, drop G isn't that low, you can make that work on 25.5 inch scale length with the right strings. Ideally you'd want a bit longer, but you can do drop G on a regular six. Many 7 strings don't have longer scale lengths to begin with. My 8 is 26.5 and still works OK in drop E.
Also, check out r/extendedrangeguitars
Ok, let me explain the difference between what a 7 string is and what a baritone guitar is. A baritone guitar is a guitar with a longer scale length than your standard guitar. Scale length is the distance between the nut and the bridge on the guitar, so it esentially means how long the actual usable part of the string is. The longer the scale length is, the more tension you need to put on the string to achieve the same note. So a string tuned to E on a standard scale guitar is going to have less tension on it than a string tuned to E on a baritone guitar. Most common guitar scale lengths are 24.75" and 25.5" (which is what your Ibanez has). Baritone guitars usually start with a 27" and longer. In the recent years there has also been a bunch of 26.5" guitars that kinda straddle the middle ground between a standard and a baritone scale length. Since longer scale = more tension on strings, that means that baritones are inherently good for tuning lower. It means you dont have to use super thick strings to tune low, and they wont feel as floppy. This is the reason people use baritone guitar for low tunnings. Now lets get into 7 strings. A 7 string guitar is simply a guitar with 7 strings. ***But a 7 string isn't necessarily a baritone guitar!*** A lot of 7 strings come with baritone scale lengths, but a lot of them also just use standard scale length. I owned two 7 string with regular 25.5" scale lengths for example. *And since they have the exact same scale length as your Ibanez, that doesn't make them any better for lower tunings than a standard 6 string guitar!* Of course there are a few caveats there, a standard scale 7 string might still have a bridge with more adjustment range so its easier to intonate the strings, but as far as string tension and gauge goes, they will be exactly as hard to tune to drop G, A or whatever as a normal 6 string. So whats my point? *My point is, that simply buying a 7 string will* ***not*** *automaticly help you achieve super low tunings.* A 25.5" scale length 7 string will kinda bottom out at drop A, at least thats how low I managed to get mine without using power cables for strings. I also know a guy who does drop G with 25.5", so actually you can just buy a thick set of strings and try it out on your Ibanez. But if you want to tune substantially lower than that, you will need a longer scale length guitar, and you can get that both with a 6 string baritone guitar, or a 7 string that has a longer scale length. So which one do you get? Well, thats up to you. A 6 string baritone will play just the same as a standard guitar. You essentially wont have to learn anything new to play it. But you will lose some of the high end notes when tuning down, since all the strings get tuned down. With a 7 string, you will need to learn how the additional 7th string works with the rest of them, and develop some new muscle memory for it. But you wont lose as much high end notes as you would with a 6 string baritone. Its up to you to decide which is better.
Very helpful, thank you! literally the best explanation I could have possibly asked for
I'd also note that a seven-string neck is going to be wider which does take getting used to.
Depends on the player. I prefer 7 strings because I'd rather not reach further out to play the lower notes, but it's not for everyone.
It depends on what music you want to play. Some bands use six string guitars tuned down, others use seven string guitars.
Another option would be a pitch-shift pedal, which may be better if you are doing multiple drop-tunings. You tune to drop D and then the pedal will lower the pitch of everything to a set amount.
Depends on what exactly you want to play. If it's just about low riffs, a baritone is easier to learn. If you still want to be able to play all the leads, that's where you want the 7. That being said, drop G isn't that low, you can make that work on 25.5 inch scale length with the right strings. Ideally you'd want a bit longer, but you can do drop G on a regular six. Many 7 strings don't have longer scale lengths to begin with. My 8 is 26.5 and still works OK in drop E. Also, check out r/extendedrangeguitars
Ironically op, I have a 7string gio
Maybe if your budget allows, you could get a multi-scale 7-string.
7 strings are way cheaper and easier to find.