Epiphone made a name for themselves for years with their hollow and semi-hollow guitars. Their Gibson copies aren't bad either, much better than Squier is to Fender IMO.

Their Elite line is insane. Equally as good as most Gibsons I've played.

My main axe is an epi les paul. I like it a lot, it's got some kinda of rainforest wood on it and a natural varnish. I had a luthier do a bunch of work to it, refretted, and setup with deadly low action and no buzz! definately worth the money for any guitar. (cost me about $300). In comparison to gibson, I'd say the gibson have slightly better electronics in them particularily the pickup switch and pots and such, mine came with american made gibson pickups but some have cheaper pickups. They are made in korea these days I think, so the quality of the workmanship may vary from guitar to guitar, but if you can find a good one you can save a fair bit from the price of a gibson.

ok cool. yeah I really want to get a gibson one day but I am still a beginner so maybe when I am ready a epiphone will be a good next step.

I have an epi its pink metalic sounds cool and looks proper glam rock, I love it.

My electric is a Epiphone Sheraton and while I would still like to have a solid body guitar I do love the Sheraton and so far have no complaints about it but I can also say that I have never played a 335 so maybe ignorance is bliss.

i love epiphone, if you play an epi les paul and a gibson for 5 minutes each, you will not realize the difference... gibson has that little extra something to me though, that makes me want to never play another guitar again....

From the research I have done do want to get a Gibson but when I look at the prices a Gibson will run me around 1500 when and Epiphone will be about 500. That is a big difference. I was also thinking if I got the Gibson then I would not need to get another guitar for many many years but I am still so new who knows what I will want in 2 years. So maybe the epiphone is the best way to go as far as the next step is concerned when I am ready.

I cant imagine going back to owning only one guitar. For that reason I cant possibly be buying $2000 guitars. Plus, I don't particularly baby my gear. I don't get pissed if I get a nick or scratch on my current guitars because they are all inexpensive. But If I put a ding in a high priced guitar it would be very upsetting. I say go with the epiphone and unless you just have ample cash to spend on guitars. There is more to guitars than the guitars. You can buy some extra gear with the money reserved from the Epiphone purchase.

I have one of these babies. Yup, you counted correctly! There's 7 string on it!

http://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone/inst/Les-Paul/ENC7.html

I have a couple Epi's in the studio. My electric 12 string and my Pee Wee. I also have the Epi Valve Junior combo. We use that little amp ALL the time in the studio for reamps and practice groups. I don't have ANY problem with Epi gear! If you take your time when searching for a guitar, you can easily find an Epi that plays as well as a guitar twice the cost.

i have an epi custom flametop les paul and i have been satisfied with it. i agree with shanejohnson when he said that epi is a better relation to gibson than the squire is to fender.

there are several past threads related to this topic that you might want to take a look at. some of them are mostly just some of us squabbling (is that a real word?) back and forth about the subject, but some of them also contain some good info that may help you.