I picked up a brand new Epi LP on Ebay for a hundi less than Musician Friend's price. The electronics were just a little weak and strings too lite. After adding two black backs, some coil taps, and heavier thread, she's pretty sweet.

Every non-USA Strat I've picked up was set up like crap (or just not set up at all), had equally cheap electronics and, of course, the tremelo is worthless. Not baised, my primary guitar is a strat-type with two hum-b's. But the Epi LP felt very good right out of the box.