I have an Epiphone Elitist Les Paul Custom -- built in Japan as they say to "Lexus" standards. It has Gibson(USA)-made pick-ups that can be re-wired for that Jimmy Page push-pull coil tap (this is what I am planning to do soon). The only difference is that Elitists do not have that nitrocellullose (sp?) finish that Gibsons have (which probably is good only for acoustics as they age).
Price-wise this guitar is half-way between Gibsons and regular Epiphones, quality-wise IMHO is the real deal.