The SL is a discontinued model by Gibson, which always raises a red flag for me. They didn't sell for some reason. Most players that prefer what Gibson delivers, aren't interested in lower quality to make it more affordable. Gibson has struggled with this for decades. I play a Les Paul Standard and wouldn't consider anything less. Sure, the price tag is serious digits, but so is the guitar. You know that your handling a serious instrument when it delivers exactly what you expect from it.
I'm sure the SL is descent, but I wouldn't buy it. Save for a LP and you'll find what you're looking for.