i beg to differ, if price wasent a factor in quality, im sure everything would be the same price and quality. However that not to say that cheaper cost neccisarily means cheaper quality. I do believe that fender makes better quality then epiphone so your right there and epiphone does cost more for the same range of quiater in the mex and les paul. It is true, u must look over your guitar b4 purchasing it if your going with a gibson made guitar, even the expensive authenitic les pauls i here sometimes lack in quality.