I'm not too sure if it's a good idea, but I've tought about buying a cheap Monterey Les Paul replica, which looks almost exactly the same as a Gibson LP Classic (not great finish's though but that's not what I want). Then I'd put a couple of good Dimarzio or Seymour Duncan pickups in it (both humbuckers and instillation would cost more than the original guitar) instead of buying a $1100 ($aus, which is about $850 US but I'm not too sure It's that price in US) Epiphone.

I'm not too sure the neck would be the same or it would have the same feel as an Epiphone/Gibson, which is the reason I'd do that.

Is this a reasonable idea or stupid?