Cool forum Sandman.
Anyways Epiphones arent the cheap bastards like they used too produce. But my God thier stock pickups are Shite.
People dont realise if you drop a quality pair of EMG's or Gibsons,Duncans,etcc your Epi can sound a lot more like that $2000 Gibson LP Standard or that $3500 LPC.
Sure the Epi Wont exactly Feel like the Gibs but for a small fraction of the price can you can easily reach a very happy middle ground.
I have a MIK Epi LPC and the Duncan Sh-11/AP II set installed and this upgrade has turned my under $400 Epi into A excellent every day player and too a high degree satisfies my Gibson gas.
The new Slash model features the long neck tenon and dual Duncan AP II's. Sounds very promising and priced between $700 -$800.