I have a 2013 LPJ as well as 2 epiphones- a 1960 tribute plus and one with Probuckers. My opinion is that the epiphones are great- they sound 95 per cent as good as the Gibson, they're better constructed, and they're much prettier. But the LPJ (which was roughly the same price after a sale) has 100 percent of the Gibson tone, growl and attitude.