I like 'interesting' guitars and I have a Gibson MIII, a Hohner G3T and a Fender Jaguar in my collection. I would like to have had a Gibson Firebird but the price difference is significant and I chose the Epiphone. It turned out to be a remarkable instrument.
It is well equipped and well finished and after changing the factory strings and changing the set up a little it played like a dream and produced some lovely sounds. The Gibson sound is there but there is additionally a growl on the one hand and a silvery tone on the other which give it a superb expressive range.
This guitar is a gem and a 'keeper'.