Re: Pickup set?
You can versatile from the pups, or from the amp, or fx, or all three.
I think that a PG set is a pretty versatile set of pickups - as are any basic PAF - 59s, A2Ps, or PG's. They just provide a solid sound. The only thing they don't do is push a mega-load into an amps pre-amp to overdrive it. But these days, between all the stomp box flaovors and mega-gain built into most amps, I don't see that as a problem or a need. In fact, I think they sound better with low output pups.
But - depending on the Epiphone...and all of those are certainly NOT created equal, you should definitely get into the ZZ Top ballpark. LP+PG+Bixonic fuzz box = Billy G. (tallent/mojo not included!)