Re: why not an epiphone...
I thought the Joe Perry LP owns, but that's the Gibson version, haven't tried the Epi.
If you really want a quality Silverburst for a decent price, just look on eBay for a real Gibson one. It'd be a shame to see another Epiphone Les Paul ruin the Gibson original. Epi does make some good models, but I'm not sure if I'd like to see a Silverburst with an alder body.
Hey, if you really want, why not buy a Epi LP Custom and do your own paint job? Just cover it in silver paint and spray some black around the edges.