I call bullshit on the whole get what you pay for thing. My entire setup now probably cost less than $1000. And you know what, it sounds pretty damn good. It could be improved by my playing ability improving. And I'll admit, if i swapped them epiphones for a gibson, it might make a bit of a tone difference. But I like the tone I have. I had a good amp and guitar when I was young and inexperienced. They sounded like shit, and why because at the time I sucked balls at guitar. My cousin could rip shit on them but still I mistakenly believed it was due to the quality of the intruments why I blew balls. If you handed Jimi a $149 squier he'd tear shit up and blow your faces off. I paid $550 for a mexican strat in store, and goddamn did that thing play good and have a smooth mafucking neck. And I look to some of my favourite bands and theres Carl Barat playing a fucking $400 melody maker and sounding damn good. Then there's Josh Homme with an Epiphone Dot like I have and people in the audience are freaking out and jumping and dancing all over the place and I wonder, would the reaction be any different if Josh was rocking a $3000 gibson or a $400 epiphone? Granted he probably did switch them pickups and shit out, probably still didn't reach the stratosphere, where many guitars prices lay.