I bought a Yamaha RBX4something to use instead of my Epiphone TBird mainly because it is lighter but the first gigs that I did I was looking over my shoulder at the TBird and eventually just stopped taking the Yam with me.
The looks and the tone of the TBird I love, can't help myself.
I bought the Epiphone with money left when my old man died and am looking for another one to take to gigs. The master plan is next year when I leave the army I will treat myself to a Gibsonl, until then I am happy with the Epiphone.