Gibson LP Studio vs Epi LP Studio?

OK, I'm out looking (or fantasizing, until I can talk my wife into letting me buy it) at a Les Paul Studio. What are the major differences between say, a real Gibson LP studio and the Epi copy? Is it more or less like the difference between an American Strat and a Squier? I play a Strat and a beater Cort 'Mustang' copy at the moment. Once I set the Cort up, it played great! I was going to look for a good used Gibson, but I've been hearing some real horror stories about counterfeits-particularly Les Pauls- out there, particularly on eBay and places like craigslist. I'm not gigging, just jamming with friends. For example, is the Epi harder to keep tuned and intonated?