I too have read the whole post and thought I'd share in the fun. For over 20 years I have been a studio player and the one thing I definately know is that you can't read the headstock logo thru the playback speakers!! I simply only have really two criteria for buying ANY guitar, how does it sound and how does it play! I have been blessed to play many GREAT vintage Gibsons and Fenders but I have also played many that were not good tonally or played well at all, there is absolutely no doubt modern guitars are much more CONSISTENT useable instruments and most actually intonate well, try getting tuning right on a lot of vintage guitars.
Being from the States many folks over here really believe that the MIJ copies are like the first ones made in the late 60's or early 70's with low quality instruments, MANY have never played Tokai's,Burny's,Fernandes etc. and just can't believe these can be quality instruments. I have played probally over 100 les pauls in stores alone this year for fun and can tell you no doubt the regular Tokai Ls-80's on up are simply better than anything Gibson is putting on the shelves right now, period, unless you find a killer historic. You very rarely will pick up a new Gibson that resonates or plays as well, most are very dull sounding which the vintage ones have a more "open" sound. The only Gibson I have been impressed with is the recent Jimmy Page model, all of those I've sampled are stellar guitars, but so is my LS-90.
In all models and makes there are simply not so good guitars, good guitars, and a few really special examples. I would say half of the guitars I own are MIJ models and I use them all the time in the studio, and find they never get "blown away" buy the vintage models, they sound different but not "better". I own three les pauls, a Classic that's been modded and is a excellent guitar, a Tokai LS-90 and a Epi elitist, they All sound great but they are all different. I do find the modern Gibsons to be farther away from the tone of Vintage ones and the Tokai and Epi Elitist to be much closer to the tone of the true vintage guitars! Being more "open" in sound with better resonance. I'm sure that will upset some folks but it's the truth. Is it possible for A Tokai ls-120 to sound better than a Real "59 Burst"? Yep, No doubt about it!!
Bob