Being a simple man...
Wouldn't a modernish bird with a pair of thunderbucker pickups sound basically very similar to a vintage bird?
Sure, especially if you have no clue as to what a vintage 60s reverse Tbird is compared to the Epi...and lack the commitment of capital to find out. I'm not knocking the Epis, they're great value. But they don't have the perceived value of a 50 plus year old classic. Fiats ain't Ferraris.
OP is a Warwick and other bass equipment endorser so he gets to use a lot of free gear. Maybe he can get a TBird from Gibson.