I had an Epi Masterbilt for a while, never bonded with it. Only problems were with the finish, it was an uneven matte finish, but didn't affect the sound or playability. $279 is a pretty good price for a solid top guitar with electronics.
My first acoustic was an Epi Masterbilt mahogany I paid $350 for and it was a very good guitar. Played and sounded as good as $800-$1000 guitars. $279 is awesome deal.