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The majority of an electric guitars sound is produced from the pickups. The Les Paul uses many different types of humbucking pickups for its many various production models. So you could argue that not every Les Paul sounds like any other Les Paul. Indeed many other various makes and models of guitars use humbucking pickups and do sound more like a Les Paul than say a Fender Stratocaster. Even various Fender models use humbuckers to achieve more of a Les Paul sound.

Therefore, a Les Paul style kit will sound very close to a Les Paul because it uses the same pickups. The other factors that have already been mentioned have more to do with the way the guitar plays and feels than anything else. Set neck guitars generally play better than bolt on instruments but I have played many bolt ons that feel great! The woods used do influence the overall sound somewhat, but not dramatically. All in all, a good kit guitar can play and sound every bit as good as the real deal depending on how well it is put together, and the quality of the components.

Some people think that they do really sound close, but you must remember les paul did have a style of playing that was all of his own. Hope this helps a little bit

They can if they have the right woods, hardware (good tuners, pots, bridge, stop tail, etc.) and are sealed with thin coats of lacquer.

Most LesPauls' have these woods; a maple top and a mahogany body. All real ones have a glued ( or set) neck to body.(avoid bolted necks to body) If your kit has these attributes and you use humbucker pickups like Seymour Duncan alnico II's or III's you'll be damn close.

Price range should be $375-425.