Epiphone Les Pauls have a great reputation as an easy access point to the world of Gibson tones. As with the Gibson line there also seems to be hundreds of different versions so you never really know what you have until you play it. Recently dropped off at our shop, this Epiphone Les Paul is a 1960 Tribute Plus which mostly alludes to the neck profile and Vintage Sunburst finish. As an added bonus the original owner dropped in some Wolftone Dr. Vintage A2 humbuckers and an Emerson Custom wiring kit. With that pro-level tone upgrade this Les Paul jumped from quality to exceptional with ease. As proud Emerson dealers we knew what great things to expect from the controls, but this is our first experience with Wolftone pickups, and we very impressed.We tested the Epiphone through our Mesa F-50 head and 4x10 Mojotone pine cabBoth of the Wolftone pickups are what they call Dr. Vintage, which is a PAF inspired line with meticulous construction. Each pickup uses Alnico 2 magnets, are not wax potted and are wound to an exact number of turns. The neck is wound to a modest 7.3k and has a wonderfully balanced tone. The low end is warm with a soft edge, the mids are smooth and rich and the highs are extended with adequate bite. We think the secret sauce in these pickups is in the magnets and more people today are realizing that humbuckers can be extremely versatile when you depart from the over-wound Alnico V or "Burst" camp. Alnico 2 magnets are the second weakest material in the "spectrum" which means they have less pull on the strings, and an airier quality to their tone. This adds the warmth to the low end and gives the high end a lot more dynamic space. The result is a very vintage sounding pickup that is overtly smooth and articulate.The bridge pickup is also wound to a moderate resistance measuring around 7.7k. Alnico 2 magnets really shine in the bridge position because they take the naturally bright and tight tone of the pickup and add an essential smoothness. You still get a rock and roll pickup, but the dangers of harsh bite or metallic bottom end are no longer an issue. Picking dynamics are also heightened in this position, and distortion tones have a vocal quality that is more dynamic and expressive than a hotter pickup.It also bears mention that there is a definite tonal improvement with the addition of the Emerson Les Paul wiring assembly. Good electrical hardware does equal good tone, and the previous owner mentioned that the Wolftone pickups really bloomed once he installed the Emerson wiring assembly. We hear this from a lot of players, and don't discount the benefits derived from quality electrical hardware.Dropping expensive parts into a moderately priced guitar does not always result in magic, but we were totally impressed with the clarity, sensitivity and nuance available from this guitar. Its ability to rock was a given, but this Epiphone sounds and plays well above its pay grade, and represents and excellent value.