Epiphone Les Paul Tribute Plus, Vintage Sunburst

Les Paul Tribute Plus, Vintage Sunburst | Epiphone | Musicmaker Dublin

A proper Les Paul has a way of making you forget whatever you were supposed to be doing. You pick it up, play a few chords, discover a particularly tasty lead tone and suddenly the afternoon has disappeared. The Epiphone Les Paul Tribute Plus in Vintage Sunburst is very much that sort of guitar.

This is no ordinary Les Paul. The Tribute Plus was conceived as a particularly well-appointed take on the classic single-cut electric, combining traditional construction with some genuinely impressive hardware and electronics. It's got the vintage looks, the thick mahogany character and, most importantly, a pair of genuine USA-made Gibson '57 Classic humbuckers. Yes, actual Gibson pickups. Epiphone wasn't messing about with this one.

Those pickups are a large part of what makes the Tribute Plus special. The Gibson '57 Classic in the neck position delivers warm, rounded cleans and wonderfully fluid lead tones, while the '57 Classic Plus at the bridge brings a little extra muscle and bite. Together, they cover everything from mellow jazz and smoky blues to crunchy classic rock and gloriously sustained solos. There's a lovely richness to the sound, but plenty of definition when you need individual notes to stand out.

And there's more hiding beneath those traditional-looking control knobs. Push-pull coil-splitting controls let you switch between full humbucker sounds and brighter, leaner single-coil-style tones. It's a cracking addition for players who love the weight and authority of a Les Paul but occasionally need something with a bit more snap and sparkle. One guitar, considerably more musical territory.

The construction follows a familiar recipe, with a mahogany body and carved maple top providing the warmth, sustain and punch that made the Les Paul famous. The Tribute Plus also features a long neck tenon, a traditional construction detail that creates an extended connection between the neck and body. Paired with the set mahogany neck, it gives the guitar a reassuringly solid feel and plenty of resonance.

The neck itself has a comfortable 1960s SlimTaper profile, making this a particularly appealing Les Paul for players who prefer something a little less substantial than a chunky 1950s-style carve. Fast blues runs, big bends and extended chord voicings all feel nicely within reach, while the 22-fret fingerboard offers the familiar playing experience you'd expect from a classic Les Paul.

Then there's that Vintage Sunburst finish. Warm amber tones fade into darker edges, giving the carved maple top a beautifully traditional appearance. Add cream binding, trapezoid inlays and nickel hardware, and you've got a guitar that looks like it belongs on an album sleeve. Preferably one with a very loud guitar solo somewhere on side two.

The hardware is equally thoughtful. Grover locking machine heads help make string changes quicker and keep everything secure, while the LockTone bridge and stopbar tailpiece provide a dependable foundation for tuning, intonation and sustain.

At Musicmaker Dublin, we appreciate a guitar that brings something genuinely interesting to a familiar design. The Tribute Plus does exactly that. It's a classic-looking Les Paul with serious Gibson pickup credentials, flexible switching and the sort of specification that makes you check the price twice.

Vintage attitude, premium electronics and absolutely no shortage of reasons to turn the amp up.

Features

• Genuine Gibson USA Pickups: Premium '57 Classic humbuckers deliver authentic vintage-inspired warmth, clarity and sustain.

• Gibson '57 Classic Neck Pickup: Smooth, rounded response for expressive blues, jazz and melodic lead playing.

• Gibson '57 Classic Plus Bridge Pickup: Slightly hotter output provides extra bite, punch and authority for rock riffs and solos.

• Series/Parallel Switching: Push-pull tone controls change each pickup's wiring configuration for additional tonal flexibility without conventional coil-splitting.

• Mahogany Body: Provides the familiar full-bodied character and resonance associated with Les Paul guitars.

• Carved Maple Top: Adds attack and definition, with an attractive AAA flame maple veneer.

• Deep-Set Neck Joint: Traditional mortise-and-tenon construction creates a substantial connection between neck and body.

• 1960s SlimTaper Neck: Comfortable, relatively slim profile suits expressive lead work and extended playing sessions.

• Rosewood Fingerboard: Classic playing surface with traditional trapezoid inlays.

• CTS Potentiometers: Quality control components provide smooth, dependable volume and tone adjustment.

• Switchcraft Electronics: Professional-grade pickup selector and output jack for reliable connections.

• LockTone Hardware: Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stopbar tailpiece provide dependable intonation and sustain.

• Grover Rotomatic Tuners: Quality machine heads designed for stable, accurate tuning.

• Vintage Sunburst Finish: Beautifully traditional burst colouring complements the carved flame maple top.

• Factory Hardshell Case Package: The original Tribute Plus Outfit specification includes a protective Les Paul case.

Specifications

• Brand: Epiphone

• Model: Les Paul Tribute Plus

• Instrument Type: Solid-Body Electric Guitar

• Body Shape: Les Paul Single Cutaway

• Body Material: Mahogany

• Top: Carved Hard Maple with AAA Flame Maple Veneer

• Neck Material: Mahogany

• Neck Construction: Deep-Set Mortise-and-Tenon, Glued-In

• Neck Profile: 1960s SlimTaper

• Fingerboard Material: Rosewood

• Fingerboard Radius: 12" (304.8mm)

• Fingerboard Inlays: Trapezoid

• Number of Frets: 22

• Fret Size: Medium Jumbo

• Scale Length: 24.75" (628.65mm)

• Nut Width: Approximately 1.68"–1.69" (42.7–43mm)

• Neck Pickup: Gibson USA '57 Classic Humbucker

• Bridge Pickup: Gibson USA '57 Classic Plus Humbucker

• Pickup Configuration: HH

• Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Push-Pull Tone

• Pickup Switching: 3-Way Switchcraft Toggle

• Additional Switching: Series/Parallel Pickup Wiring

• Potentiometers: CTS

• Output Jack: Switchcraft

• Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic

• Tailpiece: LockTone Stopbar

• Machine Heads: Grover Rotomatic, 18:1 Ratio

• Hardware Finish: Nickel

• Body Binding: Cream

• Finish: Gloss

• Colour: Vintage Sunburst

• Number of Strings: 6

• Factory String Gauge: .010–.046

• Original Package: Hardshell Case