Crusty wrote:
I have a PE-450 that is constructed something like that. It has a thin ply top arched over the body and there is a small cavity under the top.
Nearly all of the catalogs have "Specifications subject to change without notice" and they meant it. There were a lot of variations. Some were market specific such as Europe, Japan, and the US. There was a series of LP copies in Japan called "Leopard" and the lettering was the same as "Les Paul".
I have seen quite a few of the "Leopard" logo/series guitars pop up. It would be cool to learn which models were produced/intended for the markets you mentioned. Every Aria 'LP copy' I've purchased has been sold from Japan.
So far I can say that the only consistent LS/LC construction method is the truss rod methods. Higher end models have a single rod with brass acorn style nut routed in the middle of the neck and two screw bell shaped truss rodd cover. Lower end models are routed the entire length of the neck and have a hex head adjustment and 3 screw truss rod cover. The truss rod covers really just match up with the routing method so nothing superior using one or the other,... just asthetics.
I've always seen the PE series as the more refined evolution of the les paul design. Just haven't been able to find one around the same price as these.