Do any of you (Jeff???) know about this. Have you ever seen a Les Paul
with star shaped fret markers?
Did you get a serial #? If not, is this supposed to be a new guitar,
or is it old(er)?
I've never seen one with star shaped inlays, but maybe it was an
aftermarket job? Or, as you and John said, it could be a knock off.
But--the thing that makes me doubt that it's a counterfeit--is that
the really good counterfeiters (like in China, for instance) try to
make them as authentic looking as possible.
Wish I could help more.
Jeff