I think the statement/disclaimer "specifications subject to change.. (without notice)" is what has happened for this situation, Crow's new 339 model. The "without notice" part probably means that the company won't reissue or publish/make known the updated changes of original specifications.
Manufacturers have been including this disclaimer for decades, however, the question isn't regarding a small design change or minor parts substitution.. the specific pickups used for a certain model are a main purchasing factor.
I'm convinced that company execs (or anyone else) in the USA rarely ever know for certain what's taking place in China.. which can be a source of serious problems with specific info regarding various manufacturing factors. Even though the models for domestic US sales may pass thru Nashville, it doesn't mean that new models are checked to confirm the specific internal parts.
I was curious about Epi1's reply yesterday, so I read the ProBucker "marketing descriptions" (not actual manufacturing job tickets). The Probuckers were announced in 2010 and had a few material specs that the common Epiphone pickups don't have.
2010 ProBucker Announcement Link
OK, I realize that most folks won't want to disassemble their new pickups, but if the p-up frame/base plate isn't silver-color, then the p-up likely isn't (couldn't be) a ProBucker or Alnico Classic Pro. Same goes for the signal lead, if it's not a 4-wire cable.
These are just the easily recognized external p-up features.
Since Crow's 339 was tagged as a PRO, it should have PRO parts and features, IMO, regardless of if it was a 2011 or 2012 model.
Actual model years can be different than the manufacturing date, since the Chinese models spend a lot of time being warehoused/stockpiled at various points before they pass thru Nashville for the "USA inspection and setup". My 2009 SG has a 2008 serial number (applied at the factory) but a 2009 date on the printed-out model label on the neck tag. I don't know if this applies to other countries.
Epiphone seems to be doing business in a way that is somewhat non-traditional. They announce new products, release sales info to all the dealers, accept pre-orders, then later begin distributing products (sometimes after long waiting periods).
There was a manufacturing process introduced a couple decades ago referred to as JIT Just-In-Time, where OEM manufacturers wouldn't need to stock large inventories of parts, but instead, have the parts produced as they were needed to meet production demand levels.
If the Epiphone production model is supposed to be JIT, it isn't working out very well.. but I don't suppose the process is intended to be a JIT model, but something altogether different.
BTW, as far as p-up characteristics.. Les Paul Pro or other PRO models may not have "premium" p-ups in them. I bought a set of p-ups from a LP Pro/FX and they have brass (not silver-color) back plates and are labeled BRIDGE PICK UPS BHC and NECK PICK UPS BHC, with the now commonly applied RoHS (lead-free) stickers, and 4-wire cables.
I'm just mentioning this so it's clear that all PRO models don't necessarily include the premium/special materials p-ups.
Bill