Yep spot on re the 734a.... I remember how intense 734a pre amp was... I could get the Hooky tone and sooo much more.
I'm with you about the BBPH... its almost...almost as good as the BB1200S...
I must admit I've been treating the BBPH like a delicate flower... only using it in my studio... but f**k that its coming out on the road with me... these beauty's were built to be played and gigged etc...
I love the 424... I got one as a back up for when I was feeling tooo precious about taking my vintage BB 1200s /1200...
Have you any pix of your 424 ...?
Yes it is odd... but tbh I've never really liked pick guards.... if I ever find a cheapish second hand black 734A, I'll colour it in like your good self....
Actually I'd like to reverse the P pups and get the hole filled along with the pick guard screw holes and then resprayed in matte black...whoops sorry I seem to have gone of on a tangent there!!
Hmmm that's interesting. When I get a chance I'll measure 424 against my BBPH..
With regards to feel , I prefer the 424 to the 734a/BBPH. If I had list my preferences it would go....
1200/S the best ... feels like home (to me)
424 feels quite familiar
734a/ BBPH nothing wrong with them but feels smaller/ lighter ....