Re: Need for a preamp/will effects units do it?
Maybe it's time to mention this again. I make my own very simple and inexpensive preamps using the famous Tillman circuit.
http://www.till.com/articles/GuitarPreamp/It sounds wonderful with a Stickup. It might be more like a buffer/booster than what we think of as a preamp. The cost of the parts is really low and it's very easy to make. The biggest cost for me was the box. The above page has a lot of information about electric guitar electronics, too.
This circuit is the (usually uncredited) basis for lots of fancy boutique boosters and preamps. It has a great 3.0 Mohm input impedance. The StepABout is 2.2 Mohm so this is close. One of the nice things about the circuit is that it will drive almost any length of cord and most inputs. I can go straight into my mixer or into a guitar amp and it will sound great. You can also use a simple Y-adapter to make a mono signal with no loss of tone or weird interactions whatsoever.
The next version I might make will be built directly into the cord-end that goes into the Stickup. It will get it's power from the phantom power supply of my mixer. It is so small and versatile that many forms are possible. If you are at all handy with a soldering iron this is really easy to make and sounds great.
-Eric