Ecoplate Missing Electronics & Questions

[Seditionary]

Hi,

I got an offer from someone to buy an Ecoplate I for 450$... it is missing the electronics though.  He said there is a driver and two pick ups on it (one original and one a higher output pick up).  He hasn't tested the electronics and had them taken off the plate...

My question is -- if the plate has a driver and a pickup, could I just patch one of my outboard preamps to the send to amplify the signal to the driver and patch in other preamps on the return from the pick ups in order to make this baby sing?  Is this a good deal and a good idea to you guys?   How important are the original electronics?  Isn't it just a preamp / eq or am I mistaken?

Thank you so much!
Matt

 

[dmp]

Sounds like a good deal to me unless it sounds bad for some reason.
The cost for the metal, welding, and the SS sheet would add up to quite a bit and then you have to make it. And the parts from Cunningham are no longer available.
I use a headphone amp to drive it (and also a small speaker 1-2' away to drive it)
The pickups on mine go into a 4 ch active DI then preamps. No original electronics. I have 4 pickups and blend them to get an nice stereo sound

Post some pics if you can.

 

[Seditionary]

Thanks -- I will post photos.  He said he'd sell me the plate without the original electronics for 450 or with electronics for 900.  The electronics are just basically a preamp though and eq, right?  If I could build my own electronics or use my own preamp -- it probably makes sense to get it for half price?