Cello pickups

Well, I got my cello pickups, more or less put them together (selotape…) and borrowed (stole) a smallish guitar amp.  It sounds pretty decent as a rock-distorted guitar, or like a bass guitar, depending on where I put the pickup and how I configure the amp.  Pity I can’t get a decent acoustic cello sound out of it.  Hopefully I’ll be able to whip out my soldering iron at some point and fix up the joints.  Also a decent cable and preamp would probably help.  If anybody knows anything about amping acoustic instruments or analog electronics and building a preamplifier, give me a shout.