I just "won" an ebay "best offer" on a pickup for my violin. Didn't think they would take the offer and I have no experience with electrified instruments.

The pickup says "No batteries required", "Output plugs directly to mixing desk or combo".

Do I need a preamp for this setup or can I run it directly to the amp?

I am looking at the Roland Micro Cube as it seems to have many good reviews and I would only be playing in my living room so nothing large is needed, can I connect to this amp with out a preamp?

Does anyone have this amp and play an acoustic/electric though it that would suggest it? Don't want to spend much over $100 for this dust collector.

Does this amp have the ability to accept pedals etc. I am clueless as to the order in which these things connect.

I have read this pickup plug is "tight" and needs a quality machined cable for proper fit, seems the cheap cables wont fit. Any suggestions on quality cable?

No, your amplifier will amplify whatever signal comes from the pickup.

Yes.

Depends on what your needs are: large venue, practice amp, recording, small venue, playing on a street corner. Under $100, check out a music store or pawn shop for a small amp.

Any signal processors (sound effect pedals) can be hooked up in between the violin pickup and the amplifier. You plug a 1/4" cable from the violin pickup into a sound effect pedal's input socket. Then, you plug another 1/4" cable into the sound effect's output socket and then plug that into the amplifier or into another sound effect pedal's input socket. Go to a music store and ask a salesperson.

All 1/4" patch cords have the same diameter pickup plug. But when you spend more for better cables, you are paying more for better cable insulation or in the case of Monster cables, you are paying more for gold contacts.