Some notes I wrote in 2007 when looking at upgrading my gigging equipment for my bouzouki:

After having spoken to a few people, including Stathis from New York, and Nikos Tatasopoulos in Greece, and Kosta from
Australia etc... They've stressed out that for pro sound, you need to go components, meaning: Effects Unit + Preamp + Speaker(s). And to keep away from the traditional amplifiers.

Of course this is more expensive, but you can always compromise on the speaker perhaps, as you may not need the same amount of power/volume than someone else who does bigger gigs etc..

Here is the solution (3 piece) stathi recommended me, also Tatasopoulos and others approved it, as being a real good
pro setup for the bouzouki:

Effects (Reverb)

t.c. electronics: M-One - Dual effects processor

Website: http://www.tcelectronic.com/M-One

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/3998/tcelectronismonexlreverhl2.jpg

Preamp

Acousti-Q - Tube Preamp/Blender for Acoustic Instruments

Website: http://www.presonus.com/acusti_q.html

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3489/presonusacoustiqpreampsw7.jpg

Speaker

MACKIE SRM450— Portable active 2-way loudspeaker with onboard bi-amplification

Website: http://www.mackie.com/products/srm450

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6397/mackiesrm450loudspeakerud8.jpg

The most expensive thing above is the speaker, so you could probably downgrade the speaker to fit the budget, and also
you can additionally plug into an existing PA system for additional volume.

Here are cheaper speakers:

Speakers

MACKIE SRM350— This "little brother" to the SRM450

Website: http://www.mackie.com/products/srm350

JBL - EON

Website: http://www.jblpro.com/eong2/eon15g2.htm

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6429/jblrh5.jpg

Also kosta recommended a more expensive preamp, which might be an over-kill.

Preamp

TL Audio: Ivory 2 Series 5051 (Mono Valve processor)

http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/tlaudio/docs/products/5051.shtml

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5452/tlpreampqs1.jpg

For traditional skylladika and a rougher sound, then the Solitaire perhaps is the solution, but they are over-priced. Stathi and Tatasopoulos were against amps, even the solitaire.

Then you also have the Fender Super Reverbs, Twins etc...

These amps may give you the Bouga style sound.

For rehearsals or home parties, then smaller amps like the Roland Cubes are great. Cube-30 in particular.

I've been gigging with a Cube-60 for 2years, it was alright I guess, but I really think it's time for me to upgrade and just
use that for rehearsals, more than enough.

Costs that you will be looking, ranging from entry level to a more premium pro level:

Pro Sound (3 piece component setup): $1500-3000 US (kai vale...)

Pro skylle (standalone amp): $800-2000

Rehearsal, Small gigs (Amp): $300-$900

Also as recommended by Tatasopoulos for best in sound and clarity, he recommends the expensive pick-ups which combine piezo, magnetic and microphone in one. These costs around 3 times more than the standard active bouzouki picks-ups. Tatasopoulo recommends for high-end premium sound:

- Dean Markley West Coast Trilogy

- Seymour Duncan

etc

Here is a list of actice pickups used by pros, in no particular order:

EMG-B, Archodis, B-Voice, Prodigy, EMS, Savvas Active, TAP.

Pics of such pick-ups here: http://www.greek-bouzouki.com/index.php?id=31,126,0,0,1,0

And the most common passive pickup is the Savvas series as you all know... But you can still get passive Archodis
pickups etc... The Black Savvas is more ballsy, the white Savvas is more mellow.

Also when it comes to instrument cables, stick to the gold plated ones. Planet-Wave have good cables.