I have an Oade m118, which is just the 18volt version of the m148. I did a simple mod on it to remove the internal batteries so that I can power it from external batteries. Now the preamp has a ton of extra space on the inside where the batteries used to be.
This preamp must be at least 30 years old and it looks it. The outside of the case is ratty and aged. This is one with the unfinished steel case, not the black cases of the newer m148. The battery meter glass and the battery meter have been broken ever since I've owned it and probably for a decade before I got it. With the mod I did, I no longer need an on-off switch to conserve battery power.
The guts are easy to pull out, so I'm thinking of just transferring the guts to another, smaller external box that's half the size and eliminating the switch and of course the meter (since my externals have their own meter.)
What do you guys think? Go for it or leave the 'brick' a ratty ass looking brick that's twice the size it needs to be.