A sound pickup system for string instruments includes a chinrest and/or tailpiece connected to a first audio interface device--e.g. a piezoelectric transducer-on the instrument's bridge. A second audio interface device--e.g., a microphone-may be attached to and extended from the chinrest and/or tailpiece to provide a second sound pickup mechanism, which improves the quality of the sound reproduced by the sound pickup system. The chinrest and/or tailpiece contains volume and sensitivity control, for one or both audio interface devices, that also acts as a high frequency noise filter; a human grounding point in the chin cup and/or in the strings; and an output jack.