This invention relates to the method and apparatus for electrostatic pickup of sound from stringed musical instruments to addresses the unique requirements of acoustic stringed musical instruments with a portable, detachable, safe-to-handle, easy-to-use, low-noise, electrostatic pickup that captures the tone of the musical instrument, is usable with common musical sound systems, avoids acoustic feedback problems associated with air microphones in live settings, and is easy to manufacture using current common materials and practices.