Abstract: A magnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument, comprising a polar magnet having a polar axis extending across its thinnest dimension, a coil having a magnetically permeable pole piece extending upwardly for positioning adjacent an instrument string, with the polar magnet positioned longitudinally parallel to the coil and having its polar axis perpendicular to the winding axis of the coil. Positioned within the coil is either a magnet or a pole piece. The pickup may include a plurality of coils and magnets arranged as described above to increase the effectiveness of the pickup. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the pickup which includes setting the pole piece, coil, magnet, and mounting bracket in a mold cavity, and casting the entire unit with potting material.