A stringed instrument including a body having a top surface defining a picking area; a bridge supported by the top surface at one end of the picking area; a neck extending from the body at an opposite end of the picking area; and a plurality of strings extending in substantially parallel paths over the picking area. Each pickup is disposed under a different associated one of the strings and a support mechanism mounted on the top surface and adapted to accommodate movement of each pickup in a path within the picking area and parallel to its associated string.