As described herein, a sound pickup for musical cymbals includes an integrated assembly attachable to a cymbal stand. The integrated assembly includes a plurality of microphones arranged and electrically connected such that the resulting amplified sound is of optimal quality and of relatively constant loudness regardless of cymbal tilt. In one embodiment, two microphones are used, with the signal phase from one microphone being inverted prior to combination with the signal from the other microphone. The inversion is implemented using an inverter and serves to cancel signals that are in phase with one another and augment signals that are out of phase with one another. This, along with suitable placement of the pickup, exploits the fact that the more desirable components of the cymbal's vibration at the inflection point of the cymbal are out of phase with each other, whereas the less-desirable components are in phase with each other.