A reconfigurable electronic musical instrument includes physically separate removable and replaceable pickup and control modules facilitating rapid changes to instrument functionality. Pickup modules may contain one or more electric pickups with different response characteristics, and different control modules may be used with the different pickup modules for a nearly unlimited range of tonal variations. Pickup modules are removably received within a back cavity of the body, and control modules are coupled to the side of the body forming a portion of the instrument's peripheral profile, with front and back surfaces of the modules being flush with the front and back surfaces of the body. Self-aligning connectors on the pickup and control modules automatically establish reliable electrical signal paths upon assembly. The system may be used to configure an electric guitar, bass, 12-string, extended range, multiscale, or any other type of fretted or fretless electric stringed instrument.