Open up a “whole new world of expressiveness” – from classic electric guitar tones to otherworldly synths and beyond – with this traditionally styled six-string
(Image credit: Future)
For those wanting to push the boundaries of what’s capable from the fretboard of a humble electric guitar, you’d be hard pressed to find a more advanced avenue for sonic exploration than the Jamstik Classic MIDI Guitar.
A gorgeously styled Stratocaster-inspired build on the surface and a state-of-the-art piece of technology under the hood, the Jamstik Classic MIDI Guitar is an all-in-one solution for guitarists looking to seamlessly combine conventional electric guitar tone and playability with unprecedented digital expressiveness.
It needs to be heard to be believed, and lucky for you Guitar World Tech Editor Paul Riario put the Jamstik through its paces in the demo video below, which (aside from the drum loop) was crafted entirely using the Jamstik.
At its core, the Jamstik Classic MIDI features a time-tested spec sheet comprising an alder body, roasted maple neck and fretboard, and an HSS pickup configuration, which can be controlled via the five-position toggle switch, two tone knobs and master volume parameter.
There’s also premium locking tuners and a standard ¼” output jack, all of which, as Paul notes, means the Jamstik “looks and performs like a traditional 22-fret electric guitar”.
But as mentioned above, while this may look like a golden era Strat-style guitar, its expanded connectivity transforms it into a modern, state-of-the-art six-string capable of horizon-expanding sounds.
Utilizing a hexaphonic MIDI pickup and onboard processors paired with advanced algorithms and MIDI Polyphonic Expression, the Jamstik accurately detects and translates the nuances of your playing, converting them into various MIDI sounds, from Lofi Pianos and soundscaping synths to nylon-string acoustics.
The guitar itself works alongside the Jamstik Creator (Mac & PC) and Jamstik Control (iOS & Android) apps, which can be used to meticulously customize your MIDI sounds, access up to 200 custom presets, and adjust settings on-the-fly, either via wired USB cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth. As a class-compliant MIDI controller, it also works with any MIDI-capable DAWs, plugins, and music apps.
(Image credit: Jamstik)
Paul’s verdict on the whole package? Glowing, as you’d expect: “The guitar is great – set up perfectly out of the box and feels instantly familiar. The MIDI tracking… in my opinion is like nothing else out there.
“For guitarists and budding musicians looking to evolve as content creators and producers, the Jamstik Classic MIDI guitar is a game-changing and compelling instrument to conveniently tap into a world of sounds you’d never be able to before. It’s amazing.”
The Jamstik MIDI Guitars come in four colorways – Baby Blue, Onyx Black, Sunburst, and Vintage Cream – and all guitars ship with a custom padded gig bag. Available now on jamstik.com and select retailers.
The MSRP of the Jamstik Classic is $999.99 and you can find official resellers at jamstik.com/storelocator.
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