For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Zivix to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Jamstik+ Smart Guitar, the company's latest and greatest product. The Jamstik+ is a MIDI guitar controller that feels like a real guitar and works with the iPad, iPhone, and Mac. It's 16-inches long and comes with real metal strings and frets to capture each musician's unique playing style.

Compared to the original Jamstik, the new version connects to your iPad, iPhone or Mac using Bluetooth instead of WiFi, and it includes a new magnetic pickup to improve pick detection to better mimic an electric guitar.


Jamstik+ is a great way for novices to learn how to play the guitar because it comes with a dedicated series of JamTutor instruction apps, and there's no experience necessary -- anyone can use the Jamstik+. It uses the Jamstik's finger-sensing technology to teach the basics of guitar playing. Jamstik+ can connect to a Mac, iPad, or iPhone wirelessly using Bluetooth, so there's no cable to deal with, and its size makes it more portable than a traditional guitar.

Jamstik+ works with several exclusive apps, but it's also compatible with the hundreds of music apps in the App Store. Unlike a real guitar, Jamstik+ does not need to be tuned, and it has a rechargeable battery that lasts for a full playing session (eight hours). The Jamstik+ is currently available for pre-order for $299.

jamstik+ipad
To enter to win the Jamstik+, use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter your email address. Your email address will not be given to any third party and is used solely for contact purposes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter.

This contest will run from today (June 12) at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time through 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time on June 19. The winner will be chosen randomly on June 19 and will be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address or a new winner will be chosen.

Top Rated Comments

SgtPepper12 Avatar
135 months ago
Don't want to be the party pooper, but that Jamstik is a useless piece of junk. First, to learn how to play the guitar you should use a guitar, because that's the instrument you will use to actually audibly play stuff. It's a significant part of making music that you actually get the satisfaction to hear what you are playing exactly how you are playing it. Secondly, memorizing where to put your fingers is probably the least of your problems when learning (difficult) new chords. That takes like two seconds. The difficult part is to get your fingers to do what you want them to do. It's not like that thing makes that easier in any way (if anything, harder, because you are ruining your posture and technique by substituting an actual guitar with that weird little thing). If the part that instruments make sounds when playing them scares you in any way, you probably shouldn't learn to play an instrument to begin with.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mgipe Avatar
135 months ago
I would think that someone whose name is Bill Gates would be able to afford to buy the iPad to go with the free guitar. ;)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DocStone Avatar
135 months ago
Sgt. Pep, relax man. I have been playing guitar for over 20 years and own 15 instruments from Fender and Gibson to Taylor and Collings. Each of us learn differently. To memorize a chord for you might be easy but for someone else it might be more difficult. As a guitar instructor over the years I have seen people pick up guitar quickly and others it took many years.

Any tool that helps you learn is a good thing. Just because you see this as junk does not mean it can't be used by someone else to learn the basics. Could they just get a guitar and your piece of paper? Sure. But if the software and hardware helps, who are you to judge? It's obviously not for you so instead of being so closed minded about a product that might just help someone learn the gift of music, why not embrace thinking different? I am sure many had your same attitude when the synths and keyboards were introduced in the 60's.

BTW, if anyone wants to save money, I am sure Sgt. Pepper would be happy to jot some chords down on a piece of paper for you. Just message him for his guitar course he is teaching.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
William Gates Avatar
135 months ago
I would think that someone whose name is Bill Gates would be able to afford to buy the iPad to go with the free guitar. ;)
Gave all my money to Africa, send iPads.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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