Review Fix Exclusive: Chris Prendergast Talks JamStack

Review Fix chats with Chris Prendergast, the inventor of the JamStack, who lets us know everything about this awesome gadget that makes the experience of playing your electric guitar portable, in a flash.

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Review Fix: How was this gadget born?

Chris Prendergast: So initially I was frustrated with how annoying it was to set up the electric guitar and how non-portable it was and I thought to myself, why can’t I just have everything I want ON my guitar. I first built a custom guitar, by drilling a bunch of holes and inserting a speaker and smartphone mount. Later I had a second epiphany and realized you could use a portable speaker and make it modular. But the biggest realization was that Bluetooth speaker technology and modern smartphones were now at a place where they could facilitate a superior guitar playing experience.

Review Fix: What did you learn from the IndieGoGo campaign?

Prendergast: The Indiegogo campaign has shown we have overwhelming support around the world. We have taken more than 1,500 orders so far which proves there is a demand from musicians who are eager to simplify the setup and just play. We raised enough to increase our manufacturing run and will have shipments going out in August. We will continue to offer great deals on the JamStack until the campaign ends June 23.

Review Fix: Were you surprised with the overflood of support?

Prendergast: We knew we had a great product, we just had to get enough people to see it. We are working very hard to help people understand this isn’t just a toy, it’s a revolutionary device that will help guitarists and other musicians play whenever and wherever they choose.

Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?

Prendergast: Guitarists will see the most benefit with the ability to attach the JamStack and play in seconds anywhere they want. It makes practice easier, especially in small apartments or shared living spaces. It’s super light and portable and it’s so small it fits in a guitar case – so it’s perfect for performing at a party or jamming with friends in the park. With a smartphone attached, you can change effects on the fly, with pre-set sounds, and it’s all right at your fingertips.

Review Fix: Bottom line, why must someone use it?

Prendergast: If you want to play your guitar along to backtracks or drumbeats, record and share online, JamStack is the best option. Unlike regular amps, the backtracks don’t disappear when you play the guitar, and you don’t need an expensive computer system so it’s perfect for playing around, practicing and entertaining. Nothing is faster and more convenient.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Prendergast: We have a LOT of ideas for the future of JamStack in both hardware and software.  Right now, we’re just focusing on fulfilling pre-orders and being careful with our cash flow, but we’re excited to work on new version of the JamStack and some exciting software ideas. We will be looking for investment (including the upcoming Dragons’ Den TV appearance – which is similar to Shark Tank).

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14230 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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