Q: Does the jamstik have a pickup like on a guitar?

No, special pick detectors are used to tell if a string has been picked. The intensity of how hard the string was picked is sent as a digital code. The jamstik is designed to be quiet when used, so the strings do not die down gradually in volume, but instead, stop vibrating right away. A timer is used to keep the note active. This note-on time can be shorted by using the “mute” switch that is located on the bottom of the jamstik.