Price$14.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedNov 24, 2008
Prodigal Aces
Cosmo Solano
(Based on 2 reviews)
Without any moves, counts or sleights the aces INSTANTLY vanish from their piles and are found under the spectator's hand!
"Perhaps the simplest, cleanest, fastest and most magical Ace assembly to date.."
"Visual and clean, an assembly the audience follows and appreciates."
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Well, let me start off by saying if you are totally left-handed like me, forget this one. I have to admit that I am pretty good at reversing the instructions to convert most tricks to work for me or sometimes be able to learn the trick right handed, but not this time. The 12 page instruction book is pretty good and well illustrated but as mentioned above I had much difficulty in learning the moves. You do receive some great quality gimmicked cards that you will add to you deck but again if you are left-handed and try to do it so, the gimmicks will not work for you. A lot of the moves are not very natural and will certainly draw some heat.
Okay, so given I am having such a hard time learning the effect with the written instructions, I will just go to the website given and then enter the username and password … really? I tried using 3 different browsers and get either “We are having trouble finding that site” or “Server cannot be found”. I even tried Googling this effect to at least find a video demonstrating it but no luck. I did find another review of this product from April 2010 that mentioned the website was down, that’s 2 years ago. All to say this is not going very well. Frustration personified!
As far as this effect is concerned, the concept is very nice but you may find some other Ace Assembly’s out there that would be better suited to you. Due to the fact you really need a table or flat unencumbered surface to perform this as there is much going on, strolling or restaurant performances would be out of the question. In summary, if you want to give it a go by all means buy it, $14.95 is not a huge investment but personally I don’t think this is a great recommended buy.
Okay, so given I am having such a hard time learning the effect with the written instructions, I will just go to the website given and then enter the username and password … really? I tried using 3 different browsers and get either “We are having trouble finding that site” or “Server cannot be found”. I even tried Googling this effect to at least find a video demonstrating it but no luck. I did find another review of this product from April 2010 that mentioned the website was down, that’s 2 years ago. All to say this is not going very well. Frustration personified!
As far as this effect is concerned, the concept is very nice but you may find some other Ace Assembly’s out there that would be better suited to you. Due to the fact you really need a table or flat unencumbered surface to perform this as there is much going on, strolling or restaurant performances would be out of the question. In summary, if you want to give it a go by all means buy it, $14.95 is not a huge investment but personally I don’t think this is a great recommended buy.
(Top ▲)
In addition to teaching the effect, the pamphlet says to go online and enter a password and see a video of the explanation. So I log into the site and click on the "set up" video. Though it's low res, it gets the job done. The end of this video tells me to click on the "routine" video, so like the obedient monkey that I am, I comply. This video - again low res - teaches a slightly different method from the one in the booklet . . . this is good. I like this version.
The end of this video gives me my next set of instructions which is to click on some of the extended and alternate handling videos. Well this monkey is still scratching his head and craving bananas so he can make more poo to fling at Bagdini productions. Why? Because the mentioned videos are nowhere to be found. Additionally, there is a note on the site that says the videos have been updated to reflect the current handling of the effect which requires four gaffs, not three. It doesn't show this handling anywhere. Plus it doesn't mention what the additional gaff is. The website essentially no added value to the product.
The Effect is essentially an ace assembly that, like most lame plots, takes longer to lay cards down on the table and do a bunch of contrived displays than it does to "do the magic." The routine does eliminate a few of the concerns I have with traditional ace assemblies. But overall it's not a well structured effect. If you're dying for a new ace effect, first, give yourself a pasteboard paper-cut in the left nostril for craving such a thing. Second, there are better resources out there.
Overall, the product is produced well-ish. Final verdict 2.5 stars with a Stone Status of Grubble (maybe a hint of "Gem", but mostly "Rubble" - i.e. probably not worth it).