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MichalMystic Veteran user 326 Posts |
Well here we go folks!.....
Lets start of with what you get. Nice case with the Gonzo gimmick inside. DVD nicely packaged. Bag of goodies which includes these...penny shell, shim material and some other stuff which is related to method and gimmick so I wont list. All this comes in a standard white box with a Gonzo sticker on it. DVD....what can I say...but the quality was brutal....I mean really brutal. The teaching while was good you can tell a lot of it was filler. Like showing me how to roll up my sleeves....or the way to long explanation of fitting it. He even says it take you a few hours...heck it sure would of if went as long as his teaching! It took me maybe 20 minutes to get it fit nice and in the right position. DVD menu were just as brutal. The quality and look was like it was done with a free dvd maker program. Like where was the trailer shot and why wasnt that equipment used????? The Gimmick.. What can I say but this looks like a craft project.... 89.95? wtf.....the case has to cost more then the materials used to build this... The Lever as they call it (this does not expose anything trust me) has already came out twice and I can see this flimsy thing folding in half and breaking easily. Now Im sure some of you got the email from Jose claim a defect and flopping around...well this in my eyes was false...but doesn't make this low quality gimmick any better. Angles hahah no way these are 180....but to be honest this doesn't bother me as with a little audience management to me it isn't a issue...another issue I have here with the teaching is his advice is to put a chair in front of you...you gotta be kidding me! Can you do what they say... Now here it is does the gimmick do what it says it can do....for the most part yes. Now understand Ive just had this today and havnet tested in the real world conditions but I base my opinion on what I honestly think it can do. Ive been doing magic for 25 years so Im petty sure I have a good basis on how this would go down in the real world. The gimmick itself is smart and if made better I think would be a hit! While I have this and it doesn't break it works great! The vanishes are just that clean. reproducing the object is just as easy! The clean up is quick and I would do on the off beat as they already seen you hands empty so the heat off them. The Gonzo gimmick really does only come into play for a brief moment as claimed and all the vanishes don't have to be super low it just your specs need to have more of a top down view but to me as a close up performer I find this level pretty much normal. Will this work in the real world....my opinion...yeah at the right time and right situation. For me I can see this working with a lot of the types of gigs I do. Weddings,bar, even the street and most stand up environments. But for restaurant workers where the same people are around you for a good period of a hour Id just say the chance of someone seeing the gimmick pretty good and them sitting would make this not really work able. WOW After all that do you like it? Yeah I do I can see me using this a lot I can see me and have already started making my own using better materials and Ill construct it better also. I can see why PHP didn't put there branding all over this....... the construction of the gimmick and materials are poor. The dvd quality is poor. But here it is.... Im going to use it cause the idea is really good and for the most part it does what it says (except for the claim of 180 degree or surround) Angles for me are not a issue I do what most should and work with them and know when to use this. Its hard for me to even rate this cause Im so mad at the quality but I love the idea and it does work! Im going to work this in more and more and see how long it last and while it does Im going to do some incredible magic and think of other uses for it. But to be honest with the 90 buck price tag the only thing of quality I see myself paying for is the case which I could of done with out....... There it is folks a real and honest review! |
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
Well Michael I'm glad aleast it seems to do what it
states it will.But I was hoping the quality of the gimmick to be better.I will se soon.Thanks for the review. Todd |
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Nathan Alexander Inner circle 2021 Posts |
Thanks for the honest review. Nicely written. It sounds like a mixed-bag, which is no problem if you can put it to use. So that sounds good, as far as it goes. Looks like you'll get use out of it! Cool.
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PendletonThe3rd Special user 973 Posts |
Thanks Michael. Great review going over all the pros and cons but keeping an open mind about it all. I thought for sure the price tag would be indicative of a high quality gimmick but apparently not. Yikes. Curious to hear what bowers and others will think as well but I may have to sit this one out.
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insight Inner circle 3095 Posts |
After reading the review, it seems that false advertising has taken place. I will confirm soon.
Regards, Mike |
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MichalMystic Veteran user 326 Posts |
Thanks everyone I tried my best at a fair review. I honestly wish PHP would of backed this 100% the resources and quality. I think if this would of happened my review would have been a lot different.
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MagicBrent Inner circle 2574 Posts |
So disappointed to hear about the quality and durability of gimmick. Mine is being shipped now.
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Cardguy52 Loyal user 246 Posts |
It certainly is disappointing to hear about the quality and durability of the gimmick, althou I have purchased cheap looking gimmicks before that surprisingly ended up being pretty durable.
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James927 Regular user Nor Cal 164 Posts |
Thanks for the clear review Michal. Nice to know you feel like you can create a more durable one yourself. Maybe we are paying for an idea and a prototype...
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mikenewman Inner circle Kent Island, Maryland 1114 Posts |
I will wait for GONZO III.
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Jamie Ferguson Inner circle Alba Gu Brà th 3640 Posts |
Thanks for taking one for the team Michael.
When the chips are down, the duvet is uncomfortable.
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PRINCE Inner circle 1448 Posts |
Even if this is still 'at the moment' workable as far as the gimmick lasting/holding out until it breaks (which no doubt will and sooner than later) - I'm still glad I didn't pre order and I guarantee there are folks who won't admit it but wished they didn't/hadnt as well. Once again the hype train took full control full steam ahead and picked up quite a few passengers along the way, only them to disappointed at the end destination considering the price they paid to aboard the train. Not knowing what the destination was like, they couldn't wait and had to get there 1st. Next time they may wait
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Siddharta Regular user 115 Posts |
Thanks for the review. Sorry to hear about the quality. Curious now for other reviews.
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r99h Loyal user Southampton, UK 257 Posts |
I will probably still ask my local shop for a demonstration of Gonzo, but am very glad that I didn't pre-order.
To be honest, I am just starting to get back into coin magic and this seemed like an ideal tool to enable me to produce 'miracles' quickly. I'm now almost definitely going to spend the money I have reserved for Gonzo on the Eric Jones Metal DVDs instead, and spend the next few months and years perfecting my sleight of hand skills in order to be able to produce effects any time and any place. Then if there is ever a better-made Gonzo 2 in the future, I might be more tempted to buy it without the guilt of laziness hanging over me! Thank you for the honest review, MichalMystic. Such reviews are of course helpful to prospective purchasers. However, I would again urge as many magicians as possible to visit their nearest magic shop and ask for demonstrations, honest thoughts etc. of effects before purchasing. They deserve our custom and it can help us to avoid making impulse buys and bad decisions. Rich |
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Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 31, 2015, EVILDAN wrote: I have test driven the actual product. While it takes practice, it is not difficult. Strapped one to a complete novice, showed them how hold and move their hands, and they nailed it perfectly on the second try. Once you have the motions understood and the angles understood, then you just practice... Which is simply repeating this relatively easy action until it is fluid and you become fully aware of the sight lines. |
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MR Effecto Inner circle 2836 Posts |
MichalMystic, how hard will it be to make it a better gimmick? ( Meaning ) so it wont break so easy?
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howie3 Regular user 107 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 1, 2015, MR Effecto wrote: Cough fishing cough. |
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PendletonThe3rd Special user 973 Posts |
Can't recommend Metal 1, 2, 3 enough. Im not claiming to be a master coin guy or anything but I can say I suck a lot less at it because of these DVDs!
I love a good gimmick too but these days, the only ones I'm finding more useful after becoming less sucky at coin sleights is a nice coin gaff. Those seem to be always worth the investment. Had high hopes for Gonzo but so far, it doesn't seem promising. But that's off one (albeit very good/fair) review so we'll see as more start to trickle in. Quote:
On Apr 1, 2015, r99h wrote: |
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ralphs007 Inner circle 1087 Posts |
Thanks Michael for the honest and well written review !
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him".
James D. Miles |
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einhorn Regular user London 190 Posts |
I have received GONZO today and am VERY impressed.
IMO It is a workable gimmick in real world conditions but you'll want to be able to choose when and when not to use it as the angles are a bit tricky BUT not too bad. I think the DVD is fine for what it is. Only half way through watching it but hey, you watch it once and probably never again so if it has the info on it I don't see why a basic DVD would upset anyone. He should have worn a white t-shirt to make the gimmick easier to see on screen though. I think I will have fun playing with this and imagine that most magicians would like it. Seems nicely made to me and for the right moment this is KILLER. In the same way that you wouldn't use a smoke device dozens of times, when you do use Gonzo they will never know where the object has gone. Nice idea and I think it will be used by some in a very discreet and fooling way. Others will play, file and never use it again (Like most stuff we buy). Anyone making Youtube video's or TV shows will love this, Personally I think it is extremely good at first glance. |
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