Still weighing all the options but I tend to agree with you about the ending. In most of the demos where the audience selects the order they show what I would call a best case scenario and if that isn’t the way it goes it could look a tiny bit suspicious. The upside down blocks are an amazing way to end it as well.
Overall though, I still feel it really needs something else completely unexpected.

IMO, Paul Daniels was one of the best performers over the last 60 years. When Paul did a trick on his television show you could be sure of two things. First, it was a great effect. Second, Paul's performance was second to none. He spent a lot of time, and money, perfecting his presentation. Paul chose to perform the classic bewildering blocks with a single stack of 4, and he chose to end the routine with the blocks upside down. That's what sold me on the effect.

BTY, Cubes comes with extra numbers to stick on the blocks (at least mine did). So, you can modify the blocks to perform the exact routine Paul did. I must have watched his video over a dozen times until I finally figured out exactly how the blocks were modified. I ended up leaving the blocks as-is, but if you are interested PM me and I will explain.

Yesterday I received the Smart Cubes by Taiwan Ben. I found the overall quality and workmanship to be very good. The cubes are very well designed with chamfered edges and corners, thus making it easy for the tube (tube with the sh**ls) to slide over the blocks smoothly. The sh**ls fit well over the cubes. This one is the parlor version (I also have the stage version in black by another maker) and I found it to be much easy to handle, control and work with as against the larger stage version. Each cube measures about 2 inches on the sides. The length of the tube is 12 inch long thus making it easy to carry and handle. I am very happy with this well designed and well made 'Cube-a-Libre' prop.

Recommended. My opinion please.

Back on topic please. Thank you.

The Taiwan Bens sound great, and 1/3 the price!
I'm always leery about overseas products. Some items are great, others are worthless. This one sounds like a winner!

I own The Cubes and recently had a chance to see Taiwan Ben's Smart Cubes up close.
Smart Cubes is very good for the price and would do nicely, especially for those on a budget. It’s made well and deceptive.
However, it’s like comparing a Chevy to a Mercedes.

The Cubes is made with greater precision and is consequently even more deceptive. It works more smoothly and is quieter, although granted, sound is not an issue anyway. But it just has an overall look and FEEL of high quality. Smart Cubes feels much more like a plastic toy in comparison.

I do like the blocks supplied with The Cubes much better. They are large and beefy and they look, feel and sound like genuine wooden blocks (because they are.)
Also, I found it much more difficult to handle the Smart Cubes with the gimmicks as single cubes. It was tricky to do. This could just be the set I was using or perhaps I have become spoiled with the ease in handling The Cubes.

I prefer the simplicity of using only 4 cubes rather than 6 too. But I do like the fact that Smart Cubes includes 2 matching sets of cubes because my favorite premise for this trick is synchronicity and having another set of cubes demonstrates this more clearly. Getting another set of cubes is certainly nice for the price.

All in all, I guess this is another case where you get what you pay for. My friend was super happy with his Smart Cubes before he handled The Cubes. He kept asking me if I was sure I didn’t want to trade with him and get that second set of cubes!

They can both fool and entertain your audiences (given a good presentation of course) but The Cubes is definitely a much nicer set, albeit with a much higher price tag. But IMO the extra cost is worth it if you can afford it. When you see and feel the quality you will no doubt look at it as a wise investment.

A friend owns Taiwan Ben's Smart Cubes. I've handled the props. For the price, it is nicely made. However, the looseness of the gimmicks make Smart Cubes absolutely unsuitable from anything closer than about 4-5 feet.

The videos I've watched of The Cubes (Caramba Magic) being performed seem to suggest the spectators can be a bit closer. I'm still unclear how the gimmicks are constructed for The Cubes. Are they flexible plastic, as with Smart Cubes?

I think The Cubes will suit my needs better but I don't know if it is even available anymore. I found Caramba Magic's site but there is no apparent way to actually order the product. I shot them an email (which didn't bounce as undeliverable) so, hopefully, I'll receive a response. The listed price is 255 euros including worldwide shipping. That significantly less expensive than the $330 plus $40 in shipping that Magic Warehouse is asking for The Cubes.

Mark

A generous forum member (Steve) reached out to me to offer his Cubes set for purchase. I asked for photos and he sent me 8 excellent quality photos that showed every detail of the props. Despite having previously read this topic and seen stickers mentioned, I was initially disappointed that the numbered faces were large white stickers rather than painted. I initially decided to pass on Steve's generous offer. In his reply, he mentioned that additional stickers are supplied, which sealed the deal for me. Plus, I had to remind myself that this won't be shown with spectators as close to the Cubes as the camera was close in Steve's photos.

Payment sent and Steve has already provided a Priority Mail tracking number. He'll ship it tomorrow and I'm excited to receive it later this week.

My heartfelt thanks to Steve for reaching out and offering the Cubes to me at a fair and generous price.

Mark

I received my Cubes by Caramba Magic today. Wow, what a tremendously well made effect. The quality of construction is first class, all the way. Aside from my recent purchased of Blue Phantom by Andy Hurst, Cubes is probably the most well constructed magic effect that I own.

I'm going to have a lot of fun showing this effect to my friends.

Mark

I found an inexpensive case on Amazon with a pluck foam lining that fits my Cubes effect very nicely!







Mark

Currently, the Caramba Magic website URL is leaving me with a completely blank page. The domain registration doesn't expire until September, we'll have to wait and see if the domain gets renewed.

It's too bad, Caramba's Cubes is definitely my favorite version of the Bewildering Blocks/Cube-A-Libre.

Mark

Does anyone know where I could get a set of Caramba's Cubes? I noticed Scott Green mentioned this in his recent Penguin live video but can't seem to get a response from Carmaba or find one online?

Last year I sent an inquiry to Caramba. They responded to me after a month telling me that they only had left-handed models at the time. I'm unsure of the workings, so I can't comment if that's a dealbreaker. I tried going through a company that had it listed, but they refunded my purchase given that Caramba was taking too long to get back to them.

Future Magic in Germany offers what appears to be a set (they call it Sensational Blocks) that is quite similar to Cubes by Caramba Magic. See:

https://www.future-magic.de/sensational-......N-9.html


I do not know anything about the quality of construction so potential buyers should do use due diligence and perhaps ask for additional (close-up) photos before purchasing.

If anyone buys a set from Future Magic, please share your thoughts and photos here.

Mark

Thanks John, I am left handed so maybe Caramba will respond to me if I mention that. Thank you as well Mark I will check Future out and let you know which way I go.

^^ good luck they are hard to get a hold of apparently ive been trying to get a right handed set ordered from them cause I hear theirs are second to none

Hi Mark, the case looks perfect for my act as well. Do you have the dimensions? Thanks.

I think Gimpy's version is very good and his craftsmanship is superb.

The exterior dimensions of the case are 13” W x 10.25” D x 5.12” H. I purchased it from Amazon, this one:

https://amzn.to/2HhPxMo

Mark

Holy crap they actually responded to me...ordered a set right away! (red, right handed)

Mark I think I'm gonna pick up that case as well

Well, just goes to further prove that timing is everything.
So where the heck were all you cube addicts back when I was selling my Caramba Cubes (which I believe Mark may own now) and had to list it for weeks and end up practically giving it away?