Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not of This World, November 29, 2006
Only a few short months ago, I received visions in my dreams. They flitted on the edge of memory like a will-o-the-wisp and staying just out of reach of complete recollection. A week later, a dense fog blanketed my campus and I somehow knew this was the sign I had waited for unconsciously.
Late at night, I snuck out of the dorm hall and wandered through the fog across campus. I could barely see ten feet in front of me and was never really conscious of where I was going, only that I kept moving.
At last, I stood in the shadow of the campus chapel. The wind caressed my face like hands, and I suddenly felt a small weight in my pocket. Uncertain, I reached in and pulled forth a box printed with beautiful artwork. I had received a Ghost Deck.
... Okay, that's it for the story time. That's the sexy answer I give when spectators ask me where I got my Ghost Deck. These cards have been such a big part of my performances that they deserve such a story.
The deck is a remarkably beautiful, high quality pack of cards. From a practical standpoint, the Ghost Deck has the high quality card stock and smooth, luxurious finish one would expect of a deck used in a Las Vegas casino. The handling is airy and effortless, making the manipulation of them whether in magic or in just a game of cards to be very easy and avoiding a lot of the problems you tend to see in more readily available decks. With Ghosts, there is no need to break them in and they can take more punishment than any other deck I've handled.
The benefits to this are obvious. For magicians, this makes sleights much easier to manage, even on an older deck. The readiness right out of the pack means that if need be, you could crack one open right on the streets and immediately be ready to perform. The durability is useful not only to magicians who perform frequently, but also for practitioners of XCM (extreme card manipulation).
The only flaw the Ghosts have is that they have a tendency to warp under more humid conditions. However, this is relatively easy to fix. Any poker player who has ever had to straighten out a warp, bend or crimp can tell you how to fix it, and the deck is ready for performance once again.
However, the true virtue of these cards is in the aesthetic value. While the practical values are not to be overlooked, the aesthetic impact of this deck is a wonder to behold. The pure black and white printing and blood red pips on the Hearts and Diamonds lends an air of mystery to the Ghost Deck. Flourishes done with them create an ethereally beautiful effect, and actual tricks and effects performed with them (especially in the case of mentalism and transportation) take on a distinctly supernatural vibe.
The Ghost Deck truly has a look as if it is not of this world. Watching fans and spreads go by is real eye candy, and the simple color scheme evokes a surprising sense of wonder in the spectators.
The two most stunning cards in the deck by far are the Joker and the Ace of Spades. The Joker has his back to the viewer, merrily dancing a little jig in a setting as mysterious as his own face. At his feet, a ribbon streams across reading "Mundus Vult Decipi" in a classical script. And of course the Ace of Spades' gorgeous artwork, which you can also see printed across the front of the box. The Baroque composition leaves you always looking for something new in the picture. The ribbons forming the base, the faded ring border in the background, the splayed hand reaching out at the very top... everything about this card is a wonderful work of art.
I've never failed to get reactions when performing with a Ghost Deck. I often use it in my UV light routines as well, talking about supernatural vibrations, ghostly auras, psychic residue, and other similar patter. While working at a Halloween store this last October, I performed an Ambitious Card Routine for a group of customers using stories of my "haunted" deck. They were all asking to see the cards through the routine. One young man even commented it was "the sexiest deck ever." When the routine was over, everyone wanted to hold the cards, not to see if it was gimmicked or rigged, but just because they were so astounded by the unique appearance.
To sum it all up, Ellusionist's custom decks are true workhorses, but their unique appearances bolster the effect of the magic you perform and leave a lasting impression in the minds of spectators. I currently use the Ghost Deck and Black Tiger, but the Ghost is my favorite at the moment because of its wonderful handling and distinct mystique. I highly recommend the deck to magicians who enjoy putting on a persona as a man of mystery and want to lend an extra touch of the otherworldly to their performances.
-Steerpike, Ellusionist forums
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
//Leave a whisper..., November 29, 2006
You walk outside, buttoning up your jacket as the cold winter air strikes your skin. Your breath freezes as cold steam escapes your lips. The world is white, the snow and sky seem to blend together. That's when you notice the stillness. The silence that captures your attention, yet leaves you unnerved.
It's too quiet outside, no echo to your footsteps. The sound of your breathing is drowned in the quiet.
That's how I feel when I handle Ghosts. Their white, silky feel almost has a mind of its own. I perform with them and I have undivided attention. They really are a work of art, and almost everyone who has seen them has had to take a moment to appreciate them.
You'll have to almost whisper when working with these cards, they create such an intense atmosphere that simply grabs attention and shackles it in chains of brilliance.
The quality is excellent. The look and theme is great. If these cards were people, you would see them in GQ magazine. They would be models.
I'm a working magician and I highly recommend the Bicycle Ghost Deck.
//Sean Beard
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but has flaws, December 5, 2006
The Ghost deck is a very unique deck. It's beutifully designed- the tiny red pips look great in my opinion. They handle well, as expected. Ellusionist's UV500 finish is a bit too smooth, but after a little work on them, they feel fine. The stock is high quality. The stock has a soft feel- the cards can bend when pressure fanned or sprung. Even so, the cards don't crimp or retain bends to a negative extent. I have a deck (powdered) that lasted almost a year now. The cards still feel new (unfortunately, they don't look it). Unlike many decks, the Ghost deck doesn't expand when getting old. The previously mentioned deck is the same thickness as when it was first used.
So why only four stars? Well, the Ghost has a significant problem. I've opened three decks so far, and they all had an obvious flaw. The edges were cut very poorly. There were small pieces of card sticking out of the sides of several of the cards. In one deck, a couple cards were actually connected by a piece of stock. After some use, the sides smooth out, so it's not a major issue.
Because of the stock issue, I'd give this 4.5/5 stars.
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