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Playing Card Chat ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦ => Playing Card Plethora => Topic started by: CBJ on March 13, 2012, 09:24:19 PM
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The Maiden Back 813 is HERE!
Houdini’s Magic is thrilled to offer a great new addition to the Bicycle line of Playing Cards, the Maiden Back 813. This new back design takes the classic look of the most popular Rider Back playing cards. United States Playing Card Company offers the Magic and Custom markets a product that has the flexibility to change the back design. The Maiden Back offers the same great durability, feel and appearance as the “famed” Rider Back design and will also feature the famous Bicycle Ace of Spades and the Traditional Bicycle Joker.
Houdini’s will be offering the Maiden Back 813 in all of the classic magical playing cards including the Wonder (Svengali) Deck, Mental Photography Deck, The Split Deck, Invisible Deck, Rising Cards, The classic Stripped Deck, The Mirage Deck, double sided cards, and the legendary Gambler’s Marked Deck ™.
Houdini’s Magic Shop also will be the first to offer the standard Maiden Back 813, for card workers.
Expected Delivery soon!
Price: $3.99"
(http://www.houdini.com/cw3/assets/product_full/Bikesmaiden.jpg)
found here: http://www.houdini.com/Details_e.cfm?ProdID=1611
CBJ
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Is this back limited edition or will we be able to get it for now on ?
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Maiden Back?
I feel like I'm seeing lizards at the corners. o.O
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I've never heard of or seen this deck before... but it's nothing special at all. I'll pass on this one... I don't see any need for it.
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It'll probably be like the Mandolin deck. Some'll like it, but most would think it's unnecessary.
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When you already have a pile of rider backs, this just seems far too close to be worth it. From a distance it's barely different, and since I have plenty of the old standby for my tastes I'll pass.
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is this deck limited .. ?? coz 3.99 is pretty expensive .. i can get riderback at around 1+
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I don't think you guys should consider this as a replacement for the Rider Back. Think about the Mandolin Back for the same, it's not printed on an unlimited-run. It's reasonable that it doesn't cost as little as the Rider Backs.
You may think that it's got minimal changes to it, but think about all those coloured backs, they're just a colour change and they cost at least $5. I think $4 is reasonable.
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It's cool because it's a new back design. I like it! Will it only been available in magic decks or will they have a normal deck as well?
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The $3.99 price should be for the normal deck. I can't see any of those other decks costing so little.
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Anyone have a bigger pics of the back of the cards?
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is this deck limited .. ?? coz 3.99 is pretty expensive .. i can get riderback at around 1+
3.99 isn't expensive for a half-customed bicycle deck. The mandolin backs cost a bit more than that if I'm not mistaken.
The least I've seen for a deck of rider back bikes is 1.89 per deck if you buy a brick @T11. Exceptions apply.
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Here's a much bigger pic
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/123Genii/BicycleMaidenBack.jpg)
CBJ
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Actually the Mandolin could cost a little as $2.5 if you buy a brick on eBay.
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I acctually like these, it looks cool, I am going to buy 2 just for collecting purposes. :)
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I think the maiden looks much better than the flying baby on a pogo stick! Shame they won't replace it.
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I have to say, I really don't like this deck at all... It's quite awful and a real bastardization of the original 808 Rider Back... 813? Maiden Back? What a joke... The Mandolin Back I happen to love and I think it was a respectful alteration, but his is just horrendous...
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I have to say, I really don't like this deck at all... It's quite awful and a real bastardization of the original 808 Rider Back... 813? Maiden Back? What a joke... The Mandolin Back I happen to love and I think it was a respectful alteration, but his is just horrendous...
Actually, the Mandolin Back is nice - one of my faves, in fact - but the Maiden Back more closely resembles the Rider Back, and that's intentional. Where a Rider Back has cherubs in the corner and a Mandolin Back has weird-looking feathers, the Maiden Back has maidens that resemble the cherubs. Where the Rider Back has a cherub riding a bicycle and the Mandolin Back has a cherub holding a mandolin in both hands vertically from the neck, the Maiden Back has a maiden similar in appearance to the riding cherub, and with arms spread out in the same manner as if it, too, was holding a set of handlebars. While a Mandolin Back would never fool a sharp eye or a fellow magician, Maiden Backs might. I spotted the difference in the Mandolin Backs right away, while I had to really stare at this deck to spot the differences to a Rider Back - I thought it was a Rider Back for the first minute or so.
It's got less to do with the plain deck being available, more to do with how anyone wanting new, true Rider Back altered cards is S.O.L. and has to settle for the Mandolins. They're planning to release a buttload of magic decks that are getting harder to find in the Rider Back (and some that are easily found, but you'll have matching backs if you buy Maidens).
The one I'd be most looking forward to is the Gambler's Deck. This was designed for Houdini in a Rider Back design, went out of print, and because USPC Legal isn't allowing any more altered backs on Riders, it had to be remade in a cheesier, generic back design that practically screams "I'm a magic deck, look at me!!" The Rider Back Gambler's Deck was a little crude in that the marks appeared to be almost handwritten, but they weren't too easily spotted in a magic trick - I haven't been caught once. The Gambler's Deck in any back is:
* a stripper deck
* a stacked deck, using an older stack model, not Mnemonica
* a marked deck
* the markings include the proper number order of the stack
* they also can tell you the BOTTOM card of the deck, when properly stacked
I bought two Rider Back versions on eBay last year and I think they're great cards - I always have them for my hospital gigs. Hopefully, this time around, the marks will be better integrated into the back design and won't look so crude.
The biggest thing that will determine the real worth of this deck will be how it handles. Rider Backs, well - they're not the worst, far from the best; very middle-of-the-road. Mandolin Backs are traditionally cut, but I think they still use the same Bicycle stock and no premium finish of any kind. Maiden Backs appear thus far to be available only in red (no blue deck shown in the photos or on the Houdini site) - beyond that, a personal inspection would be needed. If these were more like CARC Bikes or Turner Bikes, using Bee casino stock with a traditional cut, then we might be looking at something special. Even Aristocrat stock would be a nice upgrade in my opinion - I love Aristo stock more than Bike, that's for certain.
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One for my collection and that's it.
I doubt professional magicians will use this deck instead of bikes due the cost of $3.99 a deck.
If they would have included a double backer/facer and a blank faced card then it might be interessting...
;)
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I'm really not sure what was wrong with the Mandolin backs. This seems to serve the exact same purpose of a Mandolin back deck. I understand that someone looking for custom backs can no longer get custom rider backs, but you CAN get custom Mandolin backs. Why do we need another Rider back look-alike. From a personal standpoint, I do not like to outright lie to my spectators. If I tell someone that I have "a regular standard bicycle deck" I mean it, and intend to let them look at the cards. To me, using anything 'NOT' rider back, is still not a rider back. Even if the difference is subtle, the spectator is going to notice it if you let them examine a card, therefore, I don't think it matters HOW subtle the difference is. I might pick up a pack of these purely to see if they feel and handle the same as regular bikes, but that would be it.
Also, do they come in blue? I like blue over red, it feels easier on the eyes.
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I'm really not sure what was wrong with the Mandolin backs. This seems to serve the exact same purpose of a Mandolin back deck. I understand that someone looking for custom backs can no longer get custom rider backs, but you CAN get custom Mandolin backs. Why do we need another Rider back look-alike. From a personal standpoint, I do not like to outright lie to my spectators. If I tell someone that I have "a regular standard bicycle deck" I mean it, and intend to let them look at the cards. To me, using anything 'NOT' rider back, is still not a rider back. Even if the difference is subtle, the spectator is going to notice it if you let them examine a card, therefore, I don't think it matters HOW subtle the difference is. I might pick up a pack of these purely to see if they feel and handle the same as regular bikes, but that would be it.
Also, do they come in blue? I like blue over red, it feels easier on the eyes.
There's nothing wrong with Mandolin Backs. They're fine for what they are.
Simply put, Houdini Magic has a few decks they used to make in the Rider Back, some of which they no longer can. They likely realized the decks are nowhere near as popular when using generic backs. They may have felt that using USPC's own Mandolin Back, while a possible option, might have cut into their profit margin too deeply. So they create their own "pseudo-Rider Back" with the Maiden Back.
ALL THREE DECKS are so close to each other, you could likely use cards/gaffs/decks interchangeably with most people not knowing the wiser. But I do personally feel the Maiden Backs are closer to Rider Backs than the Mandolin Backs are. Unfortunately for HM, I'd guess that the Mandolins are somewhat better quality - but that's just a guess. At the least we know ManBs are traditionally cut and available in two colors, and ANY MAGICIAN can order gaff cards or decks at reasonably cheap priced. I'd guess MaidBs will only be from Houdini, only in whatever varieties they make, and custom work is not available.
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I liked the Mandolin backs because I think they looked simple but great, but these, IMO won't be a success.
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"
The Maiden Back 813 is HERE!
Houdini’s Magic is thrilled to offer a great new addition to the Bicycle line of Playing Cards, the Maiden Back 813. This new back design takes the classic look of the most popular Rider Back playing cards. United States Playing Card Company offers the Magic and Custom markets a product that has the flexibility to change the back design. The Maiden Back offers the same great durability, feel and appearance as the “famed” Rider Back design and will also feature the famous Bicycle Ace of Spades and the Traditional Bicycle Joker.
Houdini’s will be offering the Maiden Back 813 in all of the classic magical playing cards including the Wonder (Svengali) Deck, Mental Photography Deck, The Split Deck, Invisible Deck, Rising Cards, The classic Stripped Deck, The Mirage Deck, double sided cards, and the legendary Gambler’s Marked Deck ™.
Houdini’s Magic Shop also will be the first to offer the standard Maiden Back 813, for card workers.
Expected Delivery soon!
Price: $3.99"
(http://www.houdini.com/cw3/assets/product_full/Bikesmaiden.jpg)
found here: http://www.houdini.com/Details_e.cfm?ProdID=1611
CBJ
Is anyone else having problems buying these decks? I keep getting a 500 error :(
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Mixed feelings here. I personally am really drawn to the deck, but a lot of you are saying it's not worth it since there is no point to them. However, I always loved the modified Rider Back designs. I think I'll pick up a few when my supply of cards runs low for practicing.
I do want to ask this though, how did they manage to modify the Rider Back design within USPCC?
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They are modified bikes, in the same way that the Mandolin backs aren't. If you look closely, the back is completely different, with the appearance and style of a rider-back deck.
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Mixed feelings here. I personally am really drawn to the deck, but a lot of you are saying it's not worth it since there is no point to them. However, I always loved the modified Rider Back designs. I think I'll pick up a few when my supply of cards runs low for practicing.
I do want to ask this though, how did they manage to modify the Rider Back design within USPCC?
By not calling it a Rider Back?
Kevin Reylek stated on FB that this is actually a USPC design and not a custom order by Houdini Magic. Maybe they responded to some magicians who resisted the switch to the Mandolins or thought they weren't close enough to the Riders. These are EASILY mistaken for Riders, even to the experienced eye.