I am a newbie and while sleights are the ultimate goal, I want a Johnson coin effect to have some instant fun. Johnson seems to be the name in quality gaffed coins (beside custom made sets).

My question is, which Johnson coin set provides the most visual, strongest effects? Secondly, which set is most versatile (i.e. most effects)? Thirdly, which sets (if any) are instantly resettable? I guess that's three questions, but if someone could give me some insight as to where to go on this I'd appreciate it...

I'm considering Scotch and Soda, Hopping Half, Stack of Quarters, Dime and Penny, S/C/B Transposition and $1.35 trick.

BTW, I know there are topics covering these separately, but I'm interested in hearing from folks who have had most of these sets and can COMPARE them as described in the first paragraph.

Thanks guys!

JB
(My first post!)

If you get the Hopping Half Set you'll get some other great gadgets with it. Also a copper/silver coin will go a long way.

I would recommend Scotch & Soda the Millenium Edition. It's the one that uses the newer Golden Dollar and a newer quarter (the State ones).

Being that the Golden Dollar did not go over well in area, I use that as part of my presentation. I tell the spectators that the Golden Dollar didn't catch on because there is a flaw in the design...and go from there.

I still have an older set (half dollar and Centavo) but I use the newer version more often. The main reason I would suggest this set is that it is versatile. I'm not saying the others are not. I don't own any of the others.

When I bought my first set (the older, naturally) I also picked up a booklet that had 25 effects (I think it was 25, could have been 50) that you can perform with the set. The booklet was $10-15. Granted, you probably won't like every effect, but I'd be willing to bet you could find more than just a couple you be interested in learning. All of it is very easily performed.

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse!

Lee

I would have to agree that Hopping Half will also permit you to do Goshman's Sun and Moon from Bobo's Coin Magic Book. The Gaff coins you receive will permit you to do a very large number of tricks.

It comes with a X S**** coin for coins thru table and coins across, as well as assemblies.

A very nice trick. The original coin trick is tops also. Plus, Johnson guarantees them for life. I have taken them up on their offer and they replaced, no questions asked.

I'm a big fan of the Johnson Ultimate Copper & Silver set, and the Magnetic Copper & Silver set. Both use unexpanded shells and milled coins, instead of E]'s and standard coins. The Ultimate set is not instantly resettable, but the magnetic set is. Look at my website (link below), on the review and free trick pages to see a bit more detail on the Ultimate C/S set.

I'm going to be very unpopular after this next comment, but here goes anyway... It's my opinion that the hopping half routine tips any savy spectator to the gaff. "How'd all those coins get there?" "And how do they keep coming back..." Well, umm, der, there must be something going on involving shells or fake coins. Not every one knows about shells, but a lot of people do, or they suspect. It's true that the set comes with lots of goodies to use in other ways, but doing the stock HH routine just simply screams... GAFF, GIMMICK, FAKE!

Copper and silver routines, again, in my opinion, don't give the spectator anywhere to go... two coins, one here, one there, then they switch, they vanish, they reappear, and now they can be examined. Although, a bazzilion variations on that basic premise exist, so an endless number of routines are possible.

Outside of Johnson's, if you want a great, resettable, easy to do, and visual effect, get yourself a half dollar, a quarter, and an Eddie Gibson Coin Unique (US version). There's some very confounding and entertaining possibilities there.

And now I stand, cigarette in mouth, blindfold on, awaiting the firing squad of Hopping Half fans to exact their retribution...

Best,

Mike

Personally I would go with the copper, silver, brass transposition, it is a great effect and keeps the audience interested.

I partly agree with WildStone: the HH must have a very strong presentation, otherwise it's ... just fooling specs, and they are the stupid ones on this. But if presentation and story is superb it's a strong trick! I myself have HH, but still in the drawer due to the lack of THAT STRONG story. But for what you get from Johnson when buying this HH set, you won't be disappointed! Get two extra chinese coins (the brass/black ones) and you can easily make your own CSB-Gimmick; it's soooo easy.

S&S is good - also Coin Unique. But important (well, I'm not a coin sleight purist) is a exp. e] and a c/s-coin. Good luck.

Hey Bernd:

I just got a package from the magic warehouse this morning that included one of your "M" cards... nice work, and very reasonably priced! I'm playing with it, and my Johnson Mag C/S set as I'm typing this... Thanks to you I just improved one of my standard coin / card routines about 100 fold. Thanks man.

I'll definitely keep you in mind for future card gaff needs.

Best,

Mike

@Mike,

get a shim card too! When you have a mag***** coin, you'll discover penetrations as fair as possible.
Think of it. And don't hesitate to contact me for custom gaffs...

I would suggest Hopping Halfs.

In addition I would suggest comming up with your own ideas using the parts(or part) of the set.

E.S. and sun/moon(c/s) coins are great utility items.

Enjoy the journey.

Happy HOYC.

Holiday of your choice.

Just my two E.S.... worth

Harris

I'm with the majority Hopping Halves...

Wildstone,

What's the difference between Ultimate C/S and S/C/B Transpo? If I bought Ult. C/S can I add a normal "B" coin to do the S/C/B Transpo?

Is SCB instantly resettable? Examinable before the routine?

For that matter are any of Johnson's sets examinable before the routine?

Thanks again, you all have been very helpful.

JB

Ult. Copper & Silver is a three piece copper/silver set, like a scotch-n-soda, but different in that you get a machined copper that fits under the unexpanded shell, which opens the doors for a lot more in hand transposition type effects than when using S-n-S, where the copper does not fit under the shell.

You could add a Chinese coin to the Ult. C/S set, and you have a CSB set, of sorts. Similar to the type that Reed and Curtis use, but nothing like the gaff CSB set the Johnson sells. Basically, take a C/S, a chinese coin, and a half dollar, and you've got a CSB, again, of sorts. I'd personally prefer the Johnson / Lassen gaff concept, and my own personal customizations to it.

Any effect is examinable before and after a routine, if you want it to be. Think Util. switches and shuttle passes. The Johnson Ult. C/S & CSB are examinable before and after without much fuss... you just need to routine it the right way. Why do you want to hand out your props?? You can show the legitimacy of coins without passing them around the room. Sometimes it helps a routine to do so, but usually it only causes you to lose, and then have to regain crowd control.

Rule of Thumb #1 - only pass out props when it benefits you and your routines, never do it to squelch sceptics. Find other ways to do that.

Best,

Mike

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I couldn't decide, so of course I got both the Ult. C/S and the S/C/B Transpo (dang it!).

Also ordered me a copy of Bobo's...

Can any one tell me, I do have Johnsons Hopping Halfs, but not Copper, Silver & Brass if I buy one Johnsons Regular Chinese Coin can I do Copper, Silver & Brass routine with some of the Johnsons Hopping Halfs coins.

I've searched on the net for Johnson's homepage, does that exist or ever exist? I'm sure it'd be cheaper buying directly from them, that's why I'm curious. Thanks much,

Justin,

Call Kathy at Johnsons - 626-445-1411. She'll be able to help you.

Rayg1952 - You'd be able to do some variations of CSB if you bought a chinese coin, but you would not have that special something that you get when you buy the Johnson CSB set. Honestly, you can do CSB routines with a C/S, a copper coin and a brass coin. However, the CSB gaff allows for some truly amazing looking transpos.

Best,

Mike

That is also known as "Vodka and Orange Juice"

The best prices I've found on Johnson's products are at themagicwarehouse.com. The service has been excellent has well.

http://themagicwarehouse.com/johnson.html#jo1402

Thank you all for your help, one more thing and this is off topic why is there lot of repeating post