Nique Tan Chats - DEX by Lloyd Barnes & Javier Fuenmayor

[@LloydB]

Thanks for a balanced review Nique 🫶

[@sensorcelled]

Thanks for the demo!

[@cart6069]

Thank you for the honest review. I guess it is really down to preferences. Being a mentalist- do you use it to have outs for certain routines? Although I guess one can have a smaller index using billets 🤔

[@niquetan]

Yup I use an index to access outs for various routines with billets. 👍🏻

[@keithwolfe-festivalandstreet]

​@@niquetanare you saying that you wouldn't use this in a show? And that you plan to stick to what works? Smilesotheylikeyou

[@steveblack7552]

Thanks Nique. An excellent review !! You did not mention if it is possible for the index to hold folded cards, is that not possible ???

[@niquetan]

You could score them; hope that makes sense! 👍🏻

[@steveblack7552]

Yes, understood. Thanks Nique !@@niquetan

[@phillipblest2622]

Amazing review! For me, the prerequisite to knowing if this is the best fit is to know the alternatives. I've only used the advocate in the past. Do you know of any comprehensive lists out there?

[@niquetan]

Only familiar with Advocate and Cheetah unfortunately. Advocate did it’s job really well and so I didn’t look for another at the time.

[@keithwolfe-festivalandstreet]

I know cheetah is a slimmer but two pocket system. And why in earth wouldn't they include a spot for the aces? They tell you to say don't pick the aces everyone picks one of the aces? Then why on earth wouldn't they create a slot for them? Makes absolutely no sense. Smilesotheylikeyou

[@phillipblest2622]

Thank you, and no problem. That makes comparisons and choices a lot easier then. If you don't mind me asking (maybe a bit too soon), accuracy-wise, do you prefer cheetah, advocate, or dex?@@niquetan

[@niquetan]

Hmmmm… as you can tell from the demo I can get DEX to work, but I’m still at the stage of conscious incompetence. I’m sure if I work at it I can become proficient with it as well as what I’m currently using.

[@phillipblest2622]

@@niquetan Absolutely. Makes sense as you've only had it for a bit over a week, but that's awesome to hear. Thank you again!

[@ms11-p4m]

How does it compare to Advocate? Also, where can we find your ideas on an index with billets? Would love to buy a recording of your lecture on that.

[@niquetan]

I think both do their job well; it’s just a different system and it’s a matter of getting used to. As for my lecture, I don’t have video for sale but you could find a brief description of it from a set of lecture notes on my website.

[@csmtree]

I'll pass on DEX. Great review, thanks brother

[@niquetan]

👍🏻

[@JVic_JustJohn]

Thx for the review. I'd really love to hear how it compares to, say, Indexed by Mirrah Miraculous.

[@niquetan]

Unfortunately I don’t have that. 🙏🏻

[@jonahberg9280]

Do you like this better than cheetah or the advocate in other words will this become your go to index ?

[@niquetan]

It’s a different system, so I can’t say one is better than the other. Currently I’m probably sticking with the index I use, which is a variant on The Advocate.

[@ScottLuvsRenFaires]

This is a good review. I am an amateur who has never used an index before. I have seen three reviews of this, including yours, and I think it's worth giving it a try.

[@niquetan]

@Scott-ul3qr thanks for tuning in, and I wish you get lots of use of out it! 👍🏻

[@guest3997]

Dear Nique, thank you for a great review of an interesting utility device! Your friend, David

[@Zax-Magic-Israel]

Great review, even grater performance... Mine is on it's way... (Penguin free shipping takes a while)

[@erictrainor4345]

I actually think this might be a case where I would play up the fact it can be seen in my pocket. Let spectators shuffle a legit deck, I pretend to memorize the order, deck switch, and pretend to place the deck in my pocket with DEX in it. Now ask for any card, and show off both you’re memory and quick fingers. On the 3rd time ask for a card, but produce the 4 of a kind instead ad a climax.

[@terratex904]

is it a solid block or is it kinda soft/flexible? does it last long?

[@niquetan]

It’s (I think) a vinyl prop that’s glued together with a soft glue. So it’s not like a solid block.

[@terratex904]

@@niquetan thank you :)

[@keithwolfe-festivalandstreet]

I've heard it's made out of packet trick vinyl and I've read complaints about shoddy glue coming undone. But that's all here say but I'm not gonna throw that kinda dough at anything that won't last a year let alone a week in anyone's pocket. Smilesotheylikeyou

[@pinballwizard666]

To be brutal ... A nice tin box and 9 hours of tutorial don't make up for an inferior product!

[@ConTxT]

I'm not sure what everyone's problem is. I got mine yesterday and am completely fine with it. I have the cards set up vertically to make it easier. I've been using quiver compact index for about a year and love it. This is definitely a step up for me.

[@muppetonmeds]

Yes, I think I will wait on the 2.0 version the reviews were great on Penguin but now people are complaining about not only the bottom coming apart but also the sides and that could be a big problem when trying to find the card and just because it can be fixed that doesn't help if it comes apart during a performance or table hopping.

[@hipflipped]

And they gave away the tutorial (the only value here) for free.

[@muhammadahmedsadiq2849]

How does it compare with advocate?

[@niquetan]

It’s just a different system. I can’t say one is better than the other. I’m very sure some will be more proficient at using either.

[@kapilagarwal9244]

I’m currently building the advocate because it is simple and self contained, but in theory if they pick an index card it would be hard to trust the index without reset. Also accurately riffling that far down is also risky. I’m thinking of the following solutions: 1) use long short to somewhat cut the riffle problem size by 1/2 or even 1/4th (xzzx + reverse); In most use cases a short card will not affect the performance and it’s quite unlikely and can be worked around. 2) Double the index card with itself if necessary but more likely another actual card to keep the index in tact longer before reset Should anything such as a rubber band be used to keep it from falling over and joining in your pocket? Am I on the right track?

[@wolfganghumboldt4830]

The advocate is inferior imo. It is just a lot slower and involves more big finger movements in the index. However, if you have the right pants so that the top of the index stays aligned with the top of your pocket, you can very naturally extract by just hanging your thumb in your pocket. Imo this is too ideal and impractical though. It typically involves far more thumbing around and counting than Dex. The Advocate is to be made by yourself for free, and that is a huge bonus. For essentially a free index, it is superb, even given the aforementioned drawbacks.

[@robjacks2748]

This is how you do an unbiased magic review. You're a classy guy. I'm glad you did this review before the whole hype blew up. I certainly don't agree with the people who said that you had a hard time not to call this product bad.

[@niquetan]

Thank you for understanding where I’m coming from when doing reviews. This is my approach to life and I simply translate that to what I do. I wasn’t too concerned about what the gentleman said about my opinion, as he said something along the lines of “…Nique Chat, or whatever his name is”. That, I found more offensive a statement than his opinion about my review.

[@robjacks2748]

Funny you mention that the guy mispronounced your name. I made a comment on Unbiased Magic Review saying that Don Wand is very disrespectful to you and Javier by not making an effort to correctly pronounce your names. He made me automatically dislike him.

[@niquetan]

@@robjacks2748 haha thank you; though I don’t think that comment made it to the public eye. That’s alright, just doing my thing in this thing we all love. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jonahberg9280]

Is it faster than cheetah ?

[@niquetan]

I haven’t worked on Cheetah so I wouldn’t be able to accurately tell you. They’re both different means to the same ends.

[@veganbadass]

Both have pros and cons. After practice both are roughly the same speed. Dex= decent blueprint, has steady positions of cards, single pocket BUT cheaply made. Cheetah= much better materials, double pocket BUT cards can rock back and forth like a pendulum. A DEX 2.0 could be a game changer though if they drop one.

[@bard2227]

Thats actually really fast 😮

[@niquetan]

It’ll take a bit of practice but it’s very doable!

[@djryanmcdonald]

I agree good demo!!

[@YinHoweMagic]

Your jeans is not as slim fit as Javier or Lloyds. :) What intrugues me is the 'minimal counting' aspect.

[@hipflipped]

Nique struggles to say that DEX doesn't suck. Most mentalists are used to spending crazy money on shitty products. So to them, even shit like DEX is "er... ok I guess?"