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Reviews For: Vibroplex Blue Racer

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Vibroplex Blue Racer
Reviews: 24MSRP: 189.95 (Standard), $229.95 (Delu
Description:
Colorful bug
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.vibroplex.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00244.5
W0AZ Rating: 2021-03-06
Current production Blue Racer 2000 - Excellent Bug Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I’ve got seven bugs now, 5 of them various Vibroplex models - 3 of them over 70 years old.

The newest is a current production Blue Racer 2000.

I’d read all sorts of horrible reviews of the current production Blue Racers with complaints ranging from dit contacts that could not be aligned to displeasure with the loss of the stamped brass plaque.

When I was offered a slightly used one at a very good price I figured, “What the heck. I can probably fix any problems, and I want to see for myself what the new bugs are like.”

I agree about the plaque, but it’s not a deal breaker for me.

My bug adjusted up perfectly - no contact alignment issues.

The finish is impeccable. The chrome on the upper parts is perfect. The powder coated blue base is beautiful. And the fact that even my standard model now has the jeweled movement is definitely a plus.

My Blue Racer 2000 is crisp and slick and fast. With the two, small weights that are standard, its slowest speed is around 28 WPM, which is fine. I’ve got others that will go slower for QRS QSOs.

When I want to go fast, this will be the bug. I’m very happy with it.
IZ1PON Rating: 2020-01-16
Perfect "bug" key Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
A very pleasure to use.
Good job Vibroplex.
K6LO Rating: 2018-07-28
Smooth feel, but... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you choose to treat yourself to a new one for a little 40 years of ham radio treat, you'll get a great looking and feeling bug with the exception of where you actually put your fingers.
I recently purchased (yup hard to believe it - forty years) a Blue Racer Deluxe direct from Vibroplex. It was shipped promptly and beautifully finished except for the finger pieces. As a few have noted here and elsewhere, the edges are crudely finished and the material looks cheap. I was expecting this going in, and unfortunately not disappointed. I cleaned mine up enough to use comfortably with a manicure block, but ultimately ordered some properly finished (to perfection) ones from 2Bradioparts. Otherwise it is a super bug. Tight, smooth, but the finger piece finishing needs a rethink in Knoxville.
Little things like that will have Vibroplex competing with itself on the vintage market. It is a glaring lack of effort. I would also suggest Vibroplex revamp their website photos. The pictures are of the old stamped metal nameplate bugs with glossy, smoothly radiused finger pieces. Vibroplex has previously acknowledged that the stamped label tooling is no longer available. I actually like the new laser labels, so no personal issue there. Hire some kid to take new pictures and update the site photos. They owe their customers photos of the actual bug product line as it is today.
N3ZJ Rating: 2016-08-04
Wonderful upgrade! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased a blue racer and an original bug with the jeweled bearing, spring-loaded upgrade. What a huge improvement! Good job, Vibroplex. Both keys are smooth as silk, no wobble, finger pieces are well finished, dits forever! This is really a big step in making the classic bug more accessible. Highly recommended! I am so glad to see Vibroplex stepping up to this level of quality.
K7VM Rating: 2014-09-21
A classic bug but changing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Even though I have my Dad's 1952 Blue Racer, I wanted a new one with the blue base and jeweled movement. I purchased a new Blue Racer 2 months ago and am pleased with how well it performs. What is disappointing is some of the changes that have been made recently. The brass logo plate is no longer stamped but is a printed label. The owner, Scott Robbins, was kind enough to explain that when he bought the company in 2009, the company that made the brass nameplate had gone out of business and took the tooling with them. A new die would be cost prohibitive. Another cosmetic issue is the red finger pieces that are roughly finished on the edges rather than having a smooth rounded appearance. The final issue is the dit contact post being too high to match the spring contact well. This is a simple machining fix that could easily be addressed in production. I was able to shave some material off of the nylon bushing the post sits on and reduce it's height enough to come close to being at the proper height to match the spring contact. I own several bugs and want to purchase a Vibrokeyer but I see that these have the same issues that I've mentioned above. I wish Scott well with his Vibroplex business. Operationally these bugs and paddles are the traditional product that hams have been drawn to for years. They are still the essence of CW.
WB2LQF Rating: 2014-07-12
I'm very pleased with my new 2014 Blue Racer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wanted a new Blue Racer but was initially put off by reports that Vibroplex' quality had declined. I turned to eHAM but the most current review was dated 2012. I decided to "take a chance" because Vibroplex has a return policy. I'd like to report that my Blue Racer arrived well packed and with enough cardboard to serve as effective direct protection. Then the key box was overpacked in a larger box with peanuts. There was no damage whatsoever and nothing was loose or otherwise affected by shipping. I carefully inspected the entire key and can report that the finish was excellent all around. I set the new Blue Racer up with an auto feeler gauge to the same settings I use on a 1945 Blue Racer Deluxe. Then I hooked both keys up in parallel and did a comparison. I could detect no significant difference between the way the two keys,separated by 70 years, felt or sounded. Then I installed a round arm Vari-Speed and hung the two stock Blue Racer weights plus a heavier 1 ounce weight on the extension arm. This slowed the Blue Racer down to about 12 wpm which was my goal. In summary, I am totally satisfied with the "new" 2014 Blue Racer in terms of both cosmetic and operational quality. I'm keeping my Blue Racer and I refuse to judge an otherwise excellent bug because the plate is no longer stamped brass.
PA3CVV Rating: 2012-09-01
Poor workmanship Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The Blue Racer is a classic key with a great reputation. However, if you buy a new one you might be in for a disappointment. Mine arrived with dents in the blue coating; the damper hung at an angle; the contact points could not be properly aligned (the pole holding the fixed point is too tall, causing a vertical misalignment of at least a millimeter). On investigation the fixed contact point turned out to have a deep scratch on its surface. The little red plastic bead on top of the pivot was loose and kept falling off. I lost it, and was charged $5 for a replacement (plus $8 for postage).
KD4VQT Rating: 2012-04-30
A great key Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got a 1957 racer and fell in love with the key. I purchased a new standard in Jan and it is used along with my Centenial Bug. It is a great key and occupies a special place on my desk when in use. I recommend it as a piece of history that you can use and enjoy. I really like the small size as my desk is not real large.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KD4VQT on 2011-12-26

I recently purchased a 1957 original Blue Racer on ebay. I am very impressed with the key and love to use it. I do not know how it compares with the 2000 model but the quiality in this old key is there and it easily adjusted to my style as a slower CW sender. I gave it the rating of 5 because it is a wonderful key. It is a bit tricky since it wants to go so rapidly but that can be lessened by a vari-speed.
N3DF Rating: 2011-01-08
Nice to Look at! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have half a dozen Blue Racers made from the 1920s to the Millenium model. They are all distinctively different and they are all nice. The modern version differs significantly from the construction of the earlier ones. They are not really the same model. I value the easy adjustability of my iambic paddles and keyer so the Blue Racers stay in the display cabinet.
KC4ETW Rating: 2011-01-08
I had fun Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Last Febuary I had the pleasure of visiting our local ham fest here in Charleston S.C Wheras a out of state vendor had the venerable Blue Racer 2000 brand new still in the box.I didnt have the couple of hundred dollars the thing cost at the time and the vendor took my debit card information and said that they could bill me when I called and told them the funds were available.I couldnt believe I actually had a Blue Racer all of my own and with a child like glee I stopped at the closest restaraunt and ordered lunch while I opened the box and examined the beauty at hand.After making my way home I just could not wait to try the bug.After reading this artical and that on how to properly adjust the bug,and wanting a magnetic mercury key from Bencher,I slowly realized that with the bug I would have a distinctive CW note on the air and after having the key for almost a year now I dont think I have fully mastered the bug yet.And had to buy a vari speed for it to try to get it to slow down enough so my sending speed would match my recieve speed.I have struggled with the bug and with a magnetic key my struggles would have been over long ago,but.With all of the effort and all of the trial and error I will tell you this.I wouldnt trade the bug for any thing else on the market.I know full well that in time the bug will settle down and fall in line with the way I want to send code and I also know that the bug will send a distinctive and rich CW note pleasing to the senses of all who hear it.This will take time and effort to aquire the skill and to put enough miles on the bug in order to reach the goal I have set for myself.As the old saying goes,I have heard a number of times from long tried and true CW artists.Give the bug time and time will give you what you really want.I give the bug a five because of the things it taught me about CW and the reasons why people still use the mode.I also give the bug a five simply because it is beautiful to look at.And once again I give the bug a five because of the rich and fluid history that surrounds this key that no other key can match.If whoever reads this review decides to purchas a Vibroplex Blue Racer based on what I have said.Stay the coarse and make the bug deliver for you as I and so many others have done.But most of all take pride in your CW and enjoy.I hope to hear you on the air someday.
KC4ETW
Kenneth