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Reviews For: Vibroplex Straight Key - Standard

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Vibroplex Straight Key - Standard
Reviews: 22MSRP: 159.95
Description:
A heavy solid steel base anchors the straight key to the operating position. The lever arm pivots in the famous chromed mainframe. A stainless steel spring allows complete control of the tension. And, of course, the Straight Key has the famous brass Vibroplex logo plate with a unique serial number pinned to the top of the base with stainless steel pins.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.vibroplex.com/straight_key.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
11223.5
AF4CM Rating: 2023-03-03
New Plastic finger pieces look terrible Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I own several Vibroplex products and have been very impressed with the quality, the look, the feel of these keys and keyers, as well as the tradition going back to 1905. A few weeks ago, however, I purchase a new straight key and discovered the current ownership of the company has changed the finger piece & stop material on All models to cheap looking plastic, with a hazy look and the edges are relatively squared off. I swear I have seen toy keys with knobs that look better. The previous plastic parts all looked like ebony, with a deep color, polished shine, and smooth finish. I called to inquire about this and was told the new plastic parts would last longer. Oh great, they look bad but they won't wear out or break. What kind of "New Coke" answer is that?
KT8DX Rating: 2021-12-16
Once it is dialed it is a great key Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This key is an acquired taste and after a lot of adjustment was able to get it to where I like it. I've adjusted mine very close spacing on the contacts and light spring pressure. I did put a small piece of paper at the back stop to end the off-press click and that helps quite a bit. If you have one, take the time to get it right - it'll reward you. Plus it looks good next to my Vibrokeyer Iambic.
K7IOL Rating: 2021-06-06
Easy to use Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I’ve been back in the hobby for 5 months after a forty year departure. I had an MFJ straight key then. This time I picked up a Vibroplex Straight Key at a local Ham Store. It wasn’t till I got home that I looked up the reviews on eham.net. After reading the reviews I questioned my purchase decision. Still I opened the box and tried to set it up to use. Surprisingly, I found it very easy to set up and use. I’ve been using the key every day for five months now and I’ve had no problems at all. The key is solid and smooth in my opinion, and stable on the desk. I really like it.
KD1JT Rating: 2021-01-26
Not for me ... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Nicely made, certainly has the Vibroplex look. But for me it was a non-starter. I found it to sit too high, so I tried flatter feet. I found the beam to be so long as make it tippy, has a spongy feel, and felt clunky. I'm sure others like it fine just not my personal cuppa. It sat on the shelf while I pounded brass with my J-38.
IZ1PON Rating: 2019-11-14
Exellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Key is easily adjusted with action smooth.
With this key your CW is funny and human.
Vibroplex is always a top choise !
Made in U.S.A.
NY7Q Rating: 2018-05-16
STRAIGHT KEY IS ZERO Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought my first VPlex in 1956 and several since. I tried out the straight key, and was sorely disappointed. No real feel. Recently bought a VPlex square key, just can't get it adjusted correctly. Over last year or so, bought CW Morse mini straight keys (seven of them) use them daily. Compared to to VPplex, they are superior with excellent feel and very smooth. I am about done with Vibroplex after all these years. Comparing VPlex to CW MORSE HAND KEYS, the Delgado boys are light years ahead of Vibroplex.
WB5AGF Rating: 2018-05-16
Basic Design OK - Subtle Details Not Thought Out Time Owned: more than 12 months.
(background)
I collect Morse keys ... mostly straight (i.e. non semi-automatic) ones. There are some brilliant people in this backwater-of-technology ... I am moderately good in understanding the basics.

My fascination is in understanding the subtle inter-relationships of how the various parts of a key work together to produce the overall effect.

(review)
As has already been said Vibroplex managed to use parts from their semi-automatic bug design in the building of this straight key. I think that it looks slightly peculiar but looks are secondary to performance ... and this key works OK once some attention is given to the spring set-up.

In my experience roughly three-out-of-four straight keys have springs that are grossly too stiff. (A refreshing exception - the Ted McElroy 'Stream' keys, from the late 1930s, have wonderfully selected springs.)

Another reviewer noted that the Vibroplex straight key didn't give him the tactile feedback he wanted - no significant mechanical pulse coming back through the knob to his fingers when the lever arm hits its 'stop' (the gap adjusting screw). This is a common problem with straight keys and it most often is due to the use of a too-stiff spring. (The wrong choice of materials for the base and lever arm can also cause this.)

With a too-stiff spring the spring tension-adjusting screw (that pushes down on the spring) has to be backed-off to where it is barely touching the top of the spring. This results in a situation where the spring generated force is at its minimum when the key contacts are fully open (i.e. when the gap adjusting screw is hitting the base of the key).

With a weaker spring, one in which the tension adjusting screw can be adjusted so that the spring is roughly half-way through its range of compression, the spring-generated force is more nearly constant both when the contacts are touching (i.e. the knob is fully depressed) and when they are open (i.e. when the operator has lifted back up on the knob). In this situation there is still some spring-generated force to push the tip of the gap adjusting screw down on the base of the key .... and (in most instances) this is sufficient to generated a compressive shock wave back through the lever arm and through the knob to the operator's fingers (the key feels 'alive').

For the Vibroplex straight key I added a second spring to oppose the spring already in the design as received from Vibroplex. This can work if the existing spring is only slightly too stiff and you want to try-and-preserve the appearance of the overall key (i.e. the 'stock' spring is responsible for part of the overall appearance of the key).

With the inclusion of an 'opposing spring' the tension adjustment can be screwed-down a bit, putting the 'stock spring' somewhere in-the-middle of its compression range, while at the same time the overall force (pushing down on the knob to operate the key) is in a comfortable range.

Once this is done (adding an 'opposing spring') the Vibroplex straight key works well and it feels good during operation.
N0UY Rating: 2014-05-17
*****Excellent ***** Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is the 5th straight key I have tried. This is by far my favorite. I have had the Begali Camelback, the K-4 Chines key, the J-38, and the RS clone of the J-38. This key is easily adjusted to suit my operating requirements. I find the action smooth, the knob height great, the weight is enough to keep it in place. The only thing lacking is a good fist. I am a paddle guy for the most part but I do use the straight key when it suits me. I am very pleased with this one.
KC5CQD Rating: 2014-05-06
Excellent Performer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The first week I owned this key I would have given it a "3", at best. I hated the feel of it. Then one night I realized that I could remove the "poker chip" from the Navy style knob and suddenly the whole dynamic of the key changed. I fell in love with it! I then spent a few evenings playing around with the adjustment screws until I got it dialed in. Now it's a phenomenal key! As for all of the side play and lack of click....hey, it's a poor musician that blames his instrument. She'll dial in. You just have to have the patience and the know-how to get it all clicking. I love the key and I already want another one.
KB4VVE Rating: 2013-08-30
Not recommended Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was advised not to get this but did anyway. Advice was right again. No definitive click on closure, knob rough and way too high, spring to stiff and too much mass in the arm.
I heavily modified mine as I am prone to do with many things. Lowered the knob position by angling the arch and cutting down the contact post, drilled and tapped the arm for a contact screw, polished the knob and installed shorter feet.
I'm not an expert CW type - only been at it since '58 and now up to only 10WPM. OK, I'm slow, but I know what works for me - a J37 or a Speed-X!
Interesting conversation piece, though.