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Reviews For: Vibroplex Origional Bug

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Vibroplex Origional Bug
Reviews: 27MSRP: 170
Description:
The original "bug."
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.vibroplex.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00274.9
IZ1PON Rating: 2019-12-23
Perfect bug Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Always perfect a very great bug: is "the only Original Bug".
Congratulations to Vibroplex.
WB9JPH Rating: 2019-11-18
Fun & nostalgic to use. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a great bug. With practice you can sound almost like an electronic keyer.

The frustration I have is the key needs constant tweaking to keep it adjusted properly. I have yet to figure out a pattern or reason why. I can be mid-QSO and all of a sudden the dits get wacky and stop sounding good. All the set screws are tight - so if anyone has any advice please email me via e-ham.

There will always be a place in my shack for the Vibroplex, but my go to key has become the VizKey right angle bug because I got tired of the constant tweaking needed by the Vibroplex..
KT8DX Rating: 2019-10-31
Current production excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having used bugs pretty much all my ham life, I decided to splurge and buy a "new" 2012 model. I was expecting shiny but perhaps inferior to the old bugs I was using. I was wrong. This currentish model is as good or better than the older bugs I was using. More crisp and easier to send with. Perhaps it is subjective but I was very pleasantly surprised.
WD4ELG Rating: 2018-01-28
Why did I wait so long? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
41 years in the hobby, and I have been a CW nut since Day 1 when I was just 12 years old. Straight keys, single paddle keyers, dual paddle keyers. I never understood what the fuss was about. Finally, a friend encouraged me to make the plunge, and Santa hooked me up with one. Now I know what I was missing, and I LOVE sending with it. With the vari-speed option and some tutorials on YouTube and guidance from helpful hams on the eham CW forum, I quickly had it properly adjusted and was able to send "bug free" CW which sounds like my Bencher paddles and keyer. I hook the thing up to my TS520S and move up to the middle of the CW portion of 40 meters, call CQ, and rag chew like I have not done since I was a Novice. The nostalgia from my youth, plus the thrill of operating the bug, has reignited this enjoyable aspect of the hobby for me. I now own a piece of history, and I wish I had obtained one long ago. Better late than never.
K7EXJ Rating: 2017-11-10
What more can I add??? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a 1919 Vibroplex Original that was used by a Western Union telegrapher throughout his career. In 1919 the profession of "telegrapher" was in great demand and if you could do it you could find a job in almost any city of the world.

My bug does not look anything like the photo at the top of the review thread.

For one thing, like all bugs used in professional telegraphy, it has an extra hole drilled in the base for the op to drop a bolt or nail through to keep it in place throughout his trick.

It is almost 100 years old. I often wonder what stories it could tell; I have little doubt that if it could tell those stories they would be told in American (railroad) Morse, of course.

I consider it a trust to own this key.

W9RAC Rating: 2017-11-10
Vibroplex Vari-Speed Kits VS-OBR Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had written a review regarding the Vibroplex Original Bug, I have the deluxe model if it matters. This is the kit I was referring to for lower skilled OP's like myself to be able to tame it down and be able to enjoy it properly. I believe I misspoke regarding where I had purchased it. It did come from DX engineering. The like follows. 73
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/vib-vs-obr
KI4ODO Rating: 2016-08-20
Awesome first bug! Time Owned: N.A.
This is my first bug. Got it from HRO in Virginia (can't beat the service, those guys rock) and it was on sale for 189.00, bonus!I adjusted it as the instructions said, tweaked with advice from other bug users, put on the vari-speed arm and off I went. I don't like straight keys and I really wanted to get back into SKCC activities. A month later I have pages of SKCC contacts logged and am having more fun with CW than I ever did with my paddles. With no other bugs to compare the Original Standard to, all I can say is that it is a great first bug key. I love it and should for many years to come.
W0WCA Rating: 2013-01-30
Brand New Original Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Over the last 30 plus years I have owned a half dozen “bugs”. The brown Santa just delivered my first BRAND NEW Original Vibroplex. WOW! Shiney, smootgh and Great looking. Nostalgic. I am as happy as a pup with two . . .! Really NICE!!! Good on Vibroplex!
W2DL Rating: 2012-11-22
Gives Me Joy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have Vibroplex Original Standard (s/n 373676). I purchased it at Barry Electronics in NYC in 1974 when I was one year out of college. I wish I still had the receipt, but it was an "investment" at that time and I treasure it now. Every CW aficionado should own at least one Vibroplex. A piece of history. Scott Robbins, the current owner of Vibroplex in Knoxville, TN did a great job recently refurbishing this bug. I was away from amateur radio for many years and didn't always store it in the best place, resulting in some corroded parts that Scott replaced. There is also a great YouTube video, by Jim - WB8SIM, "How to Properly Adjust and Use a Vibroplex Bug," that I strongly recommend.
Bob - W2TAC
W6PRI Rating: 2008-08-01
GOOD KEY Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the Original Standard gray base bug (1974 Model) for several years. It has always performed well. Recently, I tried lubricating the pivit points with graphite lubricant. It works at least as well as the watch oil I previously used. Once you get the adjustments correctly set, these keys sound great. Congratulations to Vibroplex.