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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: loki993 on Wed, 06 September 2023, 11:11:48
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Im curious as I like the retro look and I think a lot of other people do and there doesn't seem to be a ton out there that are dark brown like some of the older keyboards. Something like the commodore vic20 64 caps.
like this:
https://www.breadbox64.com/blog/early-c64-keyboard/
Closest I've seen is this from drop, which is inspired by the old commodore keyboards:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-matt3o-mt3-retro-keycap-set
Which is pretty close honestly but they are gone right now and its drop so I'm sure there outrageously priced. Also I have my own issues with drop and I don't care to buy anything from them to be totally honest if I don't have to.
So aside from waiting for that kit to come back are there any other dark brown retro looking keycaps out there? I wouldn't even mind mixing a couple set if I had to.
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Yeah, the drop set would have been perfect. But it's turning out that making a specifically-Commodore set, in any GB, is very expensive and time-consuming.
In terms of Brown sets, that's easier. There's JTK's HSA-profile:
(https://www.keebtalk.com/uploads/db8059/original/2X/6/657b35c39cd3c02f275023a4ab444ee9e25798f1.jpeg)
https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/hsa-beige-on-brown_1367/
AF SA profile:
(https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/Sb7c5bd228f5e4ba5a716bd4a1ae14ad5f.jpg)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004310179445.html
There's the older Filco SA:
(https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=53800.0;attach=51943;image)
And probably several others. High-profile keycaps are making a big comeback, because of the proliferation of Chinese manufacturers. However, adding Commodore imagery is a pricey and tricky proposition.
You might want to perform a search of popular keyboard discussion websites for "Brown" or "Retro" or "Commodore," as you will find some additional things.
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Yeah its more getting the color right or close than getting an actual clone of the commodore caps. I will look at those and I have searched different places for brown keycaps and I have had a ton of luck honestly. At least not dark brown, I do see some chocolate colored ones and light brown but nothing really dark.
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I'm a big fan of Melgeek MCR Horseman Base C, myself. I ended up buying the other two colorways as well. Stick it on some linears and it almost feels like I'm typing on my old Atari 800 again.
https://www.melgeek.com/products/melgeek-mcr-horseman-abs-doubleshot-keycap-set-for-mechanical-keyboard?variant=42120492024062
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I'm sorry to hear that you haven't found the right colour yet.
How do you feel about SA Espresso?
https://kono.store/products/sa-espresso?mc_cid=3545440d36
Maybe it's too light and gradient? The older Filco SA, BTW is a very dark and chocolatey rich Brown, almost black.
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I'm a big fan of Melgeek MCR Horseman Base C, myself. I ended up buying the other two colorways as well. Stick it on some linears and it almost feels like I'm typing on my old Atari 800 again.
https://www.melgeek.com/products/melgeek-mcr-horseman-abs-doubleshot-keycap-set-for-mechanical-keyboard?variant=42120492024062
That's close, wish it was PBT but its definitely a decent option and decently priced.
I'm sorry to hear that you haven't found the right colour yet.
How do you feel about SA Espresso?
https://kono.store/products/sa-espresso?mc_cid=3545440d36
Maybe it's too light and gradient? The older Filco SA, BTW is a very dark and chocolatey rich Brown, almost black.
Yeah the Espresso is too light.
The older Filco SA would be just about perfect but I don't even know how I could even go about finding one. Ive searched a little bit and cant really find anything.
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SA Retro just came back in stock on PimpMyKeyboard, with PETSCII side-print like the C64 and VIC-20.
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I'm glad that you pointed this out.
I just saw it pop up elsewhere. It could be perfect for OP:
(https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-ktpi93fl/products/352/images/4118/R1__11891.1695417578.800.600.jpg?c=2)
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Alas, the alphas have already sold out after two days
EDIT: It does sound like, per Matt3o, they'll make another small batch of alphas for this run
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A new Atari-800-themed set!
https://novelkeys.com/collections/double-shot-abs/products/mtnu-800
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A new Atari-800-themed set!
https://novelkeys.com/collections/double-shot-abs/products/mtnu-800
Wow those look fantastic! I just received SA Retro too, but those are calling nonetheless! I've never used that profile either, it's very good looking.
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Im curious as I like the retro look and I think a lot of other people do and there doesn't seem to be a ton out there that are dark brown like some of the older keyboards. Something like the commodore vic20 64 caps.
like this:
https://www.breadbox64.com/blog/early-c64-keyboard/
Closest I've seen is this from drop, which is inspired by the old commodore keyboards:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-matt3o-mt3-retro-keycap-set
Which is pretty close honestly but they are gone right now and its drop so I'm sure there outrageously priced. Also I have my own issues with drop and I don't care to buy anything from them to be totally honest if I don't have to.
So aside from waiting for that kit to come back are there any other dark brown retro looking keycaps out there? I wouldn't even mind mixing a couple set if I had to.
I'm selling all these sets: Filco SA, SA Retro and SA Esspresso - let me know if any of these are good for you.
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You are selling all 3 sets?
What's wrong? HSA destroyed all other high-profiles for you?
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You are selling all 3 sets?
What's wrong? HSA destroyed all other high-profiles for you?
No, just prefer other colorway :)
But to be honest, HSA is really superb - like SA but with GMK feel.
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Looks like hot chocolate, suitable for autumn and winter, very good vision! Impressive :thumb:
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There is SA Retro in stock right now. There are also some cheap SA keycaps on Aliexpress, such as SA aifei chocolate.
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Just a PSA: Retro brown keycaps will not likely be cheaper or better than SA Retro at 50% discount right now:
https://spkeyboards.com/collections/sa-retro-keycap-sets
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Just a PSA: Retro brown keycaps will not likely be cheaper or better than SA Retro at 50% discount right now:
https://spkeyboards.com/collections/sa-retro-keycap-sets
Yeah, still on discount!
Cool. Hard to resist, even I have one set already! :D