Brown Keycaps like Commodore Vic20

[loki993]

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.

[HungerMechanic]

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://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/hsa-beige-on-brown_1367/

AF SA profile:



https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004310179445.html

There's the older Filco SA:



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.

[loki993]

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.

[m202307]

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

[HungerMechanic]

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.

[loki993]

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.

[filefish]

SA Retro just came back in stock on PimpMyKeyboard, with PETSCII side-print like the C64 and VIC-20.

[HungerMechanic]

I'm glad that you pointed this out.

I just saw it pop up elsewhere. It could be perfect for OP:

[filefish]

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

[m202307]

A new Atari-800-themed set!

https://novelkeys.com/collections/double-shot-abs/products/mtnu-800

[Absinthe]

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.

[phinix]

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.

[HungerMechanic]

You are selling all 3 sets?

What's wrong? HSA destroyed all other high-profiles for you?

[phinix]

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.

[Piifoxer]

Looks like hot chocolate, suitable for autumn and winter, very good vision! Impressive

[Exquite]

There is SA Retro in stock right now. There are also some cheap SA keycaps on Aliexpress, such as SA aifei chocolate.

[HungerMechanic]

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

[phinix]

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!