Alps Appreciation Thread

[subcat]

Ah, I didn't know you could tell from the logo. Oh well.

[E3E]

I mean, I have some SKCM Salmons I want to get rid of, so Mattr can always just buy those and then buy the Japanese AEK II and set up a happy compromise, haha.

[alienman82]

removed.

[klennkellon]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

[chyros]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

[Entropia]

Any news from Matias about them releasing new and improved switches and keyboards this year?

[Hypersphere]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

Of all the vintage keyboards in your extensive arsenal, why did you make the ZKB-2R your weapon of choice for writing your thesis?

[chyros]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

Of all the vintage keyboards in your extensive arsenal, why did you make the ZKB-2R your weapon of choice for writing your thesis?

I type on it reasonably quickly, and it's fairly silent - I work in an open office, so even just tactile Alps are rather loud. Plus, it has a very accessible layout - although I type faster on my M0116 and Pingmaster, their layouts are just weird enough that it makes a difference in the long run. Besides, it's already quite heavily used, so a bit more use won't matter - I try to keep my best boards a bit pristine. Also, it's got great desk presence. I SO WANT a NIB ZKB-2.

[Hypersphere]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

Of all the vintage keyboards in your extensive arsenal, why did you make the ZKB-2R your weapon of choice for writing your thesis?

I type on it reasonably quickly, and it's fairly silent - I work in an open office, so even just tactile Alps are rather loud. Plus, it has a very accessible layout - although I type faster on my M0116 and Pingmaster, their layouts are just weird enough that it makes a difference in the long run. Besides, it's already quite heavily used, so a bit more use won't matter - I try to keep my best boards a bit pristine. Also, it's got great desk presence. I SO WANT a NIB ZKB-2.

I don't have a ZKB-2 or ZKB-2R, but I have a close relative, the Zenith 163-73. I am typing on it now. This one has been my most successful "click mod" to date. I installed top housings and click leaves from white (pine) Alps. With other Alps keyboards that I have converted from linear or tactile to clicky, I have usually ended up with some flaky switches (intermittently unresponsive or chattering), but all the hybridized switches in the Zenith 163-73 work perfectly.

The layout on the Zenith 163-173 also works well for me. I've installed an internal Orihalcon-Soarer converter along with a panel-mount micro-USB connector, and I've done my customary remapping to a HHKB-esque configuration. The split Right Shift is perfect for the Fn key and the supersized Right Bracket serves as the Backspace (Fn+Right Bracket = Right Bracket).

I like typing on the modified Zenith, but in retrospect I think it might have been better to install lighter springs -- I kept the yellow Alps springs, which feel somewhat heavy. I would also like to improve the aesthetics of the board by acquiring a black label Zenith badge to replace the "tree logo" emblem. (However, you were ahead of me advertising for a black badge, so you get first pick if one turns up).

I also don't really need any of the keys outside of the main typing area, and I am most accustomed to using a 60% form factor keyboard. You have exhorted me to bite the bullet and take up soldering again, so I intend to build my own 60% Alps board based on Hasu's Alps64 PCB. I am thinking of using clickified orange Alps for the build.

[menuhin]

I still got an alps board

Show Image

I am actually cleaning the caps tonight, but I wanted to use it a bit more first.

Hold onto it. Your interest in Alps will rekindle one day, no later than when people start to realize Cherry should have done a much better job in its modern productions. Reading the DT Thread about MX switch as the best switch design debate, a lot of fun.  :p

P.s. OMG, still haven't cleaned the caps yet?   :eek:

[Hypersphere]

Some time ago, I purchased an Apple Extended Keyboard from eBay. Today I finally got around to typing on it (typing on it now) after connecting it to my USB hub with a Griffin iMate ADB to USB converter. Despite the relatively high serial number (643257) (and non-yellowed case), this one has orange Alps switches.

Everything works, but I am disappointed by the sound and feel of this keyboard. The sound is overtly hollow and the key action feels clunky. Nevertheless, I am considering giving the board a thorough cleaning and doing a click-mod on the switches by taking out the tactile leaves and replacing them with click leaves from white Alps switches. I might also try padding the case with some silicone foam.

This thing is also BIG. It seems bigger than my Northgate Omnikey 101 -- it is in fact wider, although not quite as deep. Because the upper bezel on the AEK is an unbroken expanse, it gives the impression of being deeper than it is. In any event, after using my HHKB Pro 2 sports car most of the time, typing on the AEK is like driving a 1960 Chevy Impala.

Would it be worth the trouble to refurbish the AEK and click-mod the switches, or would it be better to harvest the switches and caps for use in a custom build?

[chyros]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

Of all the vintage keyboards in your extensive arsenal, why did you make the ZKB-2R your weapon of choice for writing your thesis?

I type on it reasonably quickly, and it's fairly silent - I work in an open office, so even just tactile Alps are rather loud. Plus, it has a very accessible layout - although I type faster on my M0116 and Pingmaster, their layouts are just weird enough that it makes a difference in the long run. Besides, it's already quite heavily used, so a bit more use won't matter - I try to keep my best boards a bit pristine. Also, it's got great desk presence. I SO WANT a NIB ZKB-2.

I don't have a ZKB-2 or ZKB-2R, but I have a close relative, the Zenith 163-73. I am typing on it now. This one has been my most successful "click mod" to date. I installed top housings and click leaves from white (pine) Alps. With other Alps keyboards that I have converted from linear or tactile to clicky, I have usually ended up with some flaky switches (intermittently unresponsive or chattering), but all the hybridized switches in the Zenith 163-73 work perfectly.

The layout on the Zenith 163-173 also works well for me. I've installed an internal Orihalcon-Soarer converter along with a panel-mount micro-USB connector, and I've done my customary remapping to a HHKB-esque configuration. The split Right Shift is perfect for the Fn key and the supersized Right Bracket serves as the Backspace (Fn+Right Bracket = Right Bracket).

I like typing on the modified Zenith, but in retrospect I think it might have been better to install lighter springs -- I kept the yellow Alps springs, which feel somewhat heavy. I would also like to improve the aesthetics of the board by acquiring a black label Zenith badge to replace the "tree logo" emblem. (However, you were ahead of me advertising for a black badge, so you get first pick if one turns up).

I also don't really need any of the keys outside of the main typing area, and I am most accustomed to using a 60% form factor keyboard. You have exhorted me to bite the bullet and take up soldering again, so I intend to build my own 60% Alps board based on Hasu's Alps64 PCB. I am thinking of using clickified orange Alps for the build.

Perhaps surprisingly because of how relatively common they are, I don't actually own a yellow Alps board, so I couldn't tell anything about them — but, I have to say that green Alps are weighted perfectly, and that really contributes to why I like them so much. They're just light enough that typing on them feels almost effortless, but not light enough that you keep accidentally actuating them. It's sublime. I really wonder how well I'll like yellows, considering that. Would be interesting.

[klennkellon]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

Very nice. But for only typing I think I prefer some delicious click clack from SKCM Whites!

[Delirious]

Some time ago, I purchased an Apple Extended Keyboard from eBay. Today I finally got around to typing on it (typing on it now) after connecting it to my USB hub with a Griffin iMate ADB to USB converter. Despite the relatively high serial number (643257) (and non-yellowed case), this one has orange Alps switches.

Everything works, but I am disappointed by the sound and feel of this keyboard. The sound is overtly hollow and the key action feels clunky. Nevertheless, I am considering giving the board a thorough cleaning and doing a click-mod on the switches by taking out the tactile leaves and replacing them with click leaves from white Alps switches. I might also try padding the case with some silicone foam.

This thing is also BIG. It seems bigger than my Northgate Omnikey 101 -- it is in fact wider, although not quite as deep. Because the upper bezel on the AEK is an unbroken expanse, it gives the impression of being deeper than it is. In any event, after using my HHKB Pro 2 sports car most of the time, typing on the AEK is like driving a 1960 Chevy Impala.

Would it be worth the trouble to refurbish the AEK and click-mod the switches, or would it be better to harvest the switches and caps for use in a custom build?

In my own experience I think it's the case that contributes to the poor sound and feel. I believe the rubber tabs that hold the plate together are the main culpit. The rubber tabs soften the downstrokes by a lot. The thin plate and the plastic case further worsen the overall typing experience. The downstrokes just seem overly hollow and non-distinctive. My first time trying out Orange Alps on an AEKII, I was sorely disappointed on how boring the sound was.

Casing contributes a lot toward the feel of Alps switches in general. The worst offender I have tried so far is the Datamac 101e. Not only that, they bent every single pin so desoldering was a pain in the ass. My favorite case so far for Alps switch is the Monarch. The super thick 2mm plate is unyielding yet somehow matches perfectly with blue Alps. With the Monarch, blue Alps have responsive and consistent upstrokes, while the sound is bassy and warm to the ears.

Bonus shots: here is Lord Cat overlooks his empire:

[Hypersphere]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

Very nice. But for only typing I think I prefer some delicious click clack from SKCM Whites!

You could always click-mod the Zenith. I did this with a Zenith 163-73 (same layout as the ZKB-2 and ZKB-2R). The native 163-73 has nice dye-sub PBT keycaps and SKCL yellow Alps switches. I replaced the switch tops with those from SKCM white (pine) Alps and added white Alps click leaves. This is now one of my favorite Alps-switch keyboards.

Alternatively, you could go straight to a white Alps board. If you don't mind the Focus layout, some FK-2001 boards have SKCM white Alps, but this model number could have any of a half-dozen types of switches.

The DT wiki has a comprehensive list of keyboards with SKCM white Alps switches:

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_SKCM_White

My own favorite white Alps board is the Northgate Omnikey 101, but this model in excellent condition tends to be expensive.

[catawalks]

I mean, I have some SKCM Salmons I want to get rid of, so Mattr can always just buy those and then buy the Japanese AEK II and set up a happy compromise, haha.

How many SKCM Salmons are you talking about? And might I inquire as to their availability to other members? I might be interested in a set of those if it were a full set for the right price.

[chyros]

When school starts in a few months I'm going to splurge a bit and get myself a great condition full size board like an FK-2001 and use it as my dedicated typing keyboard.

Should make writing boring essays much more tolerable!

You should, I wrote my entire PhD thesis on a ZKB-2R!

Very nice. But for only typing I think I prefer some delicious click clack from SKCM Whites!

Sounds better, I agree, but I actually type slower on them. Besides, the office would hold a lynch party if I brought the OmniKey along xD .

[E3E]

I mean, I have some SKCM Salmons I want to get rid of, so Mattr can always just buy those and then buy the Japanese AEK II and set up a happy compromise, haha.

How many SKCM Salmons are you talking about? And might I inquire as to their availability to other members? I might be interested in a set of those if it were a full set for the right price.

I got them from an AT101, so there's 101 of them. I planned on selling them for $40 shipped.

[E3E]

I don't find that I type slower on clicky or tactile versus linear unless the switches bind.

My favorite switches are SKCL Brown overall. I still haven't spent an extensive amount of time with SKCL Striped Ambers though. Still waiting for the Alphas PCB to come in along with some other things.

[klennkellon]

I don't find that I type slower on clicky or tactile versus linear unless the switches bind.

My favorite switches are SKCL Brown overall. I still haven't spent an extensive amount of time with SKCL Striped Ambers though. Still waiting for the Alphas PCB to come in along with some other things.

I have a feeling that SKCL Brown feel a lot like Gateron Yellows.

[baloo25]

I have a 60% orange alps build that i really loved until i finished my siig. The siig has modded salmon  alps that are really superb to type on. They're similar to the oranges but i feel the feet on the siig give a better angle to type on than the pok3r case the oranges are sitting in.

[alienman82]

removed.

[catawalks]

Show Image

That a nice repurposing of the AEKII keyset.

[Delirious]

Show Image

What took you so long :O
Seriously PBT keycaps only require some soap, some scrubbings, and blow dry in cool heat. All in less than 15 mins.

[alienman82]

removed.

[ShawnMeg]

Show Image

What took you so long :O
Seriously PBT keycaps only require some soap, some scrubbings, and blow dry in cool heat. All in less than 15 mins.

I tried some dental tabs for the first time a couple weeks ago on some PBT caps, and it almost completely eliminated the scrubbing.  I just bought the cheapest stuff from Dollar Tree, and it worked fine.

[cumwagondeluxe]

Anyone have really good condition SKCL Greens here? I purchased a baggy of them a while back, and most of the switches in the bag had a fairly significant tactile bump (not super large or anything, but it was instantly noticeable) just before bottoming out - maybe like 0.2mm before bottom out or something. Tried some more at a meet and was surprised to find that the tactile bump was almost non-existant - you could still tell it was there if you looked for it or pressed the key down pretty slowly but I'm not sure if I would notice it at all typing at full force/speed. What's normal for an SKCL green in really good condition? Visually speaking, both mine and the ones I tried seemed to be in similar condition.

[Mattr567]

Anyone have really good condition SKCL Greens here? I purchased a baggy of them a while back, and most of the switches in the bag had a fairly significant tactile bump (not super large or anything, but it was instantly noticeable) just before bottoming out - maybe like 0.2mm before bottom out or something. Tried some more at a meet and was surprised to find that the tactile bump was almost non-existant - you could still tell it was there if you looked for it or pressed the key down pretty slowly but I'm not sure if I would notice it at all typing at full force/speed. What's normal for an SKCL green in really good condition? Visually speaking, both mine and the ones I tried seemed to be in similar condition.

Clean them? That's the only reason I can think of.

Or it sounds like their binding a bit.

[cumwagondeluxe]

Anyone have really good condition SKCL Greens here? I purchased a baggy of them a while back, and most of the switches in the bag had a fairly significant tactile bump (not super large or anything, but it was instantly noticeable) just before bottoming out - maybe like 0.2mm before bottom out or something. Tried some more at a meet and was surprised to find that the tactile bump was almost non-existant - you could still tell it was there if you looked for it or pressed the key down pretty slowly but I'm not sure if I would notice it at all typing at full force/speed. What's normal for an SKCL green in really good condition? Visually speaking, both mine and the ones I tried seemed to be in similar condition.

Clean them? That's the only reason I can think of.

Or it sounds like their binding a bit.

So there shouldn't really be a bump of any sort right before bottoming out, then? Damn :/ There's no visible dust/dirt on em or anything, so I can't imagine a bit of dust would cause such a wildly different feel. I did open one of them up and just push back the contact leaf a bit which made it feel like the one I tried at the meetup but I'm not sure how they even got to the state they're currently in anyway - in theory, over time the leaf should be bending back so they become more linear as opposed to the other way around.. maybe whoever I bought em off messed with em?

[Mattr567]

Anyone have really good condition SKCL Greens here? I purchased a baggy of them a while back, and most of the switches in the bag had a fairly significant tactile bump (not super large or anything, but it was instantly noticeable) just before bottoming out - maybe like 0.2mm before bottom out or something. Tried some more at a meet and was surprised to find that the tactile bump was almost non-existant - you could still tell it was there if you looked for it or pressed the key down pretty slowly but I'm not sure if I would notice it at all typing at full force/speed. What's normal for an SKCL green in really good condition? Visually speaking, both mine and the ones I tried seemed to be in similar condition.

Clean them? That's the only reason I can think of.

Or it sounds like their binding a bit.

So there shouldn't really be a bump of any sort right before bottoming out, then? Damn :/ There's no visible dust/dirt on em or anything, so I can't imagine a bit of dust would cause such a wildly different feel. I did open one of them up and just push back the contact leaf a bit which made it feel like the one I tried at the meetup but I'm not sure how they even got to the state they're currently in anyway - in theory, over time the leaf should be bending back so they become more linear as opposed to the other way around.. maybe whoever I bought em off messed with em?

No, all Alps have a little bump before bottoming out, that's just how it is. The ones at the meetup were probably different feeling b/c they were in a board rather than being loose switches.

[E3E]

Anyone have really good condition SKCL Greens here? I purchased a baggy of them a while back, and most of the switches in the bag had a fairly significant tactile bump (not super large or anything, but it was instantly noticeable) just before bottoming out - maybe like 0.2mm before bottom out or something. Tried some more at a meet and was surprised to find that the tactile bump was almost non-existant - you could still tell it was there if you looked for it or pressed the key down pretty slowly but I'm not sure if I would notice it at all typing at full force/speed. What's normal for an SKCL green in really good condition? Visually speaking, both mine and the ones I tried seemed to be in similar condition.

Clean them? That's the only reason I can think of.

Or it sounds like their binding a bit.

So there shouldn't really be a bump of any sort right before bottoming out, then? Damn :/ There's no visible dust/dirt on em or anything, so I can't imagine a bit of dust would cause such a wildly different feel. I did open one of them up and just push back the contact leaf a bit which made it feel like the one I tried at the meetup but I'm not sure how they even got to the state they're currently in anyway - in theory, over time the leaf should be bending back so they become more linear as opposed to the other way around.. maybe whoever I bought em off messed with em?

No, all Alps have a little bump before bottoming out, that's just how it is. The ones at the meetup were probably different feeling b/c they were in a board rather than being loose switches.

Alps ruined for 80% of Cherry MX users.

It is kind of a shame that Alps has this in a way. I find Alps switches to be much smoother than MX (especially stock vs stock), but that little bump does prevent it from being entirely smooth. I honestly never really notice it, but it is definitely there and can be felt with a slow, deliberate press.

[alienman82]

removed.

[klennkellon]

Anyone have really good condition SKCL Greens here? I purchased a baggy of them a while back, and most of the switches in the bag had a fairly significant tactile bump (not super large or anything, but it was instantly noticeable) just before bottoming out - maybe like 0.2mm before bottom out or something. Tried some more at a meet and was surprised to find that the tactile bump was almost non-existant - you could still tell it was there if you looked for it or pressed the key down pretty slowly but I'm not sure if I would notice it at all typing at full force/speed. What's normal for an SKCL green in really good condition? Visually speaking, both mine and the ones I tried seemed to be in similar condition.

Yeah all Alps have a second smaller tactile bump shortly before bottom out.

[Joey Quinn]

Got an Alpsulator today, I'm going to replace the switches with some SKCM blues and I wanted to replace the caps but I've run into an issue. The switch spacing is really weird, on the x axis the switches are spaced 0.9u apart and on the y they are spaced 1.1u apart. Not sure why this choice was made but someone decided it was a good idea

[Mattr567]

So whose the one that bought all these Tandems today and yesterday?!!!?!?!?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/232249215551
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232249216954
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232248410073
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232248208848

[alienman82]

removed.

[E3E]

So whose the one that bought all these Tandems today and yesterday?!!!?!?!?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/232249215551
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232249216954
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232248410073
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232248208848

I'm just wondering which ones will have ambers and which ones will have browns. Can't go wrong with buying a Tandem, though seeing the seller slowly raise the price is kind of annoying.

[Mattr567]

So whose the one that bought all these Tandems today and yesterday?!!!?!?!?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/232249215551
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232249216954
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232248410073
http://www.ebay.com/itm/232248208848

I'm just wondering which ones will have ambers and which ones will have browns. Can't go wrong with buying a Tandem, though seeing the seller slowly raise the price is kind of annoying.

Yea.

Read the Deskthority great interesting finds thread, all caught up now. For those wondering we know 2 of them were had by members but the other two we don't know yet.

Also two are Brown, other two we don't know.

[E3E]

Yea.

Read the Deskthority great interesting finds thread, all caught up now. For those wondering we know 2 of them were had by members but the other two we don't know yet.

Also two are Brown, other two we don't know.

Linear brownsies! Let's see if any Striped Ambers pop up!

[alienman82]

removed.

[alienman82]

removed.

[alienman82]

removed.

[Mattr567]

Now the proud owner of a Japanese AEKII! I think i'm done buying back old boards I used to own Those are the two i've been missing ever since I sold them. Both are better versions of the old ones though. Thick not thin PBT G80 and Japanese sublegend AEKII.

Clean too. It just needs some retrobright help. Also going to swap in SKCM Cream. I think Mike can help me with that

[subcat]

Woo! Excited to get my Striped Amber - now I'm only missing SKCL Cream - assuming my Tandem 6526 comes with Browns. Thanks for the trade!

[E3E]

Woo! Excited to get my Striped Amber - now I'm only missing SKCL Cream - assuming my Tandem 6526 comes with Browns. Thanks for the trade!

Hey, you grabbed one from eBay?

[subcat]

Sure did! ...after the seller had tripled the price from the ones he originally sold 
I still need some SKCM Creams from that NeXt board of yours, by the way!

[E3E]

Sure did! ...after the seller had tripled the price from the ones he originally sold 
I still need some SKCM Creams from that NeXt board of yours, by the way!

Yes yes, please PM me here! Reddit is a little chaotic at times.

[E3E]

I never thought I'd buy an FK-2001...



...but I did.

[chyros]

I never thought I'd buy an FK-2001...

Show Image

...but I did.

IT WAS YOU! I was wondering who had managed to kidnap that thing from under me :p .

[E3E]

I never thought I'd buy an FK-2001...

Show Image

...but I did.

IT WAS YOU! I was wondering who had managed to kidnap that thing from under me :p .

I don't know why my first impulse was to laugh.

I feel like a villain.