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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: d.walkr3 on Sun, 11 December 2016, 19:00:15
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Just picked up this guy http://www.ebay.com/itm/172375544998 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/172375544998) on ebay, did not pay that amount I can assure you, but was wondering which switch it has? Looks like a monterey to me, possibly similar to the one used in the 5981? No idea though, any info would be appreciated! also, if you've had any experience with these switches or the like I'd love to hear any feedback you have on the switch's typing experience. Thanks!
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Yeah, Those are SMK Monterey Blue Switches. I've had a 5181 that came with monterey blues, its a cool board. Nice score!
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SMK is similar in character to Cherry MX Blue, but most people agree it's nicer. The weighting is just about ideal, the click is nice (if a little high pitched), and it is quite smooth. I'd be a little concerned about this one because it doesn't appear to be in very good condition and these switches are difficult to work with (you don't want to open them up). Hopefully the internals are clean and this KB-5181 gives you an accurate impression of the switch.
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okay, thanks this helps quite a bit. I was planning on using it for my first build project, so i'd just be stripping the switches... would lubing/cleaning the internals be possible? hopefully there are enough solid switches for the 60% layout i have in mind :D These will be battling my NEC clicky blue oval switches
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Yeah, Those are SMK Monterey Blue Switches. I've had a 5181 that came with monterey blues, its a cool board. Nice score!
Good to hear! How's the feel in your opinion? Wondering how these stack up to blue alps as well... trying to find my ideal, butter smooth, clickey switch.
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Yeah, Those are SMK Monterey Blue Switches. I've had a 5181 that came with monterey blues, its a cool board. Nice score!
Good to hear! How's the feel in your opinion? Wondering how these stack up to blue alps as well... trying to find my ideal, butter smooth, clickey switch.
They're endgame level. They have a lot more thock than Cherry blues, in feel and sound. They're much more tactile, deeper, and heavier. All the sound comes from a single click action, not the ringy plastic drop that MX switches have. I've never tried blue Alps but they seem to be held in similarly high regard. I wouldn't liken them to MX blues.
Unfortunately, they're not immune to wear. Between the three SMK second gen boards I've used, two have somewhat different wear level and character but they're both great in their own ways. The third and most worn shows its years, a lot. Not totally unpleasant but the switches are pretty scratchy, and some of them don't work anymore. You can clean and refurbish them with a little practice but that's a fair amount of work. As mentioned they aren't the easiest to reassemble.
Another thing to be aware of is the action occurs pretty close to the bottom of the switch and it's hard not to bottom out. It's more noticeable with the plate-mounted Alps SMKs (the blue "Montereys") than the white PCB-mounted Cherry stem ones.
I hope you'll post more about your project! I'm also building something (http://i.imgur.com/n3wNYmr.png)out of my switches.
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good to know! I tend to be a bit of a forceful typist anyways, so bottoming out is a given on most boards. Might be picking up a new in box monterey blue board.. i need that butter-smoothness.. hmmmmm
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Montereys are excellent switches. I don't like them quite as much as blue Alps, but they're up there. They're smooth and light and have an exceptionally delicate typing feel. Check out my Chicony 5981 review if you're interested.
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Blue alps clone it looks like, my brother has one its awesome. Better than any white alp/clone I've used and better than anything cherry. On par with topre and a model m. Not quite model f good.
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Blue alps clone it looks like, my brother has one its awesome. Better than any white alp/clone I've used and better than anything cherry. On par with topre and a model m. Not quite model f good.
Yeah, I'd rank it similarly. I'd put it below blue Alps and CBS, but above white Alps and MBS. All of them are way better than anything Cherry.