Vintage ALPS (Sounds & Availability)

[morpheus]

This video made me fall in love with ALPS switches. 

I think they sound better than Cherry MX.

The question is where can you get these boards, or are they too rare?
I wouldn't even mind getting a Japanese one, like the one pictured in this video.

[Latin00032]

I like how he wears gloves to protect his keyboard.

I should wear these gloves at work before I type.

[CPTBadAss]

That's a Clicky White Alps board. You can get a Focus FK-2001 which will have them. Other common boards which will have Alps switches are listed here. Alps boards are typically found in the classifieds and on eBay.

I personally have a Ducky 1087XM (Black Linear Alps Clones) which I bought from MK.com, a Focus FK-2001 (White Clicky Alps) which I bought at the Chicago meet, and a Dell AT101W (Black Tactile Alps) which I bought from eBay. I HIGHLY recommend the Dell AT101W.

[morpheus]

That's a Clicky White Alps board. You can get a Focus FK-2001 which will have them. Other common boards which will have Alps switches are listed here. Alps boards are typically found in the classifieds and on eBay.

I personally have a Ducky 1087XM (Black Linear Alps Clones) which I bought from MK.com, a Focus FK-2001 (White Clicky Alps) which I bought at the Chicago meet, and a Dell AT101W (Black Tactile Alps) which I bought from eBay. I HIGHLY recommend the Dell AT101W.

I had the misfortune of buying a Dell AT101W on EBAY with a highly rated seller, but it turned out to be a dud. He listed it as "excellent condition" which sort of showed on the pictures, but they were blurry. So I took a risk on it, and ended up with tons of sticky keys and gunk everywhere, including a horrid space bar. Needless to say, this turned me off to the whole buying USED VINTAGE KEYBOARDS.

But, after seeing the aforementioned video, I realized there was a possibility that I could still find good condition vintage keyboards.

I want to ask you about the Ducky 1087XM Black Alps Clone: How do you feel about them? Are they good quality? Do they sound as nice as the old vintage ones?

Thanks.

[morpheus]

I like how he wears gloves to protect his keyboard.

I should wear these gloves at work before I type.

I'm amazed at the condition of these old keyboards, he must have collected them and kept them in a safe or cryo.

[Rule16]

I like how he wears gloves to protect his keyboard.

I should wear these gloves at work before I type.

I'm amazed at the condition of these old keyboards, he must have collected them and kept them in a safe or cryo.

Or, he just cleaned them, notice the one with Alps Browns doesn't have a case. (Also its 'Alps' not 'ALPS' because its not abbreviated  )

[CPTBadAss]

USED VINTAGE KEYBOARD. I could still find good condition vintage keyboards.

I want to ask you about the Ducky 1087XM Black Alps Clone: How do you feel about them? Are they good quality? Do they sound as nice as the old vintage ones?

Like anything off eBay, you take a risk when you buy things. Even on GH its a risk. My board needed some cleaning. You probably wont find a perfectly clean board. Most vintage boards need a little love to be restored...which is part of the fun ^__^.

The Linear Black Alps clones feel ok. Way too light for my tastes and since theyre linear, they dont sound the same as the clicky or tactile Alps boards. I much prefer the Tactile Black Alps in the Dell. I only bought the Ducky for the PCB so that I could make my own TKL Alps keyboard. Overall, I'd say the 1087XM is a lower end board. Not my favorite.

[vivalarevolución]

Orange Alps (tactile) and Blue Alps (clicky).  That's all you need to know.

[tipo33]

Orange Alps (tactile) and Blue Alps (clicky).  That's all you need to know.

I enjoy other ALPS outride of those.

[CPTBadAss]

Tactile Black Alps!! And Clicky Whites!

[vivalarevolución]

Orange Alps (tactile) and Blue Alps (clicky).  That's all you need to know.

I enjoy other ALPS outride of those.

Blasphamous!

[Burz]

The vintage ones sound pretty darn good, too:

Can you tell this guy loves his new keyboard? He goes back to typing on it like 4 times...
 )

[Rule16]

The vintage ones sound pretty darn good, too:

Can you tell this guy loves his new keyboard? He goes back to typing on it like 4 times...
 )

Matias isn't vintage...

[pasph]

I like how he wears gloves to protect his keyboard.

I should wear these gloves at work before I type.

I'm amazed at the condition of these old keyboards, he must have collected them and kept them in a safe or cryo.

Or, he just cleaned them, notice the one with Alps Browns doesn't have a case. (Also its 'Alps' not 'ALPS' because its not abbreviated  )

The one with Browns is taken from an IBM 5140 PC Convertible

[vivalarevolución]

But really I prefer Alps over Cherry any day of the week.  The main advantage to Alps is the actuation point is higher in the key press and then low resistance to bottoming out.  Most Alps feel sharper and more tactile than Cherry as a result of this.  Actually, I have sworn off Cherry in all boards except ergo boards.

[fohat.digs]

But really I prefer Alps over Cherry any day of the week.  The main advantage to Alps is the actuation point is higher in the key press and then low resistance to bottoming out.  Most Alps feel sharper and more tactile than Cherry as a result of this.  Actually, I have sworn off Cherry in all boards except ergo boards.

I like the Alps better too, like you said.

I would love to find an O-ring situation that worked properly, just at the very bottom.

[morpheus]

What kind of quality can I expect from the Focus 2001's that are on EBAY?

[Mandolin]

first video: Blue alps CM.
Second video: Custom damped Blue alps CM (Ethylene vinyl acetate foam held up by friction). F keys are not damped, hear the dif.

[fohat.digs]

What kind of quality can I expect from the Focus 2001's that are on EBAY?

I bought and later re-sold a couple of really nice ones, in the $50 range a year or 2 ago.