Modification or just buy brand new?

[retainerbox]

I have the opportunity to buy a white Ducky Shine III for $150USD shipped (used for 2 months, looks brand new still). This comes with white LEDs and MX blue switches.

Of course, the new white Ducky Shine IV comes out next month for $169USD. This too, comes with white LEDs and whatever switches I want.

The problem of course, is that I want to have clear switches, but I like the look of the Shine III more. Does it make more sense to purchase the Shine III and then do the modifications myself to change the switches to clear? I have some experience in soldering, but haven't worked with anything this expensive before. Also, would this mean I have to to solder new LEDs as well as the white switches?

I would also have to buy the clear switches to add onto the Shine III.

ALTERNATIVELY, if someone could point me to a place where I could buy a new white Shine III with clear switches, I would be ever so grateful.

[KHAANNN]

If you need to mod the clear switches, the modding idea makes sense (if you're going to lube the springs etc., or change the springs, or add stickers, or lube the stem sliders)

However leds are an irritation on the re-soldering process, you have to remove all of them before removing the switches, too much work

Buy a KBP V60 with clears instead of the flashy Ducky's :)
Or better yet, try a KUL ES-87 with Clear's - seems to be back in stock
Or get a CODE if you need leds

[Dihedral]

I'd get a CODE. Looks great, clears, and rock solid quality. Good backlighting to boot.

[Sygaldry]

Don't bother with modding.

KUL-ES87 (no-LEDs) or WASD Code TKL (white LEDs)

[KHAANNN]

WASD customer service is also superb, they sent me a replacement case after I almost broke mine during a switch-fix-frenzy (first time opening a case)

The CODE also seems to come with o-rings on default, which would probably ease the pinging issue that plated keyboards experience

They also send replacement leds if your leds die, I haven't heard another company that does this

[katushkin]

WASD let me send back my board that I had changed the switches on twice. Board had been opened twice and they still said it was fine to send it back.

Did help that they had sent me the wrong board in the first place.

[Dihedral]

WASD let me send back my board that I had changed the switches on twice. Board had been opened twice and they still said it was fine to send it back.

Did help that they had sent me the wrong board in the first place.

That is amazing customer service. Though why did you send it back if you'd modded it beyond recognition?

[retainerbox]

KUL-ES87 (no-LEDs) or WASD Code TKL (white LEDs)

Buy a KBP V60 with clears instead of the flashy Ducky's
Or better yet, try a KUL ES-87 with Clear's - seems to be back in stock
Or get a CODE if you need leds

I'd get a CODE. Looks great, clears, and rock solid quality. Good backlighting to boot.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I really want a full sized, white, backlit keyboard and the Shine 3 fits all those. Sounds like I should just get the Shine 4 instead of the 3.

[trigun0x2]

Any reason no one is suggesting her to actually wait for the Shine 4?

[KHAANNN]

Any reason no one is suggesting her to actually wait for the Shine 4?

Probably because Ducky's are too shiny, while the suggestions are more simplistic and the suggestors enjoy a different/specific spectrum of keyboards, which is closer to KUL/CODE when limited to keyboards that are actually buyable

[Findecanor]

If the decision is between Ducky Shine 3 with wrong switches and Ducky Shine 4 with right switches, I would go with the latter even if it is $19 more. First of all Clear stems would cost you. But then, modding switches is difficult and takes time, and there is a lot of opportunity to screw up: in which case you would have lost $150 + whatever the clear stems cost.

[SpAmRaY]

I wouldn't count on getting a stock ducky board with clears.

I'd love to see them make more boards with clears but they haven't historically.

[Eugene]

The CODE also seems to come with o-rings on default, which would probably ease the pinging issue that plated keyboards experience

I believe only the MX Green version comes with preinstalled o-rings, though you can probably request them for $20 more.

[livingspeedbump]

I just got a KUL with clears and Love it! not flashy, but solid as a rock.

[Nai_Calus]

Any reason no one is suggesting her to actually wait for the Shine 4?

Anti-Ducky brigade. This forum tends to dislike full-sized boards and LEDs to an absurd degree.

I wouldn't count on getting a stock ducky board with clears.

I'd love to see them make more boards with clears but they haven't historically.

http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1204 <--- Shine 4, white, Clears. They're doing it now, apparently.

Probably because Ducky's are too shiny, while the suggestions are more simplistic and the suggestors enjoy a different/specific spectrum of keyboards, which is closer to KUL/CODE when limited to keyboards that are actually buyable

Yes, but that wasn't what OP was asking, so it just comes across as odd when people suggest their favorite 60%/TKL in x non-ducky brand when OP was asking if they should go for White Shine 3 they have to mod or stock Shine 4. Chances are good if OP is looking at a Ducky, they know about and probably want the light modes. The LEDs can even be turned off. OP also specifically wants a white board.

I believe only the MX Green version comes with preinstalled o-rings, though you can probably request them for $20 more.

This is correct. The Clear version does not have O-rings.

-----

OP: So, one thing to be aware of is that the Shine 4 does not have white LEDs - It has dual red/blue LEDs which will do a spectrum that includes red, blue, and purple; though blue will look quite nice with white. That said, as has been mentioned, soldering is a pain in the rump and can be messed up, especially the desoldering process. If you haven't done it before, I probably wouldn't start with it. Even experienced people lift pads.

But I get the feeling, and correct me if I'm wrong, from your post that the LED colour is slightly less important than the Clear switches; in which case I'd wait for the Shine 4.

You can always pay someone to mod the Shine 3 for you, but that will cost more than just getting the right switches in the first place. 

[SpAmRaY]

I wouldn't count on getting a stock ducky board with clears.

I'd love to see them make more boards with clears but they haven't historically.

http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1204 <--- Shine 4, white, Clears. They're doing it now, apparently.

Awesome, hadn't seen that, hopefully they'll make more boards with clears!

[retainerbox]

...
OP: So, one thing to be aware of is that the Shine 4 does not have white LEDs - It has dual red/blue LEDs which will do a spectrum that includes red, blue, and purple; though blue will look quite nice with white. That said, as has been mentioned, soldering is a pain in the rump and can be messed up, especially the desoldering process. If you haven't done it before, I probably wouldn't start with it. Even experienced people lift pads.

But I get the feeling, and correct me if I'm wrong, from your post that the LED colour is slightly less important than the Clear switches; in which case I'd wait for the Shine 4.

You can always pay someone to mod the Shine 3 for you, but that will cost more than just getting the right switches in the first place.

You hit the spot with your entire comment. Sounds like I'm just going to buy the Shine 4, thanks for all of your help.

[Dihedral]

KUL-ES87 (no-LEDs) or WASD Code TKL (white LEDs)

Buy a KBP V60 with clears instead of the flashy Ducky's
Or better yet, try a KUL ES-87 with Clear's - seems to be back in stock
Or get a CODE if you need leds

I'd get a CODE. Looks great, clears, and rock solid quality. Good backlighting to boot.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I really want a full sized, white, backlit keyboard and the Shine 3 fits all those. Sounds like I should just get the Shine 4 instead of the 3.

the code meets all of these requirements... but the shine 4 is a reasonable choice too.

[hwood34]

KUL-ES87 (no-LEDs) or WASD Code TKL (white LEDs)

Buy a KBP V60 with clears instead of the flashy Ducky's
Or better yet, try a KUL ES-87 with Clear's - seems to be back in stock
Or get a CODE if you need leds

I'd get a CODE. Looks great, clears, and rock solid quality. Good backlighting to boot.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I really want a full sized, white, backlit keyboard and the Shine 3 fits all those. Sounds like I should just get the Shine 4 instead of the 3.

the code meets all of these requirements... but the shine 4 is a reasonable choice too.

just remember the code's pinging problem

[Nai_Calus]

You hit the spot with your entire comment. Sounds like I'm just going to buy the Shine 4, thanks for all of your help.

No problem.

the code meets all of these requirements... but the shine 4 is a reasonable choice too.

I'm pretty sure my Code, like all Codes, is black. XD

just remember the code's pinging problem

Oddly I haven't actually noticed pinging with my Code.

[Dihedral]

You hit the spot with your entire comment. Sounds like I'm just going to buy the Shine 4, thanks for all of your help.

No problem.

the code meets all of these requirements... but the shine 4 is a reasonable choice too.

I'm pretty sure my Code, like all Codes, is black. XD

Readings hard

[retainerbox]

You hit the spot with your entire comment. Sounds like I'm just going to buy the Shine 4, thanks for all of your help.

No problem.

the code meets all of these requirements... but the shine 4 is a reasonable choice too.

I'm pretty sure my Code, like all Codes, is black. XD

Readings hard

Thanks anyways, I did look at the CODE for a long time before deciding that I really wanted a white keyboard.