DSS Distortion- Punk Rock Inspired DSS Set

[madmax13]

Manta by Bowl Keyboards

This set is designed to pay homage to the aesthetics of early punk rock and post-punk. Pink and black were a common color combination in early punk art and album covers, as seen below.



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Details

• Designed By Madmax13
• Novelties by Switchbox Studio
• Doubleshot ABS by Signature Plastics
• Using Stock SP colors, shown below

Inspiration

I have always admired the fashion style associated with punk and post-punk. I also think there is space for a set using a very vibrant pink. This set has undergone numerous incarnations, beginning as an SA set and later spending time in the Cherry profile. Recently, I have become interested in designing a DSS set, having tried it on many 40s keyboards at meetups, and find the height and sculpted spherical profile agreeable. So, this became a DSS set, mainly because the SP stock colors really pop, and I am tired of people telling me SA is too tall.

Vendors
TBD

Kitting

There has been some debate recently about which is preferable, a set of self-contained base kits ot an alpha kit with modifier kits. So, I developed both and plan to take it to a vote. Please let me know which direction you think this should take, and it'll inform the kits I send in for quotes. I am delaying quotes mainly because I want to have a good idea what the kits look like, shape-wise, before I start making the necessary economic adjustments. Another thing I've tried is for the 40s, using DSA as a kind of "R5," which I will discuss a bit more below. I have also included a. DSA R5 kit as one of the "Child Kits."

All bars smaller than 6U are DSA

Base Kits





Alpha + Mods







Child Kits


Extra accents, 65 compat, and 6u spacebars.




If opting for small kits, UK is on its own





I decided to include a kit option for the DSA R5 because I was a fan of it in MT3; here is a comparison below. The Flat R5 MT3 is somewhat goofy-looking, but fantastic to type on.




Punk Rock and Distortion Inspired Novelties- the broken speaker was a nod to the original distortion- punctured speaker cones on an amplifier for the Kinks- She Really Got Me, which is also proto-punk.

Thanks
Piperaceae for helping with legends.
Switchbox.Studios for fantastic novelty design.
Alas for permission to use Lightcycle Arrows.
Keyboard Designer's Forum for feedback and encouragement.
Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Big Black, Minutemen, Husker Du, and The Clash for being my soundtrack. 

Additional Board Renders





Manta by Bowl Keyboard





Echo by Beardgrylls





Capy60 by Bowl Keyboards (with Novelty Kit)



F2-40 By Geonworks



V4NGON by Trashman



Austin by Drift Mechanics (Yes, Simon, it has a numpad)




KBD8X MKII By KBD Fans




 







 

[madmax13]

Reserved (Why? I don't know)

[basilkeys]

Woohoo! It's great to see this set reach IC best of luck!

[Xury46]

Looks fantastic, I'm so happy to see more DSS sets

Edit: I left a response on the IC. I would love to see a couple more keys to support the Cutiepie layout: https://www.mechdreams.com/product/cutiepie-dual-stagger-hotswap-pcb/

1.5u Z, 1.5u P, A non-accent colored, mod color Q and 1.25u return.

I would also prefer Trashcon mods for the eldritch kit, but I understand if that's too big of a change: https://trashman.wiki/keycaps/trashcons

Finally, it's a long shot, but I would love to see someone commission a Big Ass Enter mold for DSS, and I think it would look great in this set

[raijba]

I'm in for this set either way, but as someone who loves punk and loves the distortion theme in general, but doesn't care for The Ramones or The Misfits, I wish the distortion pedal novelty was the default novelty escape option. A number of my favorite bands use the Big Muff Pi, and I would love to put a nov on my keyboard that commemorates such an iconic distortion sound. But I'm not certain that I'll have a place for a single r4 novelty on the board I eventually put this on. Which is a shame because I think it's the novelty that is most emblematic of the distortion theme. On a related note, I wonder if the demand for a Ramones and Misfits themed XT column has much demand. I'd rather just have a cheaper novelty kit that removes the XT support and gives me an extra r1 and r2 distortion pedal Esc nov. But I do love the inclusion of the r4 speaker novs!

On second thought I know even some 40s have double xt columns and big boards like the Diversity TKL and some battleship-inspired boards are having a moment right now, so XT support is probably important. But I've never been a fan of XT novelties like these, where each column is a repeat of a single novelty design. I know kits are pretty finalized now, but how sick would it be if the xt support keys were alternating in mod color and accent pink, echoing the 2nd wave ska checkerboard motif? I'd take NEX and RPF checkered blanks for XT over the Ramones and Misfits novs personally.

But like I said, in for this great set either way. And probably in for the novs too since the ISO goes so hard. Would love to put this on a Qazikat or something else with prominent ISO.

[Livid]

I'm in for this set either way, but as someone who loves punk and loves the distortion theme in general, but doesn't care for The Ramones or The Misfits, I wish the distortion pedal novelty was the default novelty escape option. A number of my favorite bands use the Big Muff Pi, and I would love to put a nov on my keyboard that commemorates such an iconic distortion sound. But I'm not certain that I'll have a place for a single r4 novelty on the board I eventually put this on. Which is a shame because I think it's the novelty that is most emblematic of the distortion theme. On a related note, I wonder if the demand for a Ramones and Misfits themed XT column has much demand. I'd rather just have a cheaper novelty kit that removes the XT support and gives me an extra r1 and r2 distortion pedal Esc nov. But I do love the inclusion of the r4 speaker novs!

On second thought I know even some 40s have double xt columns and big boards like the Diversity TKL and some battleship-inspired boards are having a moment right now, so XT support is probably important. But I've never been a fan of XT novelties like these, where each column is a repeat of a single novelty design. I know kits are pretty finalized now, but how sick would it be if the xt support keys were alternating in mod color and accent pink, echoing the 2nd wave ska checkerboard motif? I'd take NEX and RPF checkered blanks for XT over the Ramones and Misfits novs personally.

But like I said, in for this great set either way. And probably in for the novs too since the ISO goes so hard. Would love to put this on a Qazikat or something else with prominent ISO.

I sorta agree the novelties lean a little too heavily into those bands, just because they have album covers with black and pink? Not to mention I think Sex Pistols were actually the earliest to use that theme. The theme and more general novelties are pretty great though!

[madmax13]

I'm in for this set either way, but as someone who loves punk and loves the distortion theme in general, but doesn't care for The Ramones or The Misfits, I wish the distortion pedal novelty was the default novelty escape option. A number of my favorite bands use the Big Muff Pi, and I would love to put a nov on my keyboard that commemorates such an iconic distortion sound. But I'm not certain that I'll have a place for a single r4 novelty on the board I eventually put this on. Which is a shame because I think it's the novelty that is most emblematic of the distortion theme. On a related note, I wonder if the demand for a Ramones and Misfits themed XT column has much demand. I'd rather just have a cheaper novelty kit that removes the XT support and gives me an extra r1 and r2 distortion pedal Esc nov. But I do love the inclusion of the r4 speaker novs!

On second thought I know even some 40s have double xt columns and big boards like the Diversity TKL and some battleship-inspired boards are having a moment right now, so XT support is probably important. But I've never been a fan of XT novelties like these, where each column is a repeat of a single novelty design. I know kits are pretty finalized now, but how sick would it be if the xt support keys were alternating in mod color and accent pink, echoing the 2nd wave ska checkerboard motif? I'd take NEX and RPF checkered blanks for XT over the Ramones and Misfits novs personally.

But like I said, in for this great set either way. And probably in for the novs too since the ISO goes so hard. Would love to put this on a Qazikat or something else with prominent ISO.

I'm in for this set either way, but as someone who loves punk and loves the distortion theme in general, but doesn't care for The Ramones or The Misfits, I wish the distortion pedal novelty was the default novelty escape option. A number of my favorite bands use the Big Muff Pi, and I would love to put a nov on my keyboard that commemorates such an iconic distortion sound. But I'm not certain that I'll have a place for a single r4 novelty on the board I eventually put this on. Which is a shame because I think it's the novelty that is most emblematic of the distortion theme. On a related note, I wonder if the demand for a Ramones and Misfits themed XT column has much demand. I'd rather just have a cheaper novelty kit that removes the XT support and gives me an extra r1 and r2 distortion pedal Esc nov. But I do love the inclusion of the r4 speaker novs!

On second thought I know even some 40s have double xt columns and big boards like the Diversity TKL and some battleship-inspired boards are having a moment right now, so XT support is probably important. But I've never been a fan of XT novelties like these, where each column is a repeat of a single novelty design. I know kits are pretty finalized now, but how sick would it be if the xt support keys were alternating in mod color and accent pink, echoing the 2nd wave ska checkerboard motif? I'd take NEX and RPF checkered blanks for XT over the Ramones and Misfits novs personally.

But like I said, in for this great set either way. And probably in for the novs too since the ISO goes so hard. Would love to put this on a Qazikat or something else with prominent ISO.

I sorta agree the novelties lean a little too heavily into those bands, just because they have album covers with black and pink? Not to mention I think Sex Pistols were actually the earliest to use that theme. The theme and more general novelties are pretty great though!

Point well taken. I feel like the Pistols are represented by R1 2U novelty with the safety pin. I chose the Ramones and Misfits for their strong iconography in their logos, which is something the Pistols didn't have.

Likewise, for the big muff, I listed it as R4 1U because it seems appropriate for a stompbox. On SA/DSS, that's FN for Tsangan 60s, 65s, and TKLs, which everyone uses to switch layers. It also looks better in Pink on black than the inverse, which is a prerequisite for an Escape novelty (looks good in mod and accent colorway).

For the actual escape novelty, I chose the heart with an arrow through it as an homage to Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, which (with the NY Dolls), to me represents the "first modern punk."

I appreciate the feedback! Thank you for checking it out!

[TheSoulhunter]

I wish the alpha font size would be a bit smaller.
The difference to modifier font size is huge...
Still, I'd be in for a Cherry profile set.
I love the colors!

[drfilco]

The time for tasty jams hath arrived, so sayeth the jam taster

[Kool-Keys]

I'm liking this, just because Rocket to Russia is part of the inspiration 

[Dingo_Seven]

GLWIC!

Gawd this got me thinking of making some audio-themed sets to make a love letter to 90s Eurodance :0

Maybe I should give that a go sometime...

[madmax13]

I'm liking this, just because Rocket to Russia is part of the inspiration 

One of my favorite albums. The first four Ramones albums could compete with any other run in rock history.

GLWIC!

Gawd this got me thinking of making some audio-themed sets to make a love letter to 90s Eurodance :0

Maybe I should give that a go sometime...

I like using music as an inspiration- I have previously run a set using City Pop as an inspiration, and my next set is likely going to be an MF DOOM inspired DCS set.

Thanks all for your feedback!

[LXVRGS]

wish this was dcs or sa

[HappyB0T]

I like the color way been out of the hobby but would pick this up.