Hi, Geekhack! Can you help a noob out a little?

[SnareSpectre]

I am not necessarily new to the world of mechanical keyboards, but have only been a lurker here at GH for the last 2 months or so.

Back story if it interests anyone:

My first venture into mechanical keyboards, after lots of research, was the Steelseries 6Gv2. Unfortunately, I gave into all I was hearing about “blacks and reds for gaming, blues for typing, brown for hybrid,” and found I did not like black switches very much. I promptly returned it and went with a Quickfire Rapid with blues.

I have had this keyboard for about a year and a half and absolutely love it. However, I started feeling that itch that needed to be scratched, as I’m sure most of you can relate to. I recently tried a Quickfire Rapid with greens, but found the keys too stiff and sold it here on GH. I then decided on a Poker II with blues, and considering how much I love blues, I love this keyboard and the thick PBT caps are outstanding. The lack of arrow keys is tough to get used to, but I’m managing.

Now, as much as I love blues, they’re still not 100% perfect for me. They’re the closest I’ve found to being the perfect switch for my tastes, but I wish they were just ever so slightly stiffer. I’d prefer something with the tactility of a blue (maybe even more tactile and with a louder click), but with a stiffness somewhere between blues and blacks. Also, I’m referring to bottoming-out stiffness; I bottom out with every keystroke, so actuation pressure is not something that concerns me.

That being said, it looks like Green Alps switches might be something I’m looking for. So if you have any suggestions for mods of how to achieve this OR you have a Ducky 1087XM Green Alps board you want to sell me, please let me know!  

Thank you,
SnareSpectre

[meiosis]

Blues have the loudest click honestly..

but it sounds like you are describing browns :X

[SnareSpectre]

I want something with a loud click, a lot of tactility, and more stiffness than a blue. How does this describe browns in any way?     

[meiosis]

I want something with a loud click, a lot of tactility, and more stiffness than a blue. How does this describe browns in any way?     

Between Black and Blue it would be browns. Blues have the noticeably click unless you like to bottom out. Maybe ergo-clears will work for you, I believe people rave about them for tactility and stiffness. Avoid red and greens haha

[SnareSpectre]

Yeah, ergo-clears have caught my interest quite a bit from everything I've read, but it sounds like the only way to get them is to mod them myself. Also, it doesn't sound like they'd be loud enough for me.

I enjoyed greens, but my hands just got tired after a while, especially when trying to click around quickly in Starcraft 2. I've never tried reds, but from every description of them I've read, I'd probably enjoy rubber domes more! Different strokes for different folks, obviously, but after trying blacks and then blues, I can't understand why anyone would want to use a linear switch - the tactility is 90% of what I like about mechanical keyboards.

[meiosis]

Yeah, ergo-clears have caught my interest quite a bit from everything I've read, but it sounds like the only way to get them is to mod them myself. Also, it doesn't sound like they'd be loud enough for me.

I enjoyed greens, but my hands just got tired after a while, especially when trying to click around quickly in Starcraft 2. I've never tried reds, but from every description of them I've read, I'd probably enjoy rubber domes more! Different strokes for different folks, obviously, but after trying blacks and then blues, I can't understand why anyone would want to use a linear switch - the tactility is 90% of what I like about mechanical keyboards.

That's true Topre has a very distinct tap when it is pressed. You can always try them out as it sort of feels like blues with a rubber dome on em

[cactux]

Loud click = BS

[ComradeSniper]

Loud click = BS

Less tactile than blues though.

[SnareSpectre]

I don't know anything about BS, and can't seem to find anything on Google - what kind of switch is this?

[ComradeSniper]

I don't know anything about BS, and can't seem to find anything on Google - what kind of switch is this?

Buckling Spring, found in IBM Model Ms (and also Model Fs, though those are a somewhat different beast).

[Techno Trousers]

Yep, I'd suggest trying buckling spring, white Alps, and stock clears, although clears will probably be too quiet for you. See if you can get into the next Ultimate Switch Tester tour. It's a fantastic way to try out tons of different Cherry MX switches.

[ComradeSniper]

Yep, I'd suggest trying buckling spring, white Alps, and stock clears, although clears will probably be too quiet for you. See if you can get into the next Ultimate Switch Tester tour. It's a fantastic way to try out tons of different Cherry MX switches.

I forgot about White Alps. Definitely give those a try.

[SnareSpectre]

Oh wow, I don’t know how I didn’t put 2 and 2 together. I’ve been reading about Buckling Springs in Model M’s and Unicomps since before I owned my first mechanical, but have never seen it abbreviated – glad I’m justifying calling myself a noob in the title.
I’m not interested in anything bigger than a TKL, and I’d be willing to give Buckling Spring a try, but I have never been able to find them in a TKL and in black, or something that doesn’t look older than I am. White Alps have interested me, though – if I remember correctly, Filco Zeros come with Whites Fuhuas, but I think those have been discontinued and I can’t find one anywhere.

Any ideas?

Oh, and thanks to everyone for responding to this so far!

[ComradeSniper]

The Filco Zero is the only non-custom TKL White Alps board I know of. Ducky makes some alps keyboards but I think they are only available in Black (tactile, not clickly) or Green (linear) alps.

Edit: I forgot about the SIIG Minitouch. Fairly common, and they come with either White Alps or Monterey Blues.