Model M truncated ring

[davidc]

I have just bought an unused 1996 Model M 1391406 and was really looking forward to using it, but have been very disappointed to find that hitting the keys - typing, I mean - produces a truncated high ringing sound - like a metal plate being hit, but naving the resultant ring stopped after a moment. Happens when a key is hit.  It sounds a little like, though not quite as bad as, the ringing I got with my Cherry G80-3000.

I have not read any report about this issue with the Model Ms - even a late one like mine.  All I want is the click and clunk without the high ppitched ring.  I assume it's the metal plate inside that's making the noise .

I suppose that's that - back to the Customizer for me - a tiny bit of a ring but not a problem.

[lal]

I'm not sure if it's the same sound you describe but my Ms do ping for a moment after the initial click, and the sound level and tone is different across the keys of one board.  My Customizer does not have this and thats why I prefer it's sound, too.  Maybe your M is particularly bad in this respect and/or you're being hyper sensitive to these kind of sounds.  Older Ms do ping/ring more than Unicomps, this has been mentioned here somewhere

[davidc]

You have it exactly - a ping.  Yes, I'm afraid I am over sensitive to noise.  Such a nuisance.

[FKSSR]

I'm not sure if BS, white alps, or blue cherries are for you if you are very sensitive to noise.  You may be better off with black alps or brown cherry switches...or Topre, depending on the feel you like.

[itlnstln]

There are keyboards that "ping" in any switch flavor.  If I listen closely, my G80-3000 (Cherry browns) pings as does my ABS (Alps blacks; quite loudly I might add).  I think this is just the nature of switches with springs. Of course, much of this has to do with the overall construction of the keyboard.  The more plastic and less metal in the overall construction seems to help pinging as there is less resonance in the keyboard.  My Dells with black Alps do not ping, but the ABSs do, for example.

[FKSSR]

Sorry, I didn't mean to say that the keyboards I mentioned do not make any ping (or other noise, for that matter, such as the infamous clack...), but I was just suggesting some boards that do not intentionally make louder noises.

[bhtooefr]

Listen to a bunch of loud music, then you won't be able to hear high pitched sounds (the ability to hear high pitches goes first with hearing damage.)

Problem solved.

[itlnstln]

Sorry, I didn't mean to say that the keyboards I mentioned do not make any ping (or other noise, for that matter, such as the infamous clack...), but I was just suggesting some boards that do not intentionally make louder noises.

Don't worry about it.  That's not what I was getting at.  All I wanted to say is that on some level, all mechanical keyboards could have some potential ping.  The suggestions you made were perfect for low(er) noise keyboards.  My Filco has no ping at all while my G80 has a little if I listen closely (which kinda goes against my statement about construction materials, but I still believe it's true).

[nerp]

You may be grease-worthy.

And I prefer my Unicomps, too, mostly because of the scrabblyier, ping-free sound.

[davidc]

Interesting.  I'm glad it's not just me who can hear the ping.  Although the ping or ringing in the Cherry G80-3000 is much worse, if you are trying to do some work with the Model M, the alternative strategies of madness by pinging or loud rock music are not great....and then there's my NEC 2690 display with its high pitched hum...

Please could someone point me at some ringless click-clackers? I need to know the models' names and number in addition to their type of key mechanism.

It's a shame though - the Model M looks great.

Thanks.

[bhtooefr]

You could always go for a Fujitsu FKB4725 (or 4726, the N-key rollover version in current production) with Fujitsu Peerless, it is tactile and does click, but it sucks ass to type on.

[davidc]

Thanks - but I don't want a keyboard that's nice to look at, or sounds good, that's no good to type on.  I have enough of those alrady!

I wonder what it is that the Customizer has that stops the ring that the Model M doesn't?

[bigpook]

You may be grease-worthy.

And I prefer my Unicomps, too, mostly because of the scrabblyier, ping-free sound.

I noticed that also on the unicomps that I have. Its almost muted in comparison to the IBM's. Though, I have found that there is more of range when it comes to the IBM's ie: some are less pingy then others.

If the pingy noise is an issue but you still like the BS keys then take a look at unicomp. That may be the way to go.

[FKSSR]

The difference in Unicomp keyboards that may make the sound different is the construction and materials used.  I'm not an expert on the details of the construction/materials, though...  That info can be found throughout the forum from other members.

[davidc]

Thanks.  Before I contact Unicomp, do you know if I should be able to replcae the Customizer keys with the ones from my Model M?  I know that the Customizer's Alt and Alt Gr, and Windows keys would have to stay because there are no equivalents on the Customizer.

[bigpook]

Thanks.  Before I contact Unicomp, do you know if I should be able to replcae the Customizer keys with the ones from my Model M?  I know that the Customizer's Alt and Alt Gr, and Windows keys would have to stay because there are no equivalents on the Customizer.

I have swapped keys between the model m's and unicomps. They are pretty much the same.

[nerp]

It seems like a lot of people only got single keys with their unicomps but I got double keycaps on both my Customizer 104 and my SpaceSaver.

[FKSSR]

when I get a spacesaver, I'll be putting the blank, black keys on, and those are all one-piece.  However, you should be able to switch the M keys back and forth, as far as I've ever heard.

[davidc]

Thanks.

[ch_123]

Am I the only one who likes the ping noise the old IBM keyboards make?

[itlnstln]

Am I the only one who likes the ping noise the old IBM keyboards make?

I got your back.

[bigpook]

Am I the only one who likes the ping noise the old IBM keyboards make?

Me too : )

[wellington1869]

am I the only one who thinks its the unicomps that are pingier?

I actually liked the sound of my ibm-made 1391401 over my endurapro because it had a dampened lower-toned (less pingy, more solid) sound.  I thought the endurapro was ridiculously pingy.

[CX23882]

I can't speak for the Endurapro, but my Customizer 105 was less pingy than my 1391406.

[bhtooefr]

My EnduraPro is less pingy than my 1391401.

And I like the sound of the 1391401 better. I don't really call it a "pingy" noise, although it does have that quality to it.

[davidc]

My Customizer 105 is less ringier (rather than pingier) than my M 1391406 which is less ringier than my late Cherry G80-3000.  I am waiting for a Customizer 102 to arrive and I hope that its ring will be no more than my other Customizer.  I like ringiness (and pinginess) in ride cymbals but not keyboards.