Cherry MX Switch Tactile & Clicky Experiences

[nickr]

There have probably been a million of these posts but over the past month I've been testing out clicky & tactile solutions and my current opinions are:

Brown > Clear > Ghetto Green > Gray (tactile) > Blue > Ergo Clear > Jailhouse Blues

Ghetto Greens were surprisingly fun.  If I could get more of a light thud instead of a thin, high-pitched click then I'd be into them.
Ergo Clears were unlubed but the stickiness was unreal.  I now only have it on my ESCAPE key to remind me of them from time to time.
Jailhouse Blues were just flat-out unreliable and awkward.  Maybe I was doing it wrong.

Anyone else want to take a turn sharing?

[jacobolus]

Brown > Clear > Ghetto Green > Gray (tactile) > Blue > Ergo Clear > Jailhouse Blues

Why do you like one type more than another? What are your criteria?

Ergo Clears were unlubed but the stickiness was unreal

The stock blue/brown/red spring is just barely enough to return a new recently produced clear stem (I’m not sure about 20 year old ones, and I suspect switches used for a year would have enough extra wear on their stems to make quite a considerable difference), without lube. I’d recommend either getting a slightly stiffer after-market spring or putting some lube in there. Otherwise, it’s not really a fair judgment.

What didn’t you like about the “jailhouse blue” switches? What was your construction method? Did you cut the spring down? Did you add lube?

[Oobly]

You might like Whites. AFAIK the "clicky" part of the slider doesn't travel as far down the stem as Blue or Green ones, so it hits the rest of the slider instead of the casing. That gives quite a different click sound and feel since it impacts the part your finger is in contact with. I have yet to get hold of some Whites to experiment with, but I think they could become a favourite switch of mine with the right mods. Perhaps something like the latex mod, but between the slider parts, where they impact each other + trampoline mod.

ErgoClears with Brown/Blue springs NEED lube. The spring isn't strong enough otherwise. My favourites are 62g Korean springs. They work unlubed, but feel best lubed (after the stems have worn in).

IMO 62g lubed ErgoClears > 62g unlubed ErgoClears > ErgoClears with Brown/Blue springs> Clears > Browns > everything else (Blues, Reds, Blacks, tactile Grays - haven't tried Greens, Jailhouse Blues, etc).

I don't like linear switches, like to have some tactility. I don't like the high pitched sound of the clicky switches. Whites might fit somewhere in the list once I've tried and modded some.

[nickr]

Why do you like one type more than another? What are your criteria?

Nothing standard.  I wanted something with a strong tactile feel originally and just started branching out. 

The stock blue/brown/red spring is just barely enough to return a new recently produced clear stem (I’m not sure about 20 year old ones, and I suspect switches used for a year would have enough extra wear on their stems to make quite a considerable difference), without lube. I’d recommend either getting a slightly stiffer after-market spring or putting some lube in there. Otherwise, it’s not really a fair judgment.

You're right.  It's not fair without lube or wearing the clears in more.  Using slightly stiffer springs is an appealing option but I have no desire to start lubing keyboard parts.

What didn’t you like about the “jailhouse blue” switches? What was your construction method? Did you cut the spring down? Did you add lube?

I used soldering wire.  I couldn't get the click fully removed on certain keys, especially after a little use, and the actuation point felt odd.

You might like Whites. AFAIK the "clicky" part of the slider doesn't travel as far down the stem as Blue or Green ones, so it hits the rest of the slider instead of the casing. That gives quite a different click sound and feel since it impacts the part your finger is in contact with. I have yet to get hold of some Whites to experiment with, but I think they could become a favourite switch of mine with the right mods. Perhaps something like the latex mod, but between the slider parts, where they impact each other + trampoline mod.

ErgoClears with Brown/Blue springs NEED lube. The spring isn't strong enough otherwise. My favourites are 62g Korean springs. They work unlubed, but feel best lubed (after the stems have worn in).

IMO 62g lubed ErgoClears > 62g unlubed ErgoClears > ErgoClears with Brown/Blue springs> Clears > Browns > everything else (Blues, Reds, Blacks, tactile Grays - haven't tried Greens, Jailhouse Blues, etc).

I don't like linear switches, like to have some tactility. I don't like the high pitched sound of the clicky switches. Whites might fit somewhere in the list once I've tried and modded some.

That's a good idea.  Both of you are right about lubing but I just can't bring myself to do it.  There's some part of me that resists lubing keyboard parts. 

I'm not certain whether this place ships internationally but they have sample and full packs of white switches for fairly cheap: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?pg=2&l=product_list&c=43

[Defect]

Clears with black spring (panda clears) and thick pbt caps... so snappy on the upstroke that it's addicting.

If you lube your ergo clears, I recommend only a thin layer of thin lube on the legs.  Do as much as you want on the sliders, but break them in first.

If you like clicks, get some Alps if you get a chance

[nickr]

Clears with black spring (panda clears) and thick pbt caps... so snappy on the upstroke that it's addicting.

If you lube your ergo clears, I recommend only a thin layer of thin lube on the legs.  Do as much as you want on the sliders, but break them in first.

If you like clicks, get some Alps if you get a chance

I wouldn't think there would be much difference between the springs in a black and clear but I guess there's enough. 

I don't know the first thing about Alps.  I am interested in trying them out, especially if their clicks aren't as whiny as the Cherry ones.

[Defect]

Clears with black spring (panda clears) and thick pbt caps... so snappy on the upstroke that it's addicting.

If you lube your ergo clears, I recommend only a thin layer of thin lube on the legs.  Do as much as you want on the sliders, but break them in first.

If you like clicks, get some Alps if you get a chance

I wouldn't think there would be much difference between the springs in a black and clear but I guess there's enough. 

I don't know the first thing about Alps.  I am interested in trying them out, especially if their clicks aren't as whiny as the Cherry ones.

I've shown my switch testers to friends who only have RD boards and they can always tell the difference with clear vs black spring.

I get a lot of flak for recommending alps, some say I'm being an elitest.  But they're cheaper than MX and honestly the click is way more satisfying in sound and feel.  Matias clicks are a simplified alps clone and they are very crisp and nice.  Though they feel somehow cheaper/more hollow/wobblier imo.  But not in a bad way...I'm just bad with words.  They are very crisp and awesome

Check out sound tests on youtube.

[CPTBadAss]

I get a lot of flak for recommending alps, some say I'm being an elitest.

Not everyone is cutout to be an Alps hipster


nickr, this is my baby. Kingsaver with Complicated Blue Alps

You can read my thoughts on it here and my thoughts on MX vs Alps if you're curious about Alps boards.