The Alps Artisan Challenge

[Texchappy]

What's the challenge: for one of the many and talented artisan cap makers to produce one of those pieces of art for the Alps/Matias switch.

Don't really have anything to offer but hear me out.

Still reading?  Great. My contention is that many would try the alps stemmed switches if more keycaps were available.  The art that adorns our boards is an important part of that.  There is some movement on the keycap set front; not so much on the artisan side.

So what do you think?  Up to the challenge?!?!

[SpAmRaY]

I don't think single artisan caps are going to bring about an ALPS revival.

[nubbinator]

Won't do a thing.  Proper kits and caps that are affordable will help.  IMO, nicer switches than Matias switches will help.  I'm working on Alps caps, but they're a fringe thing.

[Texchappy]

I don't think single artisan caps are going to bring about an ALPS revival.

No but perhaps it's a start.

[Muffinbottoms]

Alps will forever be the unloved 

[Texchappy]

Won't do a thing.  Proper kits and caps that are affordable will help.  IMO, nicer switches than Matias switches will help.  I'm working on Alps caps, but they're a fringe thing.

Forgot you did a few for the Alpine winter.  Didn't get in early enough to be in on the raffle but look forward to seeing them on the winners board.

As far as being fringe, I understand that islets fringe if a fringe of a fringe :-)

[grav3serker]

I would love if this were to happen! I just got a V60 MTS-Q, so it would be fantastic to have an Artisan cap available!! 

[Texchappy]

I would love if this were to happen! I just got a V60 MTS-Q, so it would be fantastic to have an Artisan cap available!! 

That just where I'm at - same board too.

[ctm]

I would love if this were to happen! I just got a V60 MTS-Q, so it would be fantastic to have an Artisan cap available!! 

That just where I'm at - same board too.

Looks like V60 might be an important board in the ALPS revival

[yowaffle]

I support [almost] anything ALPS/Matias 

[BlueNalgene]

I've got artisans in alps.  Two of the designs are (about to be) in the wild.  Others are coming.

[njbair]

I have to agree that novelty caps are not going to have a major impact on sales of Alps and Alps accessories. Full sets, absolutely, but not novelties.

But I disagree with nubbinator about nicer switches. I haven't tried Matias Clicks yet, but the Quiet Clicks are as nice or nicer than MX clears and variants thereof. That said, if someone came on the scene with a new production switch that felt just like orange Alps, I would never buy another Quiet Click again.

[Texchappy]

Great news BlueNalgene

[Hak Foo]

What I never got was the lack of OEM interest.

They're cheaper than MX switches but don't have the stigma of Kailh.

If you're an older OEM, there's probably a ALPS-style PCB you can repurpose.  If it's old enough, it probably has NKRO even.  If you're a newer one, it didn't seem to be too complex for Ducky to throw out a board with crappy XM switches.

[Badwrench]

I agree that an influx of artisans would not really change the geography of the alps situation, but I am ok with that.  I would like to see a few more out in the wild and not just as experiments - really looking forward to Nubbinator finalizing his modular stem insert so that masters can be made of any design and cast in any desired stem - really exciting.  It is great to finally see the added interest in a fairly fringe switch type (as far as modding and modern boards are concerned), so with my GB, Alpine Winter, the Tai Hao sets, and the matias/V60/V80 boards, I think there is a lot too look forward to in the future as long as we are realistic about it.  It took a while for there to be BS artisans out there and now a few different artists have their designs floating around out there.