Who are the most respected custom keyboard makers?

[futurecrime]

I'm still getting a grip on all this. It seems that it's mostly Korean stuff people really pay the big bucks for. I'm looking at getting in on the Lightsaver and Revo HHKB GBs, and I'm going in on an AMJ40 w/ Aluminium case GB. The difference in hype between the three is significant, but to me they all look like excellent products. So what is it that people are crazy for here?

[tp4tissue]

If you're looking to Flip . Don't . you're better off trading penny stock.

There's not enough volume in these custom keyboards or keycaps for you to make meaningful cash..



As for who makes a better product, the answer is they're all the same..

This is not a high-tech endeavor..  It's very basic level machining.    The keyboard genre lends well to this segment,because these obsolete flat keyboards inherited mainly straight lines from their cost reduction lineage.

[tp4tissue]

And for the --long term collector--

If it's for your personal stash, fine..

But as for appreciating in value, that will never happen.  There's nothing precious or complex about the custom aluminum boards of today, they could be readily reproduced and easily topped should there ever come a rise in demand.


The iterations of today also lack the business foundation to establish any type of Brand persistence.. Thereby negating any long term price potential.

[tp4tissue]

All that,  ontop of the fact that these keyboards are no greater in Utility vs any $5 keyboard..

[ArchDill]

It is all preference. I would not ever buy just to flip. Get the ones that you would want to have for awhile.

[tp4tissue]

It is all preference. I would not ever buy just to flip. Get the ones that you would want to have for awhile.

/Thumbs up..
/Most rational..

[futurecrime]

Er, yeah I'm not looking to flip, although telling myself something won't lose value is a mental hoop I can jump through to get to the paypal page.  I just see things like Matrix and LZ-RE cooed over a lot and I'm wondering why particular boards get this kind of attention and others don't.

[ArchDill]

Er, yeah I'm not looking to flip, although telling myself something won't lose value is a mental hoop I can jump through to get to the paypal page.  I just see things like Matrix and LZ-RE cooed over a lot and I'm wondering why particular boards get this kind of attention and others don't.

I know Duck is FCFS so that is why they are usually more expensive. The last round of the Viper sold out in 3 hours.

[taylorswiftttttt]

removed

[xondat]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

[futurecrime]

If you really want to make a profit, GMK and SA GBs almost always appreciate

Yeah, I've noticed that. But again, I'm not looking to flip anything.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ArchDill]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

I do not see Noxary in that list? 

[PollandAkuma]

What happened to OTD and KMAC? Did they get bored and leave?

[KnivesM]

What happened to OTD and KMAC? Did they get bored and leave?

IIRC Duck is a part of the KMAC group and they stopped for whatever reason but he went on to make more. Not exactly sure what happened to the rest, I know one of them contacted Sherryton at Originative and there was talks of doing a GB around a year ago.

[futurecrime]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

Thanks for that. So are they all Korean except for Rama? What is it with the Korean stuff? Like why is a Lightsaver better than a RS96 or whatever?

Also, seeing as I'm thinking about getting the Revo HHKB, what's the consensus on Revodesign? I can't seem to find anything other than a numpad and the Dr D TKL.

Edit: a number

[xondat]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

Thanks for that. So are they all Korean except for Rama? What is it with the Korean stuff? Like why is a Lightsaver better than a RS96 or whatever?

Also, seeing as I'm thinking about getting the Revo HHKB, what's the consensus on Revodesign? I can't seem to find anything other than a numpad and the Dr D TKL.

Edit: a number

Rama is Australian, TGR is Malaysian, and Matrix is Chinese. Koreans basically started all of it, so that's why there are a lot. I can't really comment on quality of either, but Ducks are pretty much flawless from what I've seen/heard.

I personally hold Revo quite highly, but I think they need to do more to get on my list. If the RJ goes well then they'll definitely be there.

[futurecrime]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

Thanks for that. So are they all Korean except for Rama? What is it with the Korean stuff? Like why is a Lightsaver better than a RS96 or whatever?

Also, seeing as I'm thinking about getting the Revo HHKB, what's the consensus on Revodesign? I can't seem to find anything other than a numpad and the Dr D TKL.

Edit: a number

Rama is Australian, TGR is Malaysian, and Matrix is Chinese. Koreans basically started all of it, so that's why there are a lot. I can't really comment on quality of either, but Ducks are pretty much flawless from what I've seen/heard.

I personally hold Revo quite highly, but I think they need to do more to get on my list. If the RJ goes well then they'll definitely be there.

Cool. Thanks again for the info. I'm finding all this stuff quite fascinating. It ticks a lot of my boxes.

[Puddsy]

What happened to OTD and KMAC? Did they get bored and leave?

both of them are groups

activity goes up and down with time

[digi]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

Spot on

[Puddsy]

I personally hold Revo quite highly, but I think they need to do more to get on my list. If the RJ goes well then they'll definitely be there.

My issue with Revo is that at lot of their boards look weird from some angles, IMO.

Just a personal thing.

[dubious]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

You forgot TX and Linx3...


When people compare things like ZZ96 and Lightsaber, they usually look at build materials to determine quality. aluminum vs plastic housings, type of aluminum/plastic, the weight and assembly of the keyboard which can affect the feel.... etc..

All very subjective stuff. It's more important to find what is appealing and works best for you.

[futurecrime]

It's funny cos I assume build quality is a major factor but then it seems like almost everyone is assembling them themselves. But yeah, quality of materials of course.

At the moment I'm hovering on the Revo HHKB but I feel a bit like I should probably just try an actual HHKB. And if there's a Rama HHKB alu case coming out later this year, which there seems to be, then I'd probably be more into that. I dunno, I guess aluminium HHKB style cases come along fairly frequently. I've got a KBD75 and an AMJ40 on the way and am hoping to get on the Lightsaver and SKOG GBs so probably have plenty to be getting on with...

[xondat]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

You forgot TX and Linx3...


When people compare things like ZZ96 and Lightsaber, they usually look at build materials to determine quality. aluminum vs plastic housings, type of aluminum/plastic, the weight and assembly of the keyboard which can affect the feel.... etc..

All very subjective stuff. It's more important to find what is appealing and works best for you.

If TX (Kin) didn't disappear for a year or however long it was, he'd probably be on the list. Lin3 isn't as well known as the others.

[digi]

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

You forgot TX and Linx3...


When people compare things like ZZ96 and Lightsaber, they usually look at build materials to determine quality. aluminum vs plastic housings, type of aluminum/plastic, the weight and assembly of the keyboard which can affect the feel.... etc..

All very subjective stuff. It's more important to find what is appealing and works best for you.

It's more than just though (that's part of it) but it's also the build history of the designer and the high-standards they've maintained throughout their builds/releases.

[dubious]

It's funny cos I assume build quality is a major factor but then it seems like almost everyone is assembling them themselves. But yeah, quality of materials of course.

At the moment I'm hovering on the Revo HHKB but I feel a bit like I should probably just try an actual HHKB. And if there's a Rama HHKB alu case coming out later this year, which there seems to be, then I'd probably be more into that. I dunno, I guess aluminium HHKB style cases come along fairly frequently. I've got a KBD75 and an AMJ40 on the way and am hoping to get on the Lightsaver and SKOG GBs so probably have plenty to be getting on with...

Sorry, when I said build quality I was referring to the materials. However, several of the makers listed offer assembly services sometimes.

Elders:

• Duck
• LZ
• OTD*
• KMAC*

More Recent:

• Matrix
• Rama
• TGR

* not making anymore

You forgot TX and Linx3...


When people compare things like ZZ96 and Lightsaber, they usually look at build materials to determine quality. aluminum vs plastic housings, type of aluminum/plastic, the weight and assembly of the keyboard which can affect the feel.... etc..

All very subjective stuff. It's more important to find what is appealing and works best for you.

It's more than just though (that's part of it) but it's also the build history of the designer and the high-standards they've maintained throughout their builds/releases.

Are those standards not set by the products they have released? :dogethink:

[dante]

Where does Apollos' (http://22kbd.com/) fit in?

[SpAmRaY]

Where does Apollos' (http://22kbd.com/) fit in?

He makes some sweet custom boards, not that widely available and I think he semi-retired.

I want to say a few people in the recent past placed orders that were having a hard time getting them fulfilled.

[romevi]

Build quality still matters. In fact, the "better" keyboards are ones you can build yourself. Lends to the customization factor.