White / Black hybrid Alps

lancre · 28 Apr 2018, 00:16

I have some white alps that bind a little on off centre key presses. They are currently in the Omnikey that I restored around 18 months ago. I have a NIB AT101 I bought a few years ago and was considering swapping parts of the switches, specifically the top housings and the sliders. Who has experimented on swapping parts of Alps switches around, potentially to improve the key feel especially if you have swapped in Black Alps sliders on other switches and what impact did they have? Also as an alternative I guess I could buy some Matias switches and swap the top housings and the sliders. Would this be possible given that they don't use the same tooling?

fohat · 28 Apr 2018, 00:53

You want to check to make sure that you are using the same "generation" of switches.

I have done "top mods" switching upper parts while leaving switch bodies soldered down. My most successful and favorite was using springs and leaves from orange switches into white switch bodies.

Alternatively, you can turn the black switches into either clicky or linear switches by altering the leaves.

Blaise170 · 28 Apr 2018, 00:57

Matias is not compatible unless you have simplified Alps.

lancre · 28 Apr 2018, 02:00

I tried 20 or so switches, and while the binding issue is sorted, they lost some of their characteristically bassy sound (obviously not as bassy as blue alps but still, with the Northgate chassis, they are quite nice), and so I'm not entirely happy with the result. I think the best thing to do is put the white alps switches back for now

It's quite amazing that a plastic slider and a top housing, which look almost identical to the white alps counterparts, can have such a marked effect on the result of the switch.

Elrick · 28 Apr 2018, 02:50

lancre wrote: I tried 20 or so switches, and while the binding issue is sorted, they lost some of their characteristically bassy sound (obviously not as bassy as blue alps but still, with the Northgate chassis, they are quite nice), and so I'm not entirely happy with the result.

I'm waiting upon some customized Alps springs to arrive at my address.

My long term goal is to restore and tune various Alps switches both White and Black versions, into the very best clicky versions.

You need to use various spring weight's PLUS click leaves inside the Alps housing, to finally get a decent switch feel, more suited to yourself.

I've seen various Alps switches with varying differences in feeling, yet none are the same as each other so their is some variance when dealing with the internals, which are the Spring and the Click Leaf so those two items alone can be customized.

Of course you're hoping the actual switch mechanism inside the Alps housing, that's always soldered onto the PCB is still working correctly....

Elrick · 28 Apr 2018, 02:54

Blaise170 wrote: Matias is not compatible unless you have simplified Alps.

Feels nothing like our Complicated Versions. Hence why they are so wanted now compared to any of Matias's versions.

Maybe if he finally conducts a closing down sale of his gear, I might pick up a box full of his keyboards and switches but until then there are so much better versions out there to buy and own.

Blaise170 · 28 Apr 2018, 12:43

Matias is still pushing his 65% from years ago even though several people have now beat him to the punch. I've seen nothing new from the company in quite awhile.

seebart · 28 Apr 2018, 12:46

Blaise170 wrote: Matias is still pushing his 65% from years ago even though several people have now beat him to the punch. I've seen nothing new from the company in quite awhile.

Matias switches never even come close to clean unworn Alps SKCM. They're not total shit but not on the same level. Shame really.

Blaise170 · 28 Apr 2018, 12:52

I quite like my Matias Laptop Pro but in the future I'm planning on swapping for complicated Alps. I'd really like PBT caps since the legends are already wearing off, but Matias has also been promising that for several years.

seebart · 28 Apr 2018, 12:55

Blaise170 wrote: I quite like my Matias Laptop Pro but in the future I'm planning on swapping for complicated Alps. I'd really like PBT caps since the legends are already wearing off, but Matias has also been promising that for several years.

I own a Matias mini tactile pro, it's OK but not great. The switches are really loud though.

Blaise170 · 28 Apr 2018, 12:58

Yeah I have the Quiet Clicks and they are definitely the least loud switch I've used, but the tactility is a bit too much in my opinion.

seebart · 28 Apr 2018, 12:59

Blaise170 wrote: Yeah I have the Quiet Clicks and they are definitely the least loud switch I've used, but the tactility is a bit too much in my opinion.

100% on that, very loud and very tactile. Too much so really.