Massdrop x T0mb3ry GMK Carbon Custom Keycap Set Discussions | Drop

Jul 11, 2016

dq2014Thanks for giving an actual answer instead on being a snob like other people on this otherwise helpful discussion. I'm still trying to learn about keycaps, their profiles, thickness, plastics, etc. I was wondering what was so much better about these than a set of Rosewill double shot keycaps I bought for $15 a while ago. They felt pretty solid to me, and I'm not sure how to really improve on them to make the price difference worth it... the problem being I have no way of knowing until I actually can feel the difference... or get advice from an impartial source that has experienced both.

Jul 11, 2016

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Jul 11, 2016

lailokenThose Rosewills were probably Tai-Hao manufactured and Tai-Hao's #1 defining characteristics is inconsistency in thickness. Most of the cost also probably comes from the fact that GMK retains the original Cherry manufacturing tools that cranked out old doubleshots found on old G80s for example, which is most definitely going to be more expensive than something that comes mass-produced out of China. If T-shirts and electronics were made in Germany like GMK caps then we'd all be in big financial trouble.

Jul 11, 2016

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Jebbra

466

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenIf you have spare money, get this and try. Worst case your reddit inbox will have tons of messages once you put this on sale there. And I don't mean for less money you spent now.

Jul 11, 2016

Jul 11, 2016

W0MB0So what in the description tells you they are not thin? Is 1.4mm thick? Also, when you speak of carbon, are we talking a color, or a manufacturing process with a plastic? I think I get that two colors like this is just very uncommon... but I would prefer something more... like the thicker plastic etc.

Jul 11, 2016

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Jul 11, 2016

lailokenThick ABS is something that is inherent in every GMK set, because that's just how the manufacturing for Cherry profile caps work. Be it BSP or EnjoyPBT for PBT, or GMK and JTK for ABS, it's going to be thick (round 1.5mm if I'm not mistaken).

Jul 11, 2016

blackcatdown

162

Jul 11, 2016

lailoken1.5mm is very thick for keycaps. If you don't want to get these then don't. They are definitely very expensive, and if you don't really care about the difference in quality and longevity then there are definitely other options our there that are more on the value side of the scale.

Jul 11, 2016

Jul 11, 2016

tabascosauzAs much as I love exquisitely manufacturers goods, I try not to be blinded by snobbism or nostalgia (even though it proves correct most of the time!). Goods coming out of China could very well rival that from Germany... it is possible. Perhaps not for these, perhaps not now... I just don't want to close my mind to options. Honestly I could not find any problem with the Tai-Hao keycaps... but then again I would need a side by side comparison... and perhaps someone to point it out to me. String instruments a case in point... some of the best ones come from China.
I guess my weakest link at the moment is not my keycaps, I should probably work my way up to these keycaps by getting a better board + switches first...

Jul 11, 2016

W0MB0

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenit's fairly thick yeah, i have GMK caps on hand but you can get pictures if you just google. they're expensive and probably have a fairly high profit margin but you're also not likely to get similar caps (at least, this colorway) anywhere else

Jul 11, 2016

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenI compared the two on the basis of cost, not quality, hence the tidbit about T-shirts. EnjoyPBT/Gateron makes decent PBT Cherry profile caps and they are located in China, and while they may have a ways to go to catch up to IMSTO, the stuff they make is still far superior in quality to Tai-Hao.
Evidently, keycaps != string instruments then. I understand that it takes a while to understand what separates a $15 keyset from a $125 one, but in time you'll get to experience it for yourself.
*also, Tai-Hao is from Taiwan (though manufacturing probably done in China), as is most other keyboard retail brands like Ducky. Pretty sure that EnjoyPBT is actually located in China.

Jul 11, 2016

ideus

253

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenYou said so, do your homework, you could expect to find another GMK made set like this in the future, after you understand the difference; but, not this one.

Jul 11, 2016

dq2014

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenAs tabascosauz said it is pretty likely Rosewill caps are made by Tai-hao. If you are perfectly happy with what you have then just wait until you know someone nearby who would let you tryout their GMK keycaps. Sometimes you need to try it to be able to justify the price difference for two products that are seemingly the same on paper.
I think of these caps as a connoisseur's product, most of the people won't care or be able to tell the difference. You have to spend a lot of time using it or have sensitive fingers to appreciate it. Kind of the difference between German and Japanese and American cars, they all make cars but they drive differently despite having similarly equipped powertrain and suspensions.

Jul 11, 2016

Jul 11, 2016

tabascosauzI get that. I guess I'm trying to fast-track my education... I've bought a few mechanical keyboards in the past I regret... so buying cheap cost me more. I'm trying to find out if these keycaps will be something I will never regret. I love the look, but am still unsure about the profile...

Jul 11, 2016

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Gabis

188

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenAnecdotal, but I have never seen anyone say they hated Cherry profile. It's not dramatically different from OEM, which is likely what you are used to currently.
And honestly, if you can afford to buy these then you should. You will have absolutely no problem selling them if you get them and find out they aren't for you.

Jul 11, 2016

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenI was also hesitant to jump on the Cherry profile train (my first sets were a Cyrillic and a US Black from EnjoyPBT), but since I put it on my boards I have never looked back. I am partial to cylindricals, but the problem with both sculpted (I have Modern Selectric) and non-sculpted (I have that one Filco set) SA is that it isn't really ideal for MX switches. One of my friends is more experienced than I am in the keyboard business and I've put my MS set on his Novatouch; it feels great, and actually very different from being on my wobbly ol' MX switches. I've already decided that I hate DSA (it runs in the face of just about every guideline of ergonomics and is only useful for gaming, really), so the next step was Cherry. I thought it would be the same as OEM profile, but to be very honest it is a large leap in comfort. OEM profiles incorporate some form of sculpturing/stepping, which is great, but Cherry profile is lower and simply more comfortable and easier to type on.
Cherry profile is also very consistent in key travel and bottoming out (if your switches are oriented the right side up, LED socket towards the bottom and whatever brand text - Cherry, Gateron - oriented the right side up). If there was one thing that Cherry Corp got right, it's Cherry profile; say what you want about SA and DSA being "more naturally suited to your fingertips", but all those owners of GMK/JTK, EnjoyPBT/BSP/IMSTO and all those thousands of G80 keyboards with OG doubleshots can't all be wrong.

Jul 11, 2016

Jul 11, 2016

GabisThanks, answers like these are really helpful. Also helps with the SAF.

Jul 11, 2016

Jul 11, 2016

tabascosauzSo being GMK makes these Cherry Profile? Makes sense, but this was something I had no idea about... I actually thought these were SA.
As for backlighting, I prefer the light to the top... is that uncommon?

Jul 11, 2016

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Jul 11, 2016

tabascosauzOn another topic, would one generally use o-rings with cherry profile keycaps?

Jul 11, 2016

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theimmc

873

Jul 11, 2016

lailokenYou can use o-rings with Cherry profile caps if you like. I have them on mine to make them a little quieter for the office.

Jul 11, 2016