Excellent, but Flawed | KBDFans x Vulcan Maja - Unboxing, Build and Review

Hey everyone! Today we are looking at the KBDFans x Vulcan Maja 65% keyboard. Overall I think this an excellent premium typing experience, but not without some disappointing quality control. Thanks for watching!
IN THIS VIDEO:
KBDFans x Vulcan Maja: kbdfans.com/pr...
ZealPC Tealios V2: zealpc.net/pro...
ePBT Gray English Keycaps: kbdfans.com/pr...
Other Alice-Style Keyboards: I realized that after I published this video that I can't find any other Alice-like keyboards in groupbuy. They do come up fairly often though as this is a popular variant in the mechanical keyboard community.

[@BakerWRLD]

Hey! Nice to see another Maja out here! Enjoyed this video very much

[@PatrickRennie]

Thanks Baker! It's a great board :)

[@weriel6855]

Hi Patrick! I picked up the clear PC version just a few days ago and I am really excited to build it. After reading the title of the video I was a bit worried, but all doubts about my purchase were gone after I watched the video. You did really good work on the video as well as building the board. Definitely looking forward to future content from you. Hope you've been and are doing well during the pandemic. Cheers!

[@PatrickRennie]

Hey Weriel! Thanks for the kind words :) The PC version looks sooo nice. It was my second choice from the green. From what I hear as well the PC version didn't have as many QC issues as some of the anodized alu ones. Have fun building!

[@glenn.c]

Hey! Sorry for the late message. Was the PC version the same price as the alu version? Can't seem to see the prices for either :(

[@ikebowers]

Great video man! Maja gang rise up!!! Can't wait for a video on the macro pad! EDIT: Watching this made me think about anything I would have changed about the Maja and I think the biggest thing that sticks out to me is the aesthetics. Don't get me wrong, I love the design but overall mine just looks like a gray chunk of metal. I really wish they would have figured out a way to incorporate the brass coloring a little more into the top of the design.

[@PatrickRennie]

Thanks Ike! Your support means a lot :) I actually kind of like the 'monolithic' look of the Maja to be honest. It goes along with how hefty it is haha. I do agree though that some more brass would look really nice if there are future revisions!

[@_E1_]

I really like the green colored case! Shame about the blemishes...

[@PatrickRennie]

Thanks E1! Yeah I agree. The colour is amazing, and although I don't notice the blemishes unless I really look for them, it's disappointing nonetheless. I still love it though

[@cajun_canuck]

If anyone ever asks if you lift bro, just reply that you conquered the maja. What a chonky boy! But, so very nice!

[@PatrickRennie]

Almost 7lbs fully built! Nuts haha.

[@blaqkjack.]

Excellent review, Patrick. Thank you for providing this video; I been curious about the Maja. (potential tip: do you have a pop filter for your mic? I was getting little pops with my monitors from your B's and P's. My only $0.02! pls keep uploading more kb goodies :) )

[@PatrickRennie]

Thanks! I do have a pop filter, although I have noticed that in this particular review my audio isn't where I wanted it (I might have boosted my voice a bit too much). Appreciate the tip!

[@unliyou]

Manufacturer should consider producing more of that keyboard. Thank you for sharing.

[@PatrickRennie]

No problem! I believe that there was a second run that were on sale a couple of months ago - I believe you can sign up for notifications directly on the site if you were interested in picking one up.

[@danilocedeno9765]

Great video mate I'm glad you covered everything also the not so good things. Just one thing that first sort of weird upside down camera angle gave me motion sickness lol I don't know if it's just me but yeah other than that super clean! Just subbed.

[@PatrickRennie]

Hey thanks Danilo! Also good feedback on the camera angle. I'm trying to figure out the best top-down camera angle and I don't quite have it right. I'll work on it for the next one :)

[@madmax252]

Excellent review! I just picked up one in the recent restock and I'm excited try out Arisu layout!

[@PatrickRennie]

Hey thanks! Looking forward to seeing your finished product!

[@madmax252]

@@PatrickRennie I got my silver Maja today and was disappointed to find a dent in one corner of the brass weight (right next to one of the screw holes) and also the USB-C port was soldered on crooked. The dent on the weight was bad enough to also warp of one of the screw holes, but luckily I was still able to get the screw to thread partially and the weight can manage to sit flush/flat in the bottom of the case. I know that no one will see the inside of the brass weight once it's built, but that plus the crooked USB left me pretty annoyed. It's still a nice board overall and great to type on, but I with you regarding the need for better QC at this price point.

[@abdulalsherif8211]

This video will definitely help a lot during my build. I ordered the Silver version because I couldn't get my hands on the PC version... hoping it restocks before they ship end of month!

[@PatrickRennie]

Thanks for giving it a watch! The Maja is great, looking forward to seeing your final build!

[@abdulalsherif8211]

@@PatrickRennie as I reply to you now, I have changed my order to the PC version!

[@goal2004]

My green Maja came in blemish free. So weird that yours has them. Btw, as a primarily left-handed-space-hitter I use the 1.25u as my spacebar and the 2u as my Fn. Placing it there lets me use the 1.5 left of it as Alt, which I can now hold together with the Fn under just my thumb for Alt+F4 for example.

[@PatrickRennie]

Glad to hear your board came unblemished! That's not a bad configuration, right now for me the rctrl is the FN modifier, but I might give the right spacebar a try. Seems more ergo the way you have yours set up.

[@goal2004]

@@PatrickRennie It's more ergo for people with large enough hands. Most people seem to have no issue tucking their thumb under their palm.

[@danielsitorus4962]

i like when u explain the history of maja , appriciate dude

[@PatrickRennie]

No problem!

[@BerninUben]

Thats a shame about the blemishes, Id be heartbroken too :(. On a happier note, another one for the green Maja gang! I honestly wanted a grey or black one but my bank marked it suspicious so I missed out after trying 2 cards. I ended up with this color and I honestly couldn't feel luckier that I missed out on the black/grey. I have IFK Graen sitting on it and it feels super unique and like a true one of a kind! Also, there is supposed to be another sale in Q1 2021!

[@PatrickRennie]

Yeah the green finish is one of the nicest things about the board for sure! The blemishes are definitely disappointing, and in part one of the reasons this video took me so long to finish. It is what it is though. That's good that there is going to be more of these available; hopefully they get their QC fixed in time. Send a photo of your build!

[@Herakles-mk6eh]

Next Drop Oct 15… love it😍

[@TheDontbeEvil]

How does it feel without using a wrist rest? Does it feel not that much different from other keyboards?

[@kyuu_09]

arisu layout is pog

[@PatrickRennie]

it's real naise

[@Kworks86]

another alice layout if you are interested sneakbox.com/products/ava-pre-order-group-buy

[@kenshin1368]

I'm definitely considering the v2 of this even though I just bought my first custom keyboard lmao.

[@pspspspspspspspspspspspspspsps]

Hi, did you actually just plugged and play the pcb? I noticed on mine, the 2 mods that uses stabs are programmed as right and left alt keys instead of space. Did you flash it thru qmk or via to make the 2 mod keys as space?

[@PatrickRennie]

I had to make a few adjustments in VIA to change some of the modifier keys but that was about it.

[@Jiachiii]

Hey Patrick, also just picked up this board, and loving the layout. I seem to have a strange issue with the caps lock led indicator where it stays white and is stuck on this colour. Have you experienced this on your board?

[@PatrickRennie]

Hey Kakay! I can't say I've experienced that unfortunately. I have had some issues where I need to reset my layout on VIA however. Maybe a reset on the PCB could fix?

[@garysy9842]

Nice video. Does the keycap set come with the 1u dot keycaps?

[@PatrickRennie]

Thanks! The dot keycaps are actually from ePBT Gray Japanese (check my ID80 review for reference). I thought they looked cool so I popped them on this build!

[@ziza2005]

Quick question, for this keyboard a regular GMK set would work? I have purchased a GMK red dragon and I wanted to ensure no extra kits would be needed for the button keyboard row (space, alt, ctr...). Thank you for your feedback on this, and keep the good work.

[@PatrickRennie]

Hey, the base kit should be fine. You'll have to use the '0' and the shift as your spacebars if there isn't a spacebar kit, plus you will need to use an extra R1 keycap for the additional 'B' on the Maja, but that shouldn't be an issue. Hope that helps!

[@fadhrigabestari4963]

im using lavender switch with both foams, and i find that the board is so muted that way, thinking of disassembling the board but there are so many screws i kinda get lazy lmao

[@PatrickRennie]

Interesting, if you end up taking out the foam you'll have to let me know if there's an appreciable difference! Personally I really like the way that it sounds with both foam inserts installed, but to each their own!

[@zuuzu5206]

bro the song on the video slaps what is it ?

[@keebsnstuff3400]

Hnnnnggghhhh I managed to snag a PC in stock on kbdfans a few days ago and I'm so fucking excited to get it

[@PatrickRennie]

Very nice! The polycarbonate version looks amazing. Have fun building it :)

[@plyr2]

Another group buy is currently running!

[@PatrickRennie]

I saw that! That's awesome news.

[@germophobic5407]

i just bought round 3 of the restocks... im praying there's no blemishes

[@PatrickRennie]

Fingers crossed for ya! Talking to a couple other Maja owners it didn't sound like they were running into the QC issues I had.

[@germophobic5407]

@@PatrickRennie thats great! Just letting ya know you make great content! extremely quality vids and I like how in depth you go.

[@treeleaf6471]

I think you meant Tealios, not Zealios. : )

[@PatrickRennie]

Oh god, did I say Zealios in the video? whooooops. Good catch!

[@hocineamrane9699]

those are tealios lmfao apart from that great vid convinced me to buy round 2 of the board keep up the good work

[@TheRecordedLife]

Does this build work with a Mac?

[@PatrickRennie]

I think it will, although I can't confirm as I don't have any Macs to test this with. I'd suggest checking the KBDFans Discord channel as there might be an answer there.

[@franknuggets5295]

Damn I just bought one today and I’m left handed too. Do you still press that key accidentally?

[@PatrickRennie]

No not anymore. It takes maybe a week or so of getting used to and then you should be good. I still would've preferred the solderable PCB so I could make the left spacebar a touch wider, but it's fine now

[@blast7105]

Nice video. How's my typing video on TypeRacer?

[@szagii_9447]

what's stabiliser keys Do i need for this board?

[@PatrickRennie]

5x 2U screw-in stabilizers

[@SagaComix]

whats the RGB control for these???

[@PatrickRennie]

I believe the default is FN+Q toggles RGB on or off, but there's a bunch of 'em. Download VIA and you'll be able to see the default config with the different layers and then you can customize them to whatever you want!

[@SagaComix]

@@PatrickRennie Thank you!! Will you be posting up more builds like these??

[@PatrickRennie]

@@SagaComix This channel has been primarily keyboard reviews, yeah. Stuff like the Maja is not going to be as frequent for me just due to the price point, but yeah I'd love to review more of this mid-range/high-end price point in the future if I can get my hands on it :)

[@SagaComix]

@@PatrickRennie Yes please that would be amazing!! Always looking forward to watching your content anyways, so keep the awesomeness coming!!

[@SagaComix]

@@PatrickRennie also dumb question lol but where would I happen to download VIA??

[@toasty6986]

i think this is on ymdk

[@PatrickRennie]

It's not quite the same board but there is an Arisu style board for sale on the site it seems. I think TaeKeyboards just recently did a review/mod of it actually

[@Xingqiwu387]

The space bar layout is IMPOSSIBLE!! No one in their right mind would type on this type of layout.

[@PatrickRennie]

Call me crazy then because I love it lmao