Teardown - Alps SKCL/SKCM switches

Today we look at Alps switches! Used in many mechanical keyboards in the 80s and 90s, Alps made a vast catalog of linear, tactile, clicky, and dampened keyboard switches.
My keyboard reviews: • Thomas' Keyboard Reviews
Quick Keyboard Tips: • Quick Keyboard Tips
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22

[@compu85]

Thanks for the in-depth information!

[@y11971alex]

Nice to see this series upgraded to HD too.

[@Chyrosran22]

Yes, all videos should be in HD from now on :) .

[@CommodoreFan64]

Another Awesome video as always :-)

[@randomnico6250]

Amazing video, thanks for making it

[@fardnia9434]

These are so much better designed than Cherry MX in terms of keyfeel and sound that words just can't describe

[@robr640]

Good stuff as usual Chyros! Now I'm interested in getting some authentic Alps & eventually doing a build with them. I've been meaning to start hitting the thrift stores & flea markets in my local area for some KB hunting. Finding old Alps boards to harvest sounds like a fun endeavor for me & should give me the kick in the ass I need to start looking!

[@Yousitech]

Rob R go to recycling centers. I have several alps boards already and I've only looked like 4 times

[@robr640]

Yousitech thanks for the tip! :)

[@robr640]

Vineshroom Thanks for the tips! :) I was planning to do mostly local searching to make it more of an adventure for myself but I will definitely be careful if I decide to get anything from eBay hearing that from you.

[@Nestea9er]

I like your voice in that microphone ;) keep up the good work

[@mike52787]

Glad to see the SKCM cream I sent you in a video ! :) what are your thoughts on them?

[@MechMerlin]

Brown Alps are my favorite tactile switch, unfortunately I like to swap keycaps frequently. I'm hoping that we'll see more keycap sets come out that support Alps, or some company figures out a way to either re-create ones such as the Brown or make one that's Cherry MX compatible.

[@Chyrosran22]

I very much doubt we'll ever see a reproduction of complicated Alps. If Matias didn't even do it, how could anyone else? But it's the switchplates that contain a significant part of the Alps magic.

[@MechMerlin]

The closest I've found to what I'm waiting for is the iRocks switch, but even those leave a lot to be desired from what I've read. Would love a chance to try one out personally.

[@Chyrosran22]

I have a few. They're actually not bad, but they're not complicated Alps, and that's kind of the point.

[@matthewpalmer9820]

They aftermath of the gofundme has no words to describe it.... only truly significant donation I've ever given.

[@marcusrauch4223]

Gofundme for what?

[@NautsuJJR]

@@marcusrauch4223 better camera and mic quality

[@SoulcatcherLucario]

Thomas, because of you I knew how they worked before this video, tanks

[@awesomeboxlord]

Man ive tried white alps and i loved them and they're currently installed on my guitar hero controller

[@dumdum7786]

What? How?

[@awesomeboxlord]

@@dumdum7786 i opened it up and replaced the broken switches on the controller

[@lllblisslll]

Hey was hoping you could give me some input if u wouldn’t mind. The white alps style clicky switches are commonly used in guitar hero guitar controllers. They are used for the strum bar. Often times when the guitar is used a lot the switches will start to over strum which is when the switch activates twice with only one push. So My question is 1)what causes the switch to activate twice with one push & 2) is there a way that I could adjust a good working switches internals to be more sensitive or less sensitive? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[@lolmaxwell2213]

Glad you've got the new camera gear!

[@Chyrosran22]

I've made the previous QKT and video review in HD already as well :) .

[@Dcent_K]

LoLMaxwell Yeah dude check it out!

[@gearedloop3195]

i know this is probably a dumb question, but could you put a leaf/fake switch plate in a matias switch?

[@K3NnY_G]

Ahh I had to rip apart one of my black alps the other day as it'd stopped making contact with the switchplate, bent the leaf a little bit and pulled out the two tabs to let it click and hoooboy, you want some click on any direction of stroke.. Thing's like a gun going off. :P

[@natashag8398]

that intro :D

[@dumbr2098]

I don't get why people only look at cherry MX...

[@liem-deetz]

Ofbaserion because it was used for the first razer keyboard.

[@liem-deetz]

*mechanical*

[@Mboy556]

becouse of RGB i guess

[@Spearra]

Because people are too lazy to Google Search it. I mean, even with just Cherry, that is quite a few options. People must look at Cherry's load of options and when they're told theres an entire family of switches that are better than Cherry's, they tune out because they don't want to learn about another whole entire family of switches. Its a first come first serve type of mentality. They use one mechanical switch, then praise that ONE switch as being the bees knees. Also applies to modern Razer keyboards. People start with them, and end on them and refuse to hear otherwise. Frustrating, but it is what it is I suppose.

[@AnonymousPersonSaysHello]

because alps are no longer produced

[@nickardasis4]

Great review man. One question, where did you find that Alps switch tester? Is it custom made or just exremely rare? Thank you very much for your relaxing and highly informative videos.

[@Chyrosran22]

Thanks :) . It's a common model of Alps keypad, you can still get them from eBay.

[@x.hwenger1267]

If you are refering to the white numeric pad showed at the start of the video, that is a “双环/浩宇特” or "Haoyute" numeric pad that comes with yellowish-white Alps looking switches. I don't know much about alps though, maybe they are ALPS, maybe just clones. They are still available to be purchased around $5 USD (Talking about the numeric pad).

[@gearedloop3195]

i've always been wondering if these are compatible hotswappable pcbs, does anyone have an answer to that?

[@SOOH27]

I can't find a good place to buy alps, nor their keycaps. Anybody got a place or is it just those $4 per switch sellers on e-bay?

[@hi12340987878787]

where can i buy white alps

[@dumdum7786]

When is someone going to make a proper repro of these?

[@zibi_arcad]

please tell me, where did you get all these switches? i'm still finding, but i can't find in a good price

[@jacksmile6669]

go to reddit and in the search bar put in the switches you want. its community market so prices vary

[@alexandrecosta2567]

he went to recycling areas to look for them. At one point he visited 6 of these areas per week

[@theallknowingsause8940]

I just realized the text to speech intro says "seeing the eye of the key cap"

[@tc227]

Yeah ALPS!!!

[@hobojoe3695]

your voice makes my ground shake

[@bonearmy1518]

Nice. Could you, perhaps, put the dampener in a linear switch?

[@JustinC]

Matias quiet linear do this.

[@gainsborough25]

The really cool thing about alps switches, that chyros also mentions, is that you can change pieces of the switch without having to desolder them. This opens the door for all kinds of mad science-y combinations of alps switches! You could definitely put a dampened slider into a linear alps housing, or you could remove the tactile leaf of any dampened switch - both would probably yield slightly different sound and feeling as well! This is just another reason alps made one of the best mechanical switches ever constructed.

[@darkholyPL]

Ah ALPS, how I love thee. Especially blue and green. Need to get my hands on some brown ones one of those days. Those are a bitch to find. In my experience even blue alps are easier to find.

[@Chyrosran22]

Blue Alps are not rare, they're just expensive and come in boards that could have multiple switch types. Brown is definitely harder to get.

[@darkholyPL]

Yea, aside of the PC 5140 and the electronic type writer (whos name escapes me atm) I don't really even know what browns came in.

[@PhantmZero]

i wish i could get my hands on alps, but its impossible in austria. :/

[@JeerJer]

Sorry for a reply this late, but 'mykeyboard' has a selection of keyboards with ALPS. I don't personally have any experience of the site other than just finding it yesterday.

[@benkallendrusch4229]

You should definitly check your notifications !!!!! 3:01

[@user-kp5pu3fh1u]

Chyrosran22, what is the best linear switches for you?

[@V1ralTik]

LinkyFox cherry mx reds just a recommendation

[@rich1051414]

SKCC greens are great linear switches if you want to go old school. Gateron Clear/Black if you want cherry mx compatible.

[@nixalin5525]

You know they make silent MX style switches.

[@avvery8593]

Your voice is nice and creepy.

[@Zoranurai13]

Plenty of alps stuff on taobao :D

[@quickblade3114]

Im going to buy one

[@potatomonkey99]

I recently got my hands on some salmon alps, but modded them to linears. also notification squad!

[@worldhello1234]

What a waste, it is a rare bread.

[@potatomonkey99]

Red Phoenix not really, they're fairly common. Tons of aekIIs have them.

[@worldhello1234]

Okay, so I confused the AT-101s with the rest of the bunch. :) Got a good deal on a Cooler Master Quickfire CM Storm XT with MX Blues - clearance sale - and "love" it despite the higher pitched clickiness. :) Alps are limited to clickiness, tactility or linearity.

[@andljoy]

You should investigate what makes say orange alps better than salmon and dampened cream better than dampened white I have a load of orange and salmon alps at the moment for a group buy but i cannot go desoldering other peoples boards Its not even close by the way with orange > salmon , orange is vastly superior in sound feel and smoothness, hell even rubbing your fingers over the caps you can tell the difference , i would say its just as noticeable as the blue to white alps situation, if not larger. i have tried blue alps only outside the board and yes they are much nicer than whites, but the orange to salmon is bigger IMO.

[@crumbs182]

I still don't know how to pronounce your username.

[@Chyrosran22]

Many people just leave it at "key-rose" xD .

[@MechMerlin]

Oh gosh...I've been pronouncing it as either Chai (as in the drink)-rose or Kai-rose

[@Chyrosran22]

It's actually khee-ross with a hard G and a hard R. It's basically impossible to pronounce for anyone who isn't Dutch :p .

[@EllipticGeometry]

Serieus? Nooit gedacht. But that's fine by me; obviously, I can do RRRRRolling and GGGGGuttural.

[@gbm.03]

kai-roe-san

[@isuckatsoldering6554]

3:45 yea, he's not a cherry guy, lol

[@deanerdaweiner3829]

i like your voice.

[@harrytsang1501]

0:12 I have that board with USB. It sounds ok but not my favourite. I don't have any alps switches to change but I still like cherry blue on my Ducky One better

[@royalarchergaming3541]

*man your intro hurt my ears :c*

[@ape69420]

man Alps are awesome but with out having alot of key Cap's for it that's what's holding Alps back from being popular

[@Chyrosran22]

That's so wrong xD .

[@Legonut135]

Oh boy first