Alps SKCL Switches (Round 2)

[Drclick]

On some related site there's also Alps (not Forward) SKBM Grey, but those are not on TaoBao.

That's the same seller (1688 and taobao). I asked him but the Alps Grey is out of stock.

does he have any other types of NOS Alps?

only 3 types i bought.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

does he have any other types of NOS Alps? 8-)

Ugh.

Was anyone able to get these?

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=558118276592

Typical China — the moron seller created a listing with a bunch of random photos and sells whatever he feels like from it. After sending back a link to the specific photo (the primary listing photo) and requesting "Alps-branded" switches, he shipped F D-brand instead.

Seeing that primary photo, I'd guess cream damped, but all the photos on Taobao and in this thread show yellow Alps to be a washed-out cream colour, not the vivid yellow they are in reality.

As such, this switch really seems to be SKCM Yellow, which is not known to exist. As with any such switch, it can never be ordered.

So yes and no. He seemingly did at some stage have what may possibly have been a new discovery. I've disputed the order; there's a small chance that he really does have both and didn't have his glasses on when he shipped them.

[Blaise170]

I saw those but I have never seen SKCM Yellow so assumed they weren't real. In other news, the GB is now proceeding. It will take a few days to get the switches in my hands, but I anticipate being able to ship out all of the orders by the end of this week.

[RealityCavesIn]

does he have any other types of NOS Alps?

Ugh.

Was anyone able to get these?

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=558118276592

Typical China — the moron seller created a listing with a bunch of random photos and sells whatever he feels like from it. After sending back a link to the specific photo (the primary listing photo) and requesting "Alps-branded" switches, he shipped F D-brand instead.

Seeing that primary photo, I'd guess cream damped, but all the photos on Taobao and in this thread show yellow Alps to be a washed-out cream colour, not the vivid yellow they are in reality.

As such, this switch really seems to be SKCM Yellow, which is not known to exist. As with any such switch, it can never be ordered.

So yes and no. He seemingly did at some stage have what may possibly have been a new discovery. I've disputed the order; there's a small chance that he really does have both and didn't have his glasses on when he shipped them.

I actually bought these a few months ago and they are indeed alps branded. However, when I bought them the listing was:
"Supply of imported original ALPS WKUES1B010 mechanical keyboard button switch"
NOW the listing is:
"Supply of imported original similar ALPS WKUES1B010 mechanical keyboard button switch"

So yeah, either I got lucky and he was wearing his glasses that day or he's sold all the alps switches and added "similar" to trick others into buying the clones that are left

[seebart]

Interested. Put me down. Not sure how many yet.

[Blaise170]

Interested. Put me down. Not sure how many yet.

The first window has already closed (just paid for domestic shipping on them a few minutes ago actually) but I'll do another round once I get the first shipment sent out to everyone.

[seebart]

OK, put me down for the second round then please.

[green-squid]

I saw those but I have never seen SKCM Yellow so assumed they weren't real. In other news, the GB is now proceeding. It will take a few days to get the switches in my hands, but I anticipate being able to ship out all of the orders by the end of this week.

Awesoome!!

[Daniel Beardsmore]

I actually bought these a few months ago and they are indeed alps branded. However, when I bought them the listing was:
"Supply of imported original ALPS WKUES1B010 mechanical keyboard button switch"
NOW the listing is:
"Supply of imported original similar ALPS WKUES1B010 mechanical keyboard button switch"

Argh! I did translate the page title, but the translation was poor enough that I didn't take it that seriously. My order should have been rejected when they couldn't sell what I asked for.

What did you end up with? Tactile? Clicky? Are they proper bright yellow like SKCL Yellow? It's possible they're a China Yellow Special like all the "MX Yellow" switches that were seemingly faked (I have some unbranded clicky clones with bright yellow sliders that could have been used to make a fake switch to confuse people).

So yeah, either I got lucky and he was wearing his glasses that day or he's sold all the alps switches and added "similar" to trick others into buying the clones that are left :?

Someone wanted 100 Futaba ML-3-CM, and as I was uncertain that I'd get the right parts, he recommended ordering him 20 as a test. I got exactly what he wanted. So, I ordered the rest of them (another 100, to give me some extras I guess): I got 1 real, Futaba and 99 clones! Argh. No big deal normally, because you can swap parts out, but Futaba ML is virtually impossible to dismantle, and the painfully fragile contact leaf is pressed onto lugs and stops the slider coming out (the one part you most want to swap).

Worse, the clones (or whatever they are) are the wrong shape and don't quite fit into the computers they were intended for (Memotech 8-bit machines).

[RealityCavesIn]

Argh! I did translate the page title, but the translation was poor enough that I didn't take it that seriously. My order should have been rejected when they couldn't sell what I asked for.

What did you end up with? Tactile? Clicky? Are they proper bright yellow like SKCL Yellow? It's possible they're a China Yellow Special like all the "MX Yellow" switches that were seemingly faked (I have some unbranded clicky clones with bright yellow sliders that could have been used to make a fake switch to confuse people).

They are linear, I believe that they are the same version that Drclick and Blaise170 bought. As for colour, this is where I get confused as I don't know what a proper SKCL yellow looks like. My potato-cam seems unable to properly render the yellow tint in the plastics because in the photos they look really yellow but IRL they look more cream-coloured, not bright at all.

Someone wanted 100 Futaba ML-3-CM, and as I was uncertain that I'd get the right parts, he recommended ordering him 20 as a test. I got exactly what he wanted. So, I ordered the rest of them (another 100, to give me some extras I guess): I got 1 real, Futaba and 99 clones! Argh. No big deal normally, because you can swap parts out, but Futaba ML is virtually impossible to dismantle, and the painfully fragile contact leaf is pressed onto lugs and stops the slider coming out (the one part you most want to swap).

Worse, the clones (or whatever they are) are the wrong shape and don't quite fit into the computers they were intended for (Memotech 8-bit machines).

Lol this made me go through my big-bag-of-alps, checking each and everyone for non-branded ones. They are all the same so if they are clones, at least they are uniform:) Quality-wise they seems good, plastic is not particularly brittle, they are smooth and seems to have a fairly light af. I can send you a couple if you think they can add value to the wiki.

Pics for reference: Again, my phone turns every shade of yellow into a Simpsons episode so take it with a grain of salt.

[seebart]

Don't look like clones to me, but Daniel would know for sure.

[Blaise170]

If they are clones, they are really, really well done. I am pretty sure they are legit though.

DHL has shipped the package to me, and I should receive them tomorrow if it clears customs with sufficient speed. I didn't realize how insanely quick that DHL could ship from Hong Kong to the USA. I'll get a chance to check them out and see for myself. I also have 1000 switches to sort into packs for everyone who bought some.

[seebart]

We need someone who ownes real SKCL yellow Alps to compare them. Best Daniel. Yeah if they are clones then good ones, at least visually. Do they feel smooth? Do you own real linear Alps to compare?

[Blaise170]

I have a Yellow Alps board sitting right next to me.

Also, I added a table to the OP with current buyers in order to keep organized.

[pansku]

"Current buyers", that sounds tempting. Any chance I could buy 70 switches?

[Blaise170]

Depends on how many extras I have. I am keeping at least 110 for myself plus 10-20 for contingency so extras will probably be 50-100. Due to multiple users expressing interest I am willing to do another purchase if you are interested.

[RealityCavesIn]

We need someone who ownes real SKCL yellow Alps to compare them. Best Daniel. Yeah if they are clones then good ones, at least visually. Do they feel smooth? Do you own real linear Alps to compare?

Yes they feel very smooth. Also, not a lot of "wobble" so build quality seems to be excellent. Unfortunately I only own tactile and clicky alps so it's hard for me to compare and my only previous knowledge of SKCL yellows are through the wiki. Clone or not I will use the regardless as they feel great. It will be interesting to hear Blaise170s verdict when they arrive.

On a different note, this will most likely end up on r/mk (if it hasn't already) and the well will probably run dry pretty quick, as it has in the past. For people interested in these, now might be a good time to get them.

[Blaise170]

I don't think the seller will be running out any time soon, apparently they still have 105856 left as of this post which is still about $31000 worth of switches.

[pansku]

Depends on how many extras I have. I am keeping at least 110 for myself plus 10-20 for contingency so extras will probably be 50-100. Due to multiple users expressing interest I am willing to do another purchase if you are interested.

Waiting is not an issue so I'd be willing to wait for another round. I'm only in the planning phase to build a split ergonomic Alps board, maybe an Iris. On the other hand I have some SKCL Greens laying around so maybe ~55 switches could be enough.

[seebart]

I have a Yellow Alps board sitting right next to me.

And what's the verdict?

[RealityCavesIn]

I don't think the seller will be running out any time soon, apparently they still have 105856 left as of this post which is still about $31000 worth of switches.

Yes you are probably right. I bought mine a while back and if I remember correctly the seller stated that they had a large amount of switches left but then later, as pointed out above, changed the description to "similar" alps, possible because the alps-branded ones sold out and only constituted a small part of the total amount. This is all pure speculation on my part of course.

[Blaise170]

I have a Yellow Alps board sitting right next to me.

And what's the verdict?

Will have to wait until the switches arrive this week.

[seebart]

Right, let us know when you have time.

[mike52787]

Don't look like clones to me, but Daniel would know for sure.

Yeah, those are obviously legitimate yellow alps. I remember someone on kbdlab found a few boxes of NOS yellow alps a few years ago, so they are definitely out there.

[seebart]

Don't look like clones to me, but Daniel would know for sure.

Yeah, those are obviously legitimate yellow alps. I remember someone on kbdlab found a few boxes of NOS yellow alps a few years ago, so they are definitely out there.

Yeah they look real to me also. I'm definitly buying some.

[mog_genius88]

Any difference between skcl green and yellow other than spring weight and color? I got some of these yellows coming in and am curious.

[mike52787]

Any difference between skcl green and yellow other than spring weight and color? I got some of these yellows coming in and am curious.

Yes, skcl green has a long switchplate, yellow has short

Also the top housing on greens have longer slits than the yellows.

[mog_genius88]

Any difference between skcl green and yellow other than spring weight and color? I got some of these yellows coming in and am curious.

Yes, skcl green has a long switchplate, yellow has short

Also the top housing on greens have longer slits than the yellows.

Do you know if this affects the feeling of the switch at all? I.e. if you put an skcl green spring in a yellow are they identical in feel?

[Blaise170]

Just a quick update - DHL is late, order will be arriving on Monday. So I'll be able to start getting everything sorted on Tuesday.

[mike52787]

Any difference between skcl green and yellow other than spring weight and color? I got some of these yellows coming in and am curious.

Yes, skcl green has a long switchplate, yellow has short

Also the top housing on greens have longer slits than the yellows.

Do you know if this affects the feeling of the switch at all? I.e. if you put an skcl green spring in a yellow are they identical in feel?

not a huge difference, no. the sound is different due to the short switchplate though.