What kit do they not build, but you want?

Learning and discussion Custom keyboards
1

What custom keyboard kit do you wish they would sell, but it doesn’t exist?

For me, it’s a ‘luxury’ NCR-80:

MG_47741
MG_477411920×1920 490 KB

The real one, above, fits a lot of my needs.

But I wish it had:

-real choice of plates [e.g. PC, PP, aluminium, etc…]

-different mounting options [gasket, top-mount]

-fine-grained LED light control

-more case colour choices, even case material choices

-ideally, easy-detach like the NCR-80 and Cycle7

The Class80 has some of these features:

class80-71
class80-711280×720 60.7 KB

But it’s a much-heavier, more expensive keyboard. I’d want a light, classic-style NCR-80, but with improvements.

What about you? Is there something ideal that they don’t build?

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2

I would like such a board as well. It’s why I bought several Classic-TKLs from novelkeys. But they don’t quite scratch that “vintage” itch like the NCR board.

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3

Buckling spring exploded 1800 with modest bezels, please. Capacitive or membrane, either is fine.

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4

I agree. The Classic-TKL has styling that can be appealing. But it isn’t truly retro. A revision of the Classic-TKL could be nice.

Something that enables more mounting styles, and with more relaxed plate tolerances. Something where over-tight plates won’t happen. It could benefit from greater flex.

Make the copper plates more accessible, as a built-in or accessory option.

Maybe a quick-detach mechanism, if going all-out.

In particular, I would use the expanded forehead space to create a separate ‘island’ for the F-row, as the NCR-80 does. That’s what the actual classic boards did.

So the Classic-TKL 2.0 would be part of the same lineage, but I guess there would be substantial changes. It would be fine if this led to a larger keyboard, as it doesn’t need to be small.

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Honestly what I want is any 60%+ board that takes JST connected PCB for the 60% portion. Like a 60xt or something that lets me use my wacky ass PCB :joy: but yeah, the logistics of that wouldn’t make much sense.

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I’d love to just have a ALPS compatible PCB for the NK Classic as the roomier plastic case should be a great home for clicky & tactile ALPS. Although from what you guys are saying the NCR80 fits the vintage bill better & I do believe on of the PCB revisions for the NCR80 did include ALPS compat.

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I have seen variants for the NCR-80 using EC, and probably ALPS as well. I think EC is more common.

The NCR-80 is an interesting board. It is Cherry-like, but also offers few features you see in modern custom boards. Hence, it is largely out-of-production.

But it’s been used or adapted for a number of specialist cases: clicky switches, ALPS and EC builds in particular.

So it’s a simple, solid design that has special retro and non-MX adaptations. But there’s no 2025 NCR-80 with all the features you’d get even in a $50 board today.

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