Foreword
After my Corsair K70 with Cherry MX Blues started having issues, I found myself in the market for a new keyboard. I'd seen countless custom builds online, particularly on communities like r/MechanicalKeyboards, where people shared incredible designs that both looked and sounded amazing. Inspired by these creations, I decided that when it was time to search for a new keyboard, I would try my hand at building one myself.
After some exploring I decided that I would go for a GMMK build.
Frame
The GMMK Pro is a 75% keyboard with 87 keys, which was perfect for me since it retains dedicated function keys and arrow keys. I was also drawn to its aluminum body with a sleek anodized finish. The chassis alone cost $200.
Switches
With a name like Holy Panda, I had high hopes for these switches—and they didn’t disappoint. The snappy, tactile feel was excellent.
However, they came at a price. Sold in batches of 35 for $42 each, I ended up spending $126 on switches alone. Needless to say, my expectations for the final build were pretty high.
Here they are in hand
Result
The hot-swap switches made assembling this board quick and easy. I also picked up a coiled cable and double shot PBT keycaps, which I highly recommend—they're durable and of great quality. By this point, I had spent around $300, but the build turned out fantastic. It’s an incredible keyboard both in feel and sound. For now, I can’t see myself spending this much on another keyboard anytime soon. My poor wallet! :(
