Gateron Melodic Clicky Switches

Gateron Melodic Clicky Switches

I bought these switches on a whim partly because of the good Cannon Keys prices, and partly because I noticed that they're PC on top and nylon on the bottom - just like my Holy Panda Xs. And, they're rated for 60g, which is the same as them.

But they're clicky!

I figured there was a chance that they'd have similar feel and sound - but also be clicky, which I might like a lot.

In reality, they feel much lighter than the Holy Panda X ones on the same board. They do sound similar to me, although they don't feel... buttery. And mine are a little loose in the stem, which I suppose could be cleared up with film.

But the click on these is accomplished in a brand new way. One of the corners on the inside of the switch has a tiny piece of spring metal that gives it a sharp click as the stem passes by it. It sounds different than other clicky switches I've tried. I like the feel of the click actually.

But, if you open the switch, the tiny clicker thing comes out of its mounting really easily - and then you have to figure out how to get it back in. Tweezers seem really big compared to it. I shudder to imagine what filming scores of these might be like for that reason alone. They do come pre-lubed though. So, if you don't mind the stem looseness you won't have to get inside them. And - the price is right.

These are fantastic clicky switches overall. I love the sound profile; it differs considerably from either the classic blue click jacket or the Kailh click bar approach. I’d say they compares favorably to Zeal Clickiez.

The only downside for these is for removal (like a hotswap board where you swap out switches). They are somewhat more difficult to remove from a typical 1.6mm switchplate; I think it’s because the notches one would normally use to grip the switch with a tool are offset from one another. Also they just seem to sit really tight in the plate for whatever reason.

If you don’t swap switches very often, it shouldn’t be an issue. And if you’re soldering, it’s unlikely to ever be an issue at all.