After my trusty Corsair K70 with Cherry MX Blues started acting up, I found myself in the market for a new daily driver. 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 instead of buying another off-the-shelf board, I would try my hand at building one myself.
After some exploring, I decided to dive in with a GMMK Pro build.
The Canvas: The GMMK Pro is a 75% keyboard layout. It was perfect for me because it keeps the dedicated function row and arrow keys while ditching the number pad to save desk space. I was also drawn to its heavy aluminum body and sleek anodized finish. The chassis alone ran me $200.
It is worth noting: The GMMK Pro is famous in the hobby for a specific quirk: its factory stabilizers (the extra clips under the spacebar and shift keys) often come heavily over-lubed from the factory, making them feel "mushy" or sticky.
The Switches: Holy Pandas
With a legendary name like Holy Panda, I had high hopes for these switches—and they didn’t disappoint. The snappy, crisp tactile bump feels absolutely excellent.
However, that premium feel came at a premium price. Sold in batches of 35 for $42 each, I had to buy three packs to cover the board, totaling $126 on switches alone. Needless to say, my expectations for the final typing experience were sky-high. I bought 105 switches (3 packs of 35) for an ~82-key board. As a side note, it was good to have have extras in case a pin bends during installation.
The Process & Final Verdict
Thanks to the GMMK Pro's hotswappable PCB, assembling this board was incredibly quick and easy—no soldering iron required. To finish off the aesthetic, I picked up a matching coiled cable and a set of doubleshot PBT keycaps. If you are building your own, I highly recommend PBT caps; they are incredibly durable, have a great texture, and won't develop that oily "shine" over time.
By the time I crossed the finish line, the total receipt was hovering around $350+.
Was it worth it?
Absolutely. The build turned out fantastic. It is an incredible keyboard both in feel and acoustics. That said, my poor wallet is definitely feeling the burn! I can’t see myself spending this much on another keyboard project anytime soon... though in this hobby, you can never say never.
The Build Breakdown
| Component | Choice | Price |
| Barebone Board | GMMK Pro (75%) | $200 |
| Switches | Holy Panda Tactiles (x105) | $126 |
| Keycaps & Cable | Doubleshot PBT & Coiled Cable | ~$30-$50 |
| Total | ~$360 |
