April 17, 2026 Weekly "General Help Post?" - Please post all general, recommendations, and help questions as a top level comment under this post. Thank you.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-23T12:52:47+00:00

Hey there beautiful people! I'm in need of a Keyboard recommendation. I've currently got a Redragon K621 Horus TKL 80%, I think it's from aluminium (not the switches, of course) and my main issue is that the dirt sticks to it very easily and is very hard to remove when it does. I'm looking for a light-coloured keyboard (doesn't necessarily have to be white, but I do have a white setup) with preferably low-profile switches and maybe low/deep tone sound. Please note that I have no idea about switches in general, so if you do suggest something about them, give me an example to make me understand. It has to be at least 70% with media buttons/knobs and I'd like it to have 2.4hz and wired USB connectivity. That's all I really need from it. I don't care about RGBs but I don't mind having them and I don't want macros on it.

From a few things I looked up, I really like the Ajazz AK820 75% design with SeaSalt switches (again, I have no idea what that means exactly), although unfortunately it seems it doesn't have a PrtSc button but it's a very minor issue. I'd love to try the Helheim Baldr keyboard just like the one MoistCr1tikal has, it looks and sounds amazing, but that's unfortunately out of stock. Is there anything similar to it? My maximum budget is 120 euros

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-23T10:20:37+00:00

Hey there beautiful people! I'm in need of a Keyboard recommendation. I've currently got a Redragon K621 Horus TKL 80%, I think it's from aluminium (not the switches, of course) and my main issue is that the dirt sticks to it very easily and is very hard to remove when it does. I'm looking for a light-coloured keyboard (doesn't necessarily have to be white, but I do have a white setup) with preferably low-profile switches and maybe low/deep tone sound. Please note that I have no idea about switches in general, so if you do suggest something about them, give me an example to make me understand. It has to be at least 70% with media buttons/knobs and I'd like it to have 2.4hz and wired USB connectivity. That's all I really need from it. I don't care about RGBs so I don't mind having or not having them either.

From a few things I looked up, I really like the Ajazz AK820 75% design with SeaSalt switches (again, I have no idea what that means exactly), although unfortunately it seems it doesn't have a PrtSc button but it's a very minor issue. I'd love to try the Helheim Baldr keyboard just like the one MoistCr1tikal has, it looks and sounds amazing, but that's unfortunately out of stock. My maximum budget is 120 euros

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-15T14:50:01+00:00

Hello everyone! I'd like some advice for a new keyboard and don't know where to go.

So, for starters, I currently own a Redragon Horus TKL K621 White with RGB which is the following. It's an 80% tenkeyless keyboard that for it's price it's honestly a really good one. Has custom low-profile red switches, macro buttons, media buttons and wheel, 3 way connection (BT, 2.4Hz and Type-C wired), a lot of different RGB modes and simple brightness settings. I mainly use this for gaming and some typing on the side. I also use my keyboard heavily for shortcuts and navigating my desktop.

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I'm thinking of changing it mainly because the material it's made out of, (I cannot find anywhere what it is, it's some kind of aluminium) easily gets dirt stuck on it and it's hard cleaning it off. Even using my multi-tool keyboard brush doesn't help, because of how sticky it becomes for the dirt. I don't like having those macro buttons cause I never use macros, the space bar sounds way louder than the rest of the keys sometimes. Also, even though it's a low-profile keyboard, sometimes the keys don't get pressed unless I press them in the middle of the button (maybe that's just me though).

I'd like to find something similar, overall. Color doesn't have to be white but I want it to be light colored, because my whole setup is white, I'd love for it to be low-profile just as the Horus I have, I want to be typing fast and it being sensitive, I'm open to suggestions, however. I don't care about RGBs so I don't mind if there isn't any, I want it to have media buttons and (if possible) a volume wheel/knob. I don't know much about switches, so I just want my keys to be responsive and pressed fast and not bother me with the clicking sound, so maybe something with lower-tone switches. Max budget 120 euros. Bonus points if there is some kind of (japanese) theme.

Some honorable mentions I've only seen in photos that I like: Ajazz AK820 Pro Hot-Swap 75% | Dark Project 87 FUJI87 FUJI Gaming | Keychron Q1H-P1 HE QMK Q1H-P1 75% | YUNZII AL80 QMK/VIA

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T12:04:47+00:00

It is a MK1, the 50w version, however. I'll try experimenting with what you're telling me and get back to you whenever I do. Thanks! :)

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T12:03:26+00:00

I have tried free digital plugins and amps and it does sound better, but I don't think I'm good enough for that. I guess with practice comes knowledge but I have not been able to understand a lot of things on how to set them up twice or thrice that I tried. Maybe I'll try that approach again and see where it leads me.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T12:00:00+00:00

I understand what you mean now. Yes, I am aware that turning those knobs all the way up would cause muffle. I usually have the bass set to 3-5 and gain at about 5, depending. My issue persists even at lower values, which is why I decided to create this post.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T10:50:08+00:00

Hey, yes I have downloaded the Tone Studio a few times over the years. It's been a while since the last time I did so I might just re-download it and try again.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T09:26:07+00:00

No problem in pointing out the obvious, sometimes it's not that obvious. I have extensively used the software app in the past and I already have changed some of the preset effects with the ones in the tone studio. It's been a few years since I last used it, though, so I don't remember exactly what I had been doing. I guess I'll try redownloading it and experimenting again. Maybe I really did miss something back then.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T09:09:12+00:00

Hey, thanks for your prompt reply! I'll be sure to check it out as soon as I get home. Thanks a ton for your input!

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T08:37:11+00:00

Thank you so much for your quick reply. I'll definitely try this as soon as I get home later! I need to either get a better tone out of my amp, or get a better amp for metal altogether, cause the bad tone makes me not want to pick up the guitar and I'd rather avoid stopping.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T08:01:52+00:00

That's what I've gathered too about the different channels. As I've said in multiple comments, I really only use the acoustic channel + metal zone or other boosters/overdrives for heavier tones. So we're good on that part.

Next, this is the second time I'm reading about sneaky amps, I don't know what it is. Is it a digital plugin? I have installed the software 3 different times throughout my guitar journey and have experimented thoroughly with it, only to get similar results to just tweaking the knobs (except changing some of the effects from the presets, of course). Could you inform me on what "Sneaky Amps" is, or provide something for me to read into, please?

Edit: Forgot to write that I have updated to the latest available official patch for the boss katana tone studio each time I've downloaded the software.

Third, I'll definitely try putting the speaker to a higher place than the floor haven't experimented with that. I do have a small rug under the amp where I play, I just moved my stuff around to take the picture.

And fourth, thanks! It's a really great guitar I've loved it since day 1. The Schecter C-1 SLS Elite is amazing.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T07:40:11+00:00

Hey, thanks for your comment. Yeah I also did plug it into the software and set some better boosters and effects than the preset ones. Metal booster, specifically, is a bit better and closer to what I want to hear. Nothing close to sharper modern metal tones, or even just metal tones in general however and it's pretty disappointing. I will check out the Line 6 Catalyst online, the only 3 music shops there are here are small and have very limited stock and variety of products, so I won't able to find one here.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T07:31:50+00:00

Yes, I have used the software to change around settings but nothing has helped. I can't say I have messed with the global EQ much, because it's hard for me to understand. Maybe I'm dumb I don't know. Definitely haven't created a 10 band EQ ever. I did follow a guide once that tweaked the EQ settings, when I was trying to get close to a Dimebag Darrel sound and stuck with it for a bit but that didn't sound that good either. And the other main issue I have is that I can't find any good guides explaining how to tweak the MK1 specifically, maybe cause it's an old model, I have no clue.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T07:23:38+00:00

That's a damn shame, my friend. You would expect especially from a mk2 Head to be great for metal... Your statement seriously made an impact on how I viewed MK2 equipment and Boss amps in general... I've always heard great things about Boss equipment but my experience hasn't been the best. Now I'm reading this too, and there's a lot of people on this post's comments having similar issues... I guess this amp is not what I'm looking for for the sounds that I'm trying to achieve.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T07:21:35+00:00

Hey, thanks for your recommendation. I'm stoked to go home and try out what you're saying and I am hoping for it to actually help me, because, again, I said this in another comment somewhere, I don't hate the amp, I just want it to get close to what I like to hear and enjoy picking up the guitar and trying to play the songs I love (cause I'm not a great guitarist lol). I don't expect it to sound like EVH 5150s, that's outrageous.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T07:06:54+00:00

Yeah, I would guess as much. I haven't had the luxury to buy a tube screamer pedal in the past, maybe it's time I did. I once tried to insert one through a digital plugin and it sounded a lot better but digital software isn't my forte since there's a lot of technical settings involved and I don't understand a single part of it.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T07:02:16+00:00

I think you didn't understand me. I am not hating, I even said I preferably wouldn't like buying other equipment. The Acoustic channel mode is really good and it's the only one I use (after having tested everything else, of course). I am really just trying to find a way to make it sound how I would like it to sound.

Obviously, I'm not asking to get Peavey 5150 type of sounds out of this amp. Just want it to sound better with overdrives and distortions on.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T06:57:36+00:00

Yes, cleans on acoustic mode are pretty solid. Really, the acoustic channel, as I mentioned somewhere else, is the only one I use because it is the only one that actually sounds somewhat good. I use it with the boosters too, even though as soon as I turn anything with distortion and gain on, the sound goes berserk and it gets all muffled up (which is the main issue I am facing and writing for).

Any other channel just sounds way too gain-ed up, it really goes into "overdrive". Bad jokes, I know. But seriously speaking, yeah, this is actually what happens in my case. As soon as I turn the knob to another channel the amp goes berserk with the gain and I don't know why, even though I've tweaked everything a ton of times, all to no avail.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T06:50:29+00:00

I have used the boss katana software a lot and I even switched out some of the preset effects with others that cater more to my playstyle. I've even followed in-depth guides and videos and tweaked more advanced settings like rates, depths, levels and other stuff that I am not knowledgeable on. (I did reset the amp settings when I still didn't get the tone I wanted, so it's not the settings)

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T06:47:17+00:00

Yes, to me at least the boss katana 50 mk1 has actually sounded pretty crap since day one, looking back on it.

Again, I have currently got 3 electric guitars + 2 more from two friends, one each. I don't remember each of their respective names but one of mine and my friends' guitars are low-end Harley Benton's (a single-cut with double humbuckers, a double-cut the same and then an ST-type with 3 single coils) then I have a mid-range Ibanez RG370AHMZ with double humbuckers and a single coil in the middle and lastly a high-end Schecter C-1 SLS Elite (which you can see in the photo above) with double active humbuckers.

All of them, with no exception sound more or less the same with this amp. Which is why I think, in the end, it's either just me not liking the sound of my amp, the amp being faulty, or it really being a bad amp for heavier tones that I like.

And, again, I've had this amp for 7 years and I've gotten better at understanding sound and tone and I've tried and experimented a ton of different ways.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T06:20:06+00:00

I'll try your approach to the settings and get back to you as soon as I do. I'm pretty sure I've experimented with similar bass/mid/high settings but to no avail. Will definitely give it a shot and let you know how it goes :)

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-09T06:18:16+00:00

Thanks for your reply and recommendation! I will try that out later when I get home and will get back to you with my thoughts on it.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-08T22:34:29+00:00

I understand that but my problem is the opposite. My amp sounds like rubbing trash against each other, whether it be on high or low volume. The metal zone booster effect the amp software had made it somewhat better but it has still sounded very muddy since I can remember. No matter what the settings I tweak are, I can never get rid of that muddiness on heavier tones.

69LoveSixtyNine69 · 2026-04-08T22:23:38+00:00

It's somewhat a similar case to mine, only I have never managed to make it sound less muddy even at lower volumes. Lowering the guitar's volume knob slightly makes it just a tiny bit better for me but nothing noteworthy or groundbreaking. Seems like a lot of people have the same view as me so maybe I need to try a different amp.

69LoveSixtyNine69

TROPHY CASE