In this video I show you how I’d build the “perfect” first keyboard in 2026 for under $100—because this is still one of my favorite setups out of the 50+ boards I own, and I want you to save money. I’m also not a normal person, so instead of locking you into one sound, I build around four sound profiles: thock, office silent, clack, and “creamy” (and obviously no clicky because what the hell). I break down what actually matters: layout choice (bigger usually costs more, but tiny can also get expensive), case materials (aluminum vs plastic), and why switches are the biggest factor in sound. I use a 75% Gamakay TK75 because it’s common, easy to work with, and you can buy it pre-built. My hot take: pre-builts are often cheaper than buying a kit + keycaps + switches, and if you want a new sound, you can just swap switches for the alphas and save like $20–$30. From there, I walk through foam, tape mod with painter’s tape, plate choice (PC vs FR4), and stabilizers. Then I match each sound profile to switch traits—soft plastics like PA66 for thock, silent switches plus “every foam” for office mode, long-pole switches for clack, and a foam+tape combo for creamy—so you can pick a build that fits your ears and your budget.