Gazzew LT after 30 days: Does it Thock?
I’ve been using the Gazzew LTs (Linear Thock) for just over a month now. These are my findings and opinions about them.
I’ve been using the Gazzew LTs (Linear Thock) for just over a month now. These are my findings and opinions about them.
Introduction and Structure
The LTs are brand new linears from Gazzew, manufactured by Outemu. These switches feature the same housing as the Bobagums with undisclosed materials. The difference is in the stem as Gazzew has opted for a long pole stem to keep up with the recent trend in linear switches. Again, the stem material is kept under wraps.
The LT comes with standard stainless steel springs in two weights: 55, and 65 gms. I had ordered the 65g ones. The spring is 17mm in length, and the bottom seems to be donut dipped (from the factory) in some grease. This is in tradition with the Gazzew lubing method. Also, the leaves were slightly factory lubed with grease as well.
The stem of the LT contains one of the longest poles I’ve seen in linear switches. The stem itself feels hard & sturdy and inspires confidence in using them with tight tolerance keycaps as well. I did not find any tooling marks nor any inconsistencies in the 70 switches I used.
The housing is really tight and it would be tough to use thicker films with these switches. I personally did not feel the need to use films with these switches. There is little stem wobble in the E-W direction but it is negligible.
Switch Press
The stock switch is smooth and just like the U4Ts does not contain any spring ping or leaf ping whatsoever. I had to listen to 20–30 switches at close range to finally find one switch with negligible leaf and spring ping. The bottoming out sound of the long pole is apparent and kind of takes away the beautiful thocky sound of the stem hitting the top housing in return.
I lightly lubed the stem rails and bottom housing sliders with Krytox 205g0 and the switches became ultra smooth to feel but the sound signature largely remained the same with reduced clack of the long poles.
Below are some sound tests for switch presses and key presses. Key presses were done on the “S” key of a Tofu 65 with PBT keycaps.
Conclusion
LTs are solid linears that have a unique sound signature with zero frills. I would be happy to put these on in stock form. Light lubing can elevate the typing and actuation experience even further. Moderate lubing can mute the pole clack and bring out the little thock when the stem returns and hits the top housing.
I couldn’t find any downsides with these switches except the fact that they are not thocky in the sense as U4Ts. Thocky can mean different sound signature to different people and the LTs carry their own sound signature and it would be unfair to compare the sound with the U4Ts.
Do the LTs thock? Well, yes in their own way.