Sho Labs SR1 Group Buy

A Legacy in EC and Topre Design

For many enthusiasts in the EC and Topre community, Sho needs little introduction. Through Sho Labs, he has spent years quietly producing some of the most thoughtful and functional aftermarket designs for Topre and Realforce keyboards, earning a reputation for quality and accessible pricing.

What makes Sho’s work special is that it has always been driven by enthusiasts rather than mass production. His projects appear in small numbers and are refined meticulously to meet hobbyist needs. The past year of collaboration, I have developed great respect for Sho's attention to detail and endless energy to bring about great outcomes for his customers. Sho loves design, and that much is clear from his work.

Earlier this year Sho had considered retiring from keyboards. While preparing for that possibility I worked closely with him to secure the remaining inventory of his existing projects. Thankfully, Sho ultimately decided that the journey wasn’t finished, and we’re proud to now support him as his exclusive partner as he continues developing new EC designs and brings them to market.

The SR1 marks the beginning of that next chapter.

The SR1

The SR1 is a premium replacement chassis designed for the Realforce R1 series, offering a refined aluminium case that elevates both the appearance and acoustics of the platform. If you enjoy typing on a Realforce R1, this is the endgame chassis.

But fear not, if you don't own a Realforce R1, you can buy everything needed to complete your build from us at discounted bundle pricing below. Be aware these items will ship with the keyboard in Q3.

If not working with a donor Realforce keyboard then, to complete a build you will need:

• 1x Cipulot PCB (one option)
• 1x Plate (3 options)
• 1 pack of Domes (many options, Metakeebs & Topre)
• 90 1u sliders (Metapulse)
• 2 x 2u Housings & Wires (Metapulse)
• ThX EC Springs
• EC Spacebar Wire (3 size options depending on plate choice)
• ThX Silencing Rings & Gaskets (if silencing the build)
  

To our knowledge this is the first time ever a single source has been able to supply all components required for an EC build (including chassis and components) in a single place. Something we plan to continue doing in future. 

Machined from aluminium and finished in anodised coatings, the SR1 maintains a clean, balanced aesthetic while introducing a substantial internal weight for improved stability and typing feel.

Please note this version does not come with the small circular detail between the escape and F1 keys found on old models and the primary image here. That was removed in this run to simplify the design.

Two colour options are available:

• Silver Anodised
• Dark Grey Anodised

Layouts include both:

• WK (Winkey)
• WKL (Winkeyless)

At the heart of the design is Sho’s signature attention to proportion and balance. The case integrates a gunmetal-gold anodised aluminium weight, giving the board a grounded feel while adding subtle visual contrast. 

Each kit includes:

• Top Case
• Bottom Case
• Aluminium weight 
• Screw standoffs
• Type-C daughterboard
• Protective carrying case

To complete your build we have many options for aftermarket parts which can be added to your order now, or when future parts (such as Metapulse components - housings and sliders and more) arrive in the future. 

Group Buy Details

The SR-1 will be produced as a limited group buy in collaboration with Sho Labs. If orders exceed capacity they will be capped so consider entering sooner if possible. 

During the group buy window, orders will be collected through Thocc Exchange before production begins. Once manufacturing is completed, units will be shipped from Sho’s workshop to our warehouse before final dispatch to customers.

This process allows Sho to manufacture the cases efficiently while ensuring reliable international delivery through our fulfilment network.

Estimated timeline:

• Group Buy Window: to be extended into an ongoing pre-order until cap is reached or stock runs out.
• Production: Completed units expected June 2026
• Shipping to Customers: Same day as they arrive at ThX HQ est. early September

As always with enthusiast projects, timelines may adjust slightly depending on manufacturing progress. We will keep customers updated throughout the process. Reach out anytime if concerns or questions. 

Extras will be available but priced at a premium over GB pricing.

SRX sound test included in this listing due to the accuracy of the sound test and the similarity in acoustics between the SRX and SR1.