Yeah, thats nothing compared to the amount of wear ant tear and damage a 1/4 cable does to you bass.
The 1/4 cable short out in approximately 1-5 years anyway (or at least, should be replaced).
1/4 cables are great for patching amps and other stable devices because: they are used on stable appliances.
As for the number of times I replaced 1/4 cables in my 38 years of playing basses and electric guitars; I could afford a new axe. With the 1/4 I had to also repair shorts and contact problems from inside those instruments including my Alembics, and who love going under the hood into my Alembic? NOT ME!
Fixing problem on the Alembic, means shelling out some long and hard dollars and we are talking about surgery cost now.
In my opinion, and based upon my experience, now I can say:
1/4 should NOT had ever been used for moving intruments in the first place.
I really think there's more work to do in changing and rewriting the definition of the next cable system. I don't mind even looking at wireless options, which are also a better solution than 1/4 cable wire methods. A wireless option for Alembic supports the 1/4 framework. Maybe this is the answer for those who don't have XLR options on their basses.
Never the less, In my 38 years of playing, I would still rather change a cable than replace my bass internal contacts and sockets. Besides, I always keep extra cables anyway, and I am sure you and others do the same thing too.
Now, this is what I would love to see happen at Alembic, in future basses...
Make XLR 5 a standard on all Alembic basses or even perhaps, use another cable jack/socket system similar to XLR locking (no more swivelling) but conforms to 1/4 physical connection which prevents again, internal rolling (swiveling)and wearing out internal contacts.
This new locking mechanism could be at the base of the guitar and still comforms with 1/4 male ends.
Even if such a better 1/4 cable locking was created, XLR would still be, in my opinion, the best you can get. Never the less, for people not wanting to part with their 1/4, and yet they want to circumvent the problems of replacing internal parts from the damage 1/4 causes, a 1/4 locking system would help to some degree and make some degree of sense.
But, why should I hope for this dream, when XLR's 100% resolves my concerns. If you find anything better than XLR methods, those methods would be light years ahead of the horse and buggy switch/patch design of the 1/4 cable switches indeed .
The XLR 5 is what made Alembic a cut above all other basses and the hardware itself, is not hard on your bass nor likely to wear parts out as fast. My Alembic bass was made in 76, and it still has the original switchcraft male pins in tact with no problems.
I hope Alembic adds XLR to all their lines of basses for I am sure people would convert to the magic of 5 pins basses. Then again, what do I care, I have mine and it works for me. People will enjoy what they feel works for themselves just like me.
I just wanted to show the physical damage 1/4 cables do in-comparison to XLR cables.
ROCK-ON!
