I had read many times that Real Tone cables were getting scarce, and 3rd party cables mostly didn't work for RS (in fact there's a lot of seemingly equivalent cables on Amazon with customers comments about them not working with RS). I've also read many times here about how Real Tone cables stop working after a few years, though none of mine have abandoned me yet.

So eventually I now have 4 Real Tone cables. After my first, I kept monitoring local second hand marketplaces and bought another every time one popped up on sale nearby for ten bucks or less. But as i said, none of them ever broke, and now I start wondering if I should keep getting more, or if I should stop hoarding and leave them in the wild for others to pick up.

They're selling them new again because of Rocksmith +, and I've known some people that have the same cable from the original game still working for them just fine. I have 2 and both are still flawless to this day

8 hours ago, Shroud said:

I kept monitoring local second hand marketplaces and bought another every time one popped up on sale nearby for ten bucks or less. But as i said, none of them ever broke, and now I start wondering if I should keep getting more, or if I should stop hoarding and leave them in the wild for others to pick up.

Some days you sound like you are my twin.

I am still using my first one like Blue said, but unlike Blues, my original cable is starting to show its age. I have tried to be gentle with mine, but eh, you know. it has a crackle every now and again that is still tolerable as well it is susceptible to interference.

It depends how rough one is on the cable. They do wear out like any other cable. Some people are careless, some people are rough on the cable. The more times it is plugged / unplugged, stepped on, yanked on, had the quick disconnect yanked apart.

I did buy another spare recently from Amazon. The one that showed up was DOA and would not work. I returned it for another one.

All personal preference. I personally think you have enough cables now 😂 but I have a feeling you will pick up yet another one.

you can always migrate to an audio interface, then you'll be using your real guitar leads, they're tougher and they'll never be unobtainable.

Having an audio interface might open up other opportunities for you, in regards yo using your guitars with PC.

I'd probably consider 1 per year safe. At least 1 per 2 years.

I have an original cord from 2014 that I still use. I have a backup but haven't had to break it out yet, though the break away cable has saved my butt more than once. They're surprisingly sturdy cables.

Well I mean, what this cable  essentially is, is an ADC with an instrument cable at one end and xbox break away usb cable at the other end. So as long as the damage is to the cables and not to the ADC itself, you can always cut off the damaged cable and solder on a fresh or even better one. Mostly the damage will be to the instrument cable, which es getting rolled over or stepped on etc. Or guitar plug itself. But the ADC cast in in plastic are actually protected quite well and should be fine.

Take a look at Neutrik Silent Plugs when you taking a hassle to install new guitar jack, they are great for RS cable, sturdy durable and silent, I have them installed on mine.