Would you rather track with.....

[xstatic]

How about plugging them both in and seeing which one sounds better? 2-3 months is not that old at all for bass strings unless they have been played every day.

 

[EdWonbass]

I have found the best way to clean strings is to get a PVC tube, cap one end, put a screw cap on the other end and fill it with denatured alcohol. Take your strings off, put them in over night. They will be just like new. Way better than boiling. I have been rotating two sets of strings for my six string for a year now with great results. When putting on new strings, give yourself an extra wrap incase of breakage.

 

[Clit Torres]

Let me give you a little more info. The kid plays a an Ibanez bass. We have access to a MusicMan. He is a cheap son of a bitch and will not buy strings for anything but his bass. The strings on the MM are about 2-3 months old. The music is metal.

Why not just tear the strings off of his Ibanez and slap them on the Musicman?
Then boil your strings, put them on his Ibanez, and keep quiet.

Seriously though, I've done the string swap more times than I can remember. I made the mistake recently of tracking with dead bass strings, and I'm gonna start retracking next week with a fresh set. Seems the boiling trick doesn't work with these strings anymore.

 

[Wireneck]

I think your going to want to use an active bass for Metal. It will be alot easier to achieve that clank/string noise that you need to cut through a wall of guitars.

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

I can't for my life understand what the argue is about. Use the best bass available and put on new strings. Any other decision would be stupid. If the bass player won't spend the bucks, knock him out and replace him.

 

[Atterion]

I think your going to want to use an active bass for Metal. It will be alot easier to achieve that clank/string noise that you need to cut through a wall of guitars.

I'll play devils advocate here. I prefer a good passive P/J bass with good external preamp over most active electronics anyday (There are exceptions, but most actives color the sound too much for my liking). As far as strings go, I'd say change at least every-other month (for regular use). And if you wan't "Real Metal Bass", scrap both those basses and get yourself an old BC Rich USA neck-thru Warlock (Not a fan of the new BC stuff).