Cleaning bass strings

[John Dorr]

Hi all,

I read somewhere about electric bass players who boil their strings when they 
get too grimy and they want to brighten up their tone.  I wondered if anyone 
had ever tried that on piano bass (wound) strings?  I've also wondered from 
time to time if it would be possible to clean bass strings with ultra-sound. 
 Anybody know?

I am aware of the technique of running an overhand loop up and down a 
tubby-sounding string, and of giving the string a twist.  I'd love to hear 
anybody else's tips on restoring at least some of the tone to old strings. 
 Not all my customers can afford a re-stringing job.

Thanks,
John