Dead old strings

[janmaat]

Hi,

I got given a box full of old strings from an auction, some dating back to the 70ies or even (much) older.
There are old Thomastiks, Rotos (seriously old school packaging with amazing low-tech artwork), and
even some gutstrings and wound gut strings, seriously antique. The thickest of these gutstrings is
as thick as my small finger!!

Now as I am a wash tub player, I'm going to try the maddest looking thickest possible gut strings on my
instrument.

Does anybody have tips: is there some way to improve the sound of a gutstring that is decades old,
or some way to make the metal wound gut strings sound a bit more 'alive' ?

Like, soaking them, boiling, oiling, shrubbing, polishing, waxing.... ??

Promise to keep you updated...

Thanks for suggestions!