fogie -

Actually, I use an electric fence stretcher (tension ratchet) to get the string up to pitch on my fingerboard bass. You'd have to crank a mangle pretty fast to do good runs.

Several people have suggested filling my bottom tub with beer, and drinking it "down to pitch." I'm sure that eventually I'd reach a point where people might think it's sounding better; but I haven't tried it ... yet.

John