This is what I use to store my brushes in between painting sessions..
You just clip the handles into the coils and gentle pressure holds them there, upside down. This way the water drips downward, out of the ferrules (the metal parts that bind your bristles to your handles) of your brushes.
I would definitely give the Masters Soap a try. Both the standard method (you can see many vids out there about it), but also letting it soak in small container of very soapy water from the Masters. Important not to let it soak more than a few minutes. You don't want it to cause the wooden handle to swell or the glue to soften too much. That would exacerbate the problem. But that will at least help soften up some dried paint in the ferrule.
You can even rig up a brush dangling over some of the soap using a "brush tree" or drying rack... so just the bristles are in the soapy water. Done this for some of my expensive Kolinsky hair brushes with Vallejo Brush Conditioner.