Horseshoe Magnet Mystery

[opticnerve]

It's been said that a good number of '60s basses have had their HS pickups removed & replaced

because the horseshoes eventually lose their magnetic charge. I know this to be true firsthand.

About a year ago, I bought a '68 4001. The original HS mag was DOA. A former owner removed

the HS & glued small magnets to the bottom of the raised lip bobbin. I removed the smaller

mags & re-installed the re-charged HS & all is now well.

What's been puzzling me is, why don't we see the same thing happening with lap steels? I've owned

a dozen or more lap steels over the years & every one had a strong sounding, un-tampered with pickup.

There wasn't a dead magnet in the bunch.

Any ideas?

[Kopfjaeger]

I believe original HS magnets can be re magnetized. (is that even a word?) I have a 67 horseshoe magnet on one of my basses and while it still is magnetic, I realize one day it will not be and I'd like to have its magnetic properties restored. Not sure who does that kind of stuff. If it's possible I'm sure someone here can point us in the right direction.

Sepp

[cassius987]

What's been puzzling me is, why don't we see the same thing happening with lap steels? I've owned

a dozen or more lap steels over the years & every one had a strong sounding, un-tampered with pickup.

There wasn't a dead magnet in the bunch.

Any ideas?

Maybe it is detailed in that comprehensive Rickenbacker book (forgetting the author's name right now) that includes chapters on Adolph Rickenbacker's time overseeing things. I know George Beauchamp revised the pickup a number of times so that may have something to do with it. In any case, I don't think the Ric bass and the Hawaiian steels had the exact same pickup installed. Could be, if nothing else, a change in the manufacturer or material of the magnets themselves.

[opticnerve]

I believe original HS magnets can be re magnetized. (is that even a word?) I have a 67 horseshoe magnet on one of my basses and while it still is magnetic, I realize one day it will not be and I'd like to have its magnetic properties restored. Not sure who does that kind of stuff. If it's possible I'm sure someone here can point us in the right direction.

Sepp

Hey Sepp,

Yes, they can be re-charged. It's very easy to do it yourself. See this post...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=395935

Joshua,

The lap steel pickups that I'm talking about are from the '60s & they're basically the

same as the ones found in the basses. The only difference being is the number of

pole-pieces...& the coil resistance differs. The materials used in both are identical.

[cjj]

I've wondered the same thing. I've got steel guitars from '58 and '60, and they seem to be nowhere near dead. I've often wondered if there was some change in the magnet material at a later date.

I seem to remember people talking about '67 & '68 4001 basses having this problem, maybe other dates, but since the 4001 came out in '61, we can't really compare those shoes with my old steels. Since the 4000 was around starting in 1957, does anyone have any idea if the horseshoes on pre-1961 or so 4000 basses hold their magnetism? Or, on steels, do newer ones, say from around the mid-1960s also lose their magnetism?

[opticnerve]

I've wondered the same thing. I've got steel guitars from '58 and '60, and they seem to be nowhere near dead. I've often wondered if there was some change in the magnet material at a later date.

I seem to remember people talking about '67 & '68 4001 basses having this problem, maybe other dates, but since the 4001 came out in '61, we can't really compare those shoes with my old steels. Since the 4000 was around starting in 1957, does anyone have any idea if the horseshoes on pre-1961 or so 4000 basses hold their magnetism? Or, on steels, do newer ones, say from around the mid-1960s also lose their magnetism?

The majority of the laps I've owned were from the '60s...from '63-'68. No dead HS's in any CJ.

[jingle_jangle]

Same here, 1957 and 1960.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

maybe the magnet drain has to do with vertical/horizontal playing position in relation to the earth's magnetic poles ???

[cjj]

maybe the magnet drain has to do with vertical/horizontal playing position in relation to the earth's magnetic poles ???

Yeah, but if people keep their steels in their cases, they most likely have 'em sitting vertical most of the time. But, I suppose if the actual playing of 'em causes the loss of magnetism, then...

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

oh yeah ???...well ...yeah ! so there !

[weemac]

If I regauss the pickup on my rm1999 using the correct method, it will degauss within about 20 minutes, you can hear it die whilst playing it.
However if I use a slightly different method. Running the magnets alung the top side of the pickup while it is installed in the bass, I'll get about a year of charge out of it. It is however possible that I'm only gaussing the strings using this method....

Any how it's a good thing that 60s basses seem to sound better with just the toaster on..

Eden.

[cassius987]

Any how it's a good thing that 60s basses seem to sound better with just the toaster on..

Ha!

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

If I regauss the pickup on my rm1999 using the correct method, it will degauss within about 20 minutes, you can hear it die whilst playing it.
However if I use a slightly different method. Running the magnets alung the top side of the pickup while it is installed in the bass, I'll get about a year of charge out of it. It is however possible that I'm only gaussing the strings using this method....

Any how it's a good thing that 60s basses seem to sound better with just the toaster on..

Eden.

does it write...aahhhhhhhhrrrgggg ! when it dies ? (holy grail )

my '64 loves the '73 toaster...very hollow and upright sounding !

[johnallg]

I have two sets of magnetic horseshoes. The first set I use very strong magnets in the gap to recharge both shoes. They are still strong after almost 3 years. The second set I recharged about a year ago and yesterday when I checked them they were almost discharged. I put them back on the magnets and they are again strong. We'll see how well it lasts.

I do it like this:

magnet-shoes.jpg (7.39 KiB) Viewed 1779 times

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

your re-charging magnets look in better shape than the shoes...which are very corroded !!!