Fender Dual Pro Magnet Removal

[Eric Gearhart]

How would you remove the magnets? I want to send them to Rick Aiello for re-gaussing. They are the trapezoid style.

[Rick Aiello]

Here you go ...

http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/m6_1.htm ... scroll down

[Whit Snell]

I love my Fender Pro. It has a vintage sound heard in many of the old western swing recordings that even my Stringmaster can't duplicate. My question is what is re-gaussing and how do you know if you would need it or not?

[Rick Aiello]

My question is what is re-gaussing ...

What is being done here ... is remagnetizing old magnets.

Any good permanent magnet will retain its magnetism to a great extent ... unless outside "forces" are imposed upon it.

Heat, vibration ... or in most cases that apply here ... a "repelling" magnetic force applied by another magnet ... will prematurely degauss a magnet.

The steel guitar pickups that I routinely remagnetize for people ... are Rickenbacher horseshoes, Fender Boxcar/Traps and Supro style .... although I have remaged many different kinds as well.

Rickys are prone to degaussing ... because they are oriented so that the (N) pole of one magnet is extremely close to the (N) pole of the other magnet (and visa versa ... ie. (S) to (S).

Over the years ... this constant repelling takes its toll. Most "shoes" that come thru here are 30-50% degraded.

Fender Boxcars/Traps ... although the magnet blocks are higher quality material (high grade alnico) ... are actually worse offenders than Rickys ...

The (N) poles of the two blocks are physically connected ("yolked") by a ferromagnetic plate (and visa versa ... ie (S) poles of the blocks are yolked also..)

Most Fender blocks come thru 40-60% degraded.

The worst offenders are the Supro style magnets ... which are "yolked" as the Fenders are ... but are made of a much lower quality magnetic material.

and how do you know if you would need it or not?

Without access to a gaussmeter ... its tough to say.

If you are pleased with the performance of your steel ...

Folks generally comment that the overall output, bass response and harmonic content is greater ... once remaged.

[Whit Snell]

Thanks Rick - that is great detailed info and completly new to me. But like I always say...

"If it ain't broke... now wait a second here, maybe it is broke, or at least 40% broke, dad gum I think it is broke - I'll never be satisfied now unless I get this done!"

: )

Whit

[Rick Collins]

Do it, Whit.

Rick has done the re-gaussing on my two trap. pickups __ there is very much a difference.

I also have a triple 26" scale Stringmaster __ great for western swing; but for the Hawaiian I play, my completely restored Dual Pro. is better.

The Dual Pro. sounds very CLEAN.

[Russ Wever]

Rick Aiello 'recharged' the magnets of my two Fender D-8 Pro's several years ago and sonically it was like getting two new steelguitars when they came back.
Thanks again, Rick.
~Russ

[Rick Aiello]

I'm still Magin' for b0b

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/004550.html (Nov, '03)

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006058.html (Nov, '04)

[Bill Creller]

The picture of your pro shows it to be BEAUTIFUL Whit!!

Those are great instructions pages Rick

[Whit Snell]

Thanks Bill. It's probably my favorite and I have some pretty nice Stringmasters for comparison. When you play this guitar through a small vintage tube amp like a Fender Champ, its like dejavu - heard that same tone on many vintage western swing recordings. I have corresponded with Rick and hope to get the pickup magnets out tomorrow. That whole concept is pretty exciting, to think of restoring the sound of the Pro when it left the factory. Thanks to Rick and the Forum for that!

Here is another great "Pro" sound - http://youtube.com/watch?v=dAk_0N85wNk