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.
