The Steel Guitar Forum

Are the horseshoe magnets on the Ric S-100 real or faux? Reason for the question is I just received one that needs a little work. The horseshoes have zero magnetic pull on metal objects like a paperclip...but the pole pieces do, like on my Fuzzy JB which has faux horseshoe on it. I just opened the box the guitar came in here at work so I've not tried to plug it in.

All the ones I've seen are real.

Some late '60s Rick steels have under-string pickups covered by the same chrome plastic hand rest as on the 4001/4003 bass - that's the closest they've come to a faux-horseshoe, but you can easily tell the difference because there's no gap in the middle:



It is possible for the shoes to become weak over time, though there's normally some amount of residual charge. They can definitely be recharged if necessary.

They ran out of the good cobalt steel and started using an alloy that has a much lower coercivity in the early 60's.

Can these be re magnetized effectively?

Yes ... but they will only charge up to about 100 gauss (probe in the midgap of the two flanges) ... the good cobalt steel will charge to 200-250 gauss.

Thanks Rick!

Is there a know method on testing to see if it is cobalt steel?

A good gauss meter .... can tell alnico , ceramic , NIB, mild steel ,etc