Mellotronists

john barrick wrote:
> My cheap head demagnetizer that I got on ebay arrived today (Realistic 
> 231X) and I was wondering if all demagnetizers are supposed to make a 
> horrendous racket.  This one barely makes any noise at all.  If I put it 
> next to my ear and turn it on, I can hear a faint buzzing, but that's 
> it.  

It must be broken. When I hold mine up to my ear, I forget everything 
that happened for the last week.

> Besides messing up your tapes with improperly degaussed playback 
> heads, is there any way to tell if this thing's working?  I know, don't 
> buy cheap crap on ebay, but I figured that something as basic as this 
> would be ok.

Try holding it next to a paper clip.

Bob S.