Disclosed are a servo writer and a servo writing method capable of writing
a servo signal onto a servo band of a magnetic tape in an excellent
condition, regardless of the thickness of the magnetic tape. The servo
writer includes a magnetic tape traveling system for traveling a magnetic
tape, a DC erase head for magnetizing a servo band of the magnetic tape
in one direction along the length of the magnetic tape, a servo signal
write head for writing a servo signal onto the servo band in the
direction opposite to the one direction, a servo signal read head for
reading the servo signal from the servo band, and control device for
controlling a degauss current supplied to the DC erase head, based on an
output read from the servo signal by the servo signal read head.