An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge toward the second edge, and a second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the second edge toward the first edge. A first guide is positioned for inducing a first tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the first tape tenting region, and a second guide is positioned for inducing a second tenting of the moving magnetic recording tape above the second tape tenting region. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The sensor is positioned between the first tape tenting region and the second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a plurality of first modules each having a first write transducer, and a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers, and a second module having a plurality of second write transducers. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers, and a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first block, a second block, and a drive mechanism configured to cause a magnetic recording tape to move over the blocks. Each of the blocks has a skiving edge along a tape bearing surface thereof. The blocks are positioned or selectively positionable in the apparatus to establish a particular respective wrap angle of the magnetic recording tape approaching the respective skiving edge. None of the blocks have a transducer coupled directly thereto.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first block, a second block, and a drive mechanism configured to cause a magnetic recording tape to move over the blocks. Each of the blocks has a skiving edge along a tape bearing surface thereof. The blocks are positioned or selectively positionable in the apparatus to establish a particular respective wrap angle of the magnetic recording tape approaching the respective skiving edge. None of the blocks have a transducer coupled directly thereto.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a block having multiple skiving edges along a tape bearing surface thereof, and a guide mechanism configured to set a wrap angle of a tape approaching the skiving edge. A drive mechanism is configured to cause the tape to move over the block. The block has no transducer coupled directly thereto. A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes causing a magnetic recording tape to pass over a block having a skiving edge at a wrap angle of at least one degree for burnishing the tape, wherein the block has an average hardness of at least about 9 Mohs.