In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has two pieces flanking the second portion in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross. The second portion has at least one array of transducers. A longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array is defined between opposite ends thereof. The longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array of transducers is oriented at an angle relative to the line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross, the angle being between 0.2 and about 10.

A disk apparatus includes a carriage, a magnetic disk, a base plate, a load beam, a flexure, and a magnetic head. The carriage rotates around a first rotation axis. The base plate includes a first surface facing the magnetic disk and is attached to the carriage. The load beam is attached to the base plate. The flexure includes a plurality of wirings and is attached to the base plate and the load beam. The magnetic head is attached to the flexure and electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of wirings. The flexure includes a thin portion that is thinner than other portions of the flexure. The thin portion includes a first portion which covers the first surface and at which the plurality of wirings extends in non-parallel directions with respect to each other.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has an opening at least partially encircling the second portion. The second portion has two modules, each module having at least one array of transducers. Each module has a first outermost edge oriented orthogonally to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, and a second outermost edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being oriented at an angle between 0.2 and about 10 relative to a line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross.

A disk apparatus includes a carriage, a magnetic disk, a base plate, a load beam, a flexure, and a magnetic head. The carriage rotates around a first rotation axis. The base plate includes a first surface facing the magnetic disk and is attached to the carriage. The load beam is attached to the base plate. The flexure includes a plurality of wirings and is attached to the base plate and the load beam. The magnetic head is attached to the flexure and electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of wirings. The flexure includes a thin portion that is thinner than other portions of the flexure. The thin portion includes a first portion which covers the first surface and at which the plurality of wirings extends in non-parallel directions with respect to each other.