A tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) read head for magnetic tape has a tape-bearing surface (TBS) and includes a first magnetic shield, a first gap layer on the first shield, a TMR sensor on the first gap layer and recessed from the TBS, a second gap layer on the TMR sensor, a second magnetic shield on the second gap layer, and a magnetic flux guide between the first and second gap layers between the TBS and the recessed TMR sensor. The first gap layer has an insulating portion with an edge at the TBS and a non-magnetic electrically-conducting portion recessed from the TBS, with the TMR sensor located on the conductive portion. The sense current is between the two shields. An insulating isolation layer may be located between the first gap layer and the first shield layer with the sense current being between the second shield and the first gap layer.

A magnetoresistive (MR) sensor including a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure that is magnetically coupled to a side shield element. The SAF structure includes at least one magnetic amorphous layer that is an alloy of a ferromagnetic material and a refractory material. The amorphous magnetic layer may be in contact with a non-magnetic layer and antiferromagnetically coupled to a layer in contact with an opposite surface of the non-magnetic layer.