Tape head and system having asymmetrical construction

An apparatus, comprising:

• a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge, the first edge of the tape bearing surface being a first end of the tape tenting region, a second end of the tape tenting region being positioned between the first and second edges;
• a guide positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape, wherein a location of the tenting is above an entirety of the tape tenting region, wherein the second end of the tape tenting region is located at a location where the tenting terminates at a point of closest approach of the tape to the tape bearing surface after a peak of the tenting;
• and
• a transducer positioned in the tape tenting region, wherein the module has a wear coating on a media facing side of the transducer, wherein a peak height is defined between the peak of tenting and an upper surface of the coating, wherein a thickness of the coating is in a range of between about 0.5 and about 3 times the peak height.