Abstract: A method of forming a top pole member in a magnetic recording head having a bottom pole member, an insulating layer on said bottom pole member, and a shared pole member over the bottom pole member on a ceramic substrate comprises the steps of depositing a ferromagnetic material on the shared pole portion forming a shared pole tip; depositing an insulating layer on and over the shared pole and the shared pole tip; mechanically forming a planar insulating layer surface over the shared pole member exposing the shared pole tip flush with said planar surface; recessing the pole tip below said planar surface; depositing a gap layer over the planar surface of the insulating layer and the recessed pole tip. This layer forms a channel over the recessed pole tip. The top pole member is then deposited into and over the channel over the recessed pole tip. The top pole tip thus formed is automatically centered and aligned with the shared pole tip without the necessity of ion beam milling.