Abstract: The magnetoresistive (MR) sensor in a magnetic read/write transducer is protected against the effects of electrical overstress and electrostatic discharge during the manufacture and assembly of a magnetic storage system. The conductive leads of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element are shorted together to provide a low resistance, conductive path bypassing the MR element and minimizing electrical current through the MR sensing element during discharge of static electrical charge. The MR sensor lead terminal pads provided on the transducer/slider surface are shorted together by soldering. The other transducer elements such as the MR magnetic shields, the inductive coil and the inductive magnetic yoke structure can also be shorted to the MR sensor leads by soldering together the lead terminal pads at the slider surface. Alternatively, a twisted conductor pair may be used to short the MR terminals together.