Abstract: A read write head for magnetic recording on a magnetic media includes a core having a gap with confronting surfaces. To increase the magnetic saturation properties of the head, one of the confronting surfaces is covered with a layer of material having a higher magnetic permeability than the material making up the core. An additional surface of the core is also covered with the higher magnetic permeability material to prevent the flux lines from fringing into the atmosphere at the joint. The two layers of material form an integral layer of the second higher permeability magnetic material.