The present invention is a method of using direct head electrical response signals for feedback process control. When lapping the air bearing surface of a bar of sliders, a magnetic field is applied to the air bearing surface and a bias current is applied to the reader elements. A head electrical response, such as amplitude or resistance change, is measured and is used to control the lapping device. Using a fixture which allows individual slider machining, a controller can be used to monitor the head response signal for each slider on the bar and individually control each slider on the bar so that material removal over each slider proceeds until a predetermined target stripe height is reached.