A magnetic head for a disk drive is disclosed that has a first soft magnetic pole layer disposed in the head adjacent to a medium-facing surface and extending perpendicular to the medium-facing surface; a second soft magnetic pole layer disposed closer than the first pole layer to the trailing end, the second pole layer magnetically coupled to the first pole layer in a backgap region; a soft magnetic pedestal adjoining the second pole layer, disposed closer than the second pole layer to the medium-facing surface and extending less than the second pole layer extends from the medium-facing surface, the pedestal separated from the first pole layer by a nonferromagnetic gap, the pedestal having a thickness that is less than four hundred and fifty nanometers between the gap and the second pole layer. Longitudinal and perpendicular recording embodiments are disclosed, as well as solenoidal, single-layer and dual-layer reversed-current coil structures.