A magnetic head core for a magnetic head including a first and a second ferrite member butted and bonded together to form an annular, closed magnetic path around a coil-winding groove, and a coil attached to a coil-winding portion of the first ferrite member. The first and second ferrite members provide a sliding surface to which a magnetic recording medium is opposed, and which extends across the first and second ferrite members. A non-magnetic material is secured to at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the coil-winding portion. The non-magnetic material is located below the sliding surface, and is spaced apart from the magnetic recording medium with the sliding surface disposed between the non-magnetic material and the magnetic recording medium.