A tape drive apparatus is provided with a base plate and tape path components on this base plate. The apparatus includes a bracket that is adjustably coupled to the base plate, the bracket carrying a magnetic head for reading and writing to a tape transported by the tape path components. Adjustment couplings couple the bracket to the base plate and are lockably settable to adjust and lock the spatial orientation of the magnetic head with respect to a tape transported by the tape path components. Pre-loaded jackscrews of the adjustment couplings are rotated to adjust and lock the azimuth and zenith settings for the magnetic head. A separate penetration screw independently controls the penetration of the magnetic head into the path of the magnetic tape.