The invention proposes the use of a piezoelectric crystal element as an actuator for data storage systems. In particular, the piezoelectric crystal element mechanically positions a head with respect to a data storage medium. More specifically, the invention may use a piezoelectric laminate crystal structure as a fine positioning actuator in a magnetic tape system in order to precisely position one or more heads with respect to tracks of the magnetic tape. Furthermore, in order to address hysteresis in the piezoelectric crystal element, the invention proposes the introduction of a high frequency periodic signal as part of the input to the piezoelectric crystal element.