A slider for use in a magnetic disk drive includes read pads for connecting to a flexible circuit that couples to a pre-amplifier circuit, a transducer, and a protector connected to the transducer and the read pads to protect the transducer against damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD). Examples of transducers that may be used include a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor and a tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) sensor.