# How to wire a P-Bass (and what changes on a Jazz or PJ bass)

Canonical page: https://guitarwiring.app/blog/how-to-wire-a-p-bass

By Tinkercaster · 2026-10-21

A P-Bass has one split-coil pickup, one volume and one tone, and no switch. The pickup's hot goes to the volume's input lug, which also jumps to the tone pot's middle lug, and the volume's middle lug feeds the output jack's tip. A Jazz or PJ bass has two pickups, each on its own volume, sharing one master tone. There the volumes are wired the other way round, with each pickup on the middle lug.

This article follows two makers' P-Bass sheets as drawn in our library, [DiMarzio's Model P](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-volume-tone) and [Tonerider's '57 P Bass](/wiring-diagrams/tonerider/p-bass-one-volume-one-tone), then DiMarzio's [Model P and Model J set](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-model-j-two-volumes-tone) for a PJ bass.

## The parts each sheet asks for

The two P-Bass sheets agree on the layout but not on the values. Use the values printed on the sheet from your pickup's maker.

| Part | DiMarzio Model P sheet | Tonerider '57 P Bass sheet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pickup | [DiMarzio Model P DP122](/catalog/dimarzio-dp122-model-p), four leads | [Tonerider Classic P](/catalog/tonerider-classic-p); the sheet says "All P series pickups", two leads |
| Volume | 500K custom taper (DiMarzio EP1201); catalog example [CTS 500k Audio Pot](/catalog/cts-500k-audio-pot) | 250k; catalog example [CTS 250k Audio Pot](/catalog/cts-250k-audio-pot) |
| Tone | 250K custom taper (DiMarzio EP1200); catalog example [CTS 250k Audio Pot](/catalog/cts-250k-audio-pot) | 250k |
| Tone capacitor | .033µF (DiMarzio EP1033); catalog example [Orange Drop .033µF](/catalog/orange-drop-033uf) | .1µF; catalog example [0.1 µF Film Capacitor](/catalog/film-01uf-tone-cap) |
| Output jack | Switchcraft 2-conductor (EP1301); catalog [Switchcraft #11](/catalog/switchcraft-11-jack) | [Switchcraft #11](/catalog/switchcraft-11-jack) in our drawing |

Sources: DiMarzio's [Model P wiring page](https://www.dimarzio.com/media/1301) and its [sheet (PDF)](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/Model%20P%20Wiring%208_23.pdf), which DiMarzio calls "the standard wiring diagram for Model P in any bass, with recommended volume, tone and capacitor values"; Tonerider's [wiring diagrams page](https://tonerider.com/pages/wiring-diagrams), where the '57 P-Bass is the one sheet under Bass, and its [sheet (PDF)](https://tonerider.com/cdn/shop/files/57_P_Bass_1_Vol_1_Tone.pdf?v=13889258953236236274). If your volume and tone values differ from these, see [250k vs 500k pots](/blog/250k-vs-500k-pots) for what the pot value does in a passive circuit.

## Walkthrough: DiMarzio Model P, four leads

<figure>
  <img src="/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-volume-tone.svg" alt="Tinkercaster drawing of DiMarzio's Model P split-coil bass pickup wired to a 500k volume, a 250k tone with a .033 µF capacitor and a mono output jack, viewed from the back of the controls" width="1000" height="680" loading="lazy" />
  <figcaption>Model P with one volume and one tone, drawn by Tinkercaster from DiMarzio's <a href="https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/Model%20P%20Wiring%208_23.pdf">Model P wiring sheet (PDF)</a>. <a href="/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-volume-tone">Open the full diagram</a> for every connection.</figcaption>
</figure>

DiMarzio's sheet draws the Model P as a split-coil pickup with four leads: red, black, white and green. On the sheet, red and black leave one half and white and green the other. Black and white are joined and insulated: that is the series link between the two halves, and it touches nothing else.

| # | Connection | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Red → volume input lug | Pickup hot into the volume |
| 2 | Green → volume casing | The other end of the pickup to ground |
| 3 | Black + white, joined and insulated | Series link between the halves |
| 4 | Volume ground lug → short black wire → volume casing | Grounded end of the volume track |
| 5 | Volume input lug → tone middle lug | Feeds the tone control from the pickup side |
| 6 | Tone bottom lug → .033µF capacitor → tone casing | The tone's path to ground; the tone's top lug is unused |
| 7 | Tone casing → volume casing | Joins the grounds |
| 8 | Volume middle lug → jack tip | Signal out |
| 9 | Tone casing → jack sleeve | Ground return to the amp |
| 10 | Bridge ground → jack sleeve | Grounds the strings |

The jack lugs are not labelled on DiMarzio's sheet. In our drawing the lug fed from the volume's middle lug is the tip and the lug on the casing ground is the sleeve. If you need to identify the lugs on the jack in your hand, see [how to wire a guitar output jack](/blog/how-to-wire-a-guitar-output-jack).

## Walkthrough: Tonerider '57 P Bass, two leads

<figure>
  <img src="/wiring-diagrams/tonerider/p-bass-one-volume-one-tone.svg" alt="Tinkercaster drawing of Tonerider's '57 P-Bass wiring with a two-lead split-coil pickup, a 250k volume, a 250k tone with a .1 µF capacitor and a mono output jack, viewed from the back of the controls" width="1000" height="680" loading="lazy" />
  <figcaption>P-Bass with one volume and one tone, drawn by Tinkercaster from Tonerider's <a href="https://tonerider.com/cdn/shop/files/57_P_Bass_1_Vol_1_Tone.pdf?v=13889258953236236274">'57 P Bass, 1 Volume / 1 Tone sheet (PDF)</a>. <a href="/wiring-diagrams/tonerider/p-bass-one-volume-one-tone">Open the full diagram</a> for every connection.</figcaption>
</figure>

Tonerider's sheet shows the pickup with two leads, so there is no series link to make at the controls.

| # | Connection | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | White → volume left lug (input) | Pickup hot into the volume |
| 2 | Black → solder spot on the volume casing | Pickup to ground |
| 3 | Volume right lug → volume casing | Grounded end of the volume track |
| 4 | Volume left lug → tone middle lug | Feeds the tone control from the pickup side |
| 5 | Tone left lug → .1µF capacitor → volume right lug | The tone's path to ground, through the grounded volume lug |
| 6 | Tone casing → volume casing | Joins the grounds |
| 7 | Volume middle lug → jack tip | Signal out |
| 8 | Jack sleeve → tone casing | Ground return to the amp |
| 9 | Bridge ground → tone casing | Grounds the strings |

The circuit is the same as DiMarzio's: the tone hangs off the volume's input lug, and the jack takes its signal from the volume's middle lug. What differs is where the capacitor and the ground wires land. DiMarzio grounds the capacitor on the tone casing and brings the bridge ground to the jack sleeve. Tonerider grounds the capacitor on the volume's grounded lug and brings the bridge ground and the jack sleeve to the tone casing. Follow one sheet completely rather than mixing them, especially the lead colours: a white lead is the hot on Tonerider's sheet and half of the insulated series link on DiMarzio's.

## Jazz and PJ basses: two volumes and a master tone

<figure>
  <img src="/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-model-j-two-volumes-tone.svg" alt="Tinkercaster drawing of DiMarzio's Model P neck and Model J bridge bass pickups, each on its own 500k volume, with a 250k master tone, a .033 µF capacitor and a mono output jack, viewed from the back of the controls" width="1120" height="840" loading="lazy" />
  <figcaption>Model P and Model J with two volumes and one tone, drawn by Tinkercaster from DiMarzio's <a href="https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/Model%20P%20%26%20J%20Wiring%208_23.pdf">Model P &amp; Model J Set wiring sheet (PDF)</a>. <a href="/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-model-j-two-volumes-tone">Open the full diagram</a> for every connection.</figcaption>
</figure>

DiMarzio's [Model P & Model J Set page](https://www.dimarzio.com/media/1304) describes the sheet as "the standard wiring diagram for Model P and Model J Bridge in any bass". It uses a 500K custom taper volume for each pickup, a 250K custom taper master tone and a .033µF capacitor. The [Model J Jazz Bass sheet](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-j-jazz-bass-two-volumes-tone) ([PDF](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/DiMarzio%20Model%20J%20Wiring%20Diagram_0.pdf)) wires two Model J pickups in exactly the same way, with the same values.

Both pickups use the same lead pattern: red hot, black and white joined and insulated, green on that pickup's volume casing.

| # | Connection | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Neck pickup red → neck volume middle lug | Neck hot onto the wiper |
| 2 | Bridge pickup red → bridge volume middle lug | Bridge hot onto the wiper |
| 3 | Each green → its own volume casing | Pickup grounds |
| 4 | Each black + white, joined and insulated | Series link inside each pickup |
| 5 | Each volume's ground lug → short black wire → its casing | Grounded end of each track |
| 6 | Neck volume end lug → bridge volume end lug → master tone middle lug | The output bus where the two pickups meet |
| 7 | Master tone middle lug → jack tip | Signal out |
| 8 | Master tone bottom lug → .033µF capacitor → tone casing | Tone path to ground; the top lug is unused |
| 9 | All three pot casings linked; tone casing → jack sleeve | Ground return |
| 10 | Bridge ground → jack sleeve | Grounds the strings |

This is the reverse of the P-Bass volume, where the pickup goes in on an end lug and the signal leaves from the middle lug. Here each pickup goes onto the middle lug and the output bus is taken from an end lug. With the pickups wired this way, the diagram's notes say turning one volume down does not mute the other pickup. With both volumes up, the two pickups are in parallel.

## Bench checks before you plug in

From the diagrams' own checks, with a meter across the output jack (tip to sleeve):

- **P-Bass:** with both pots up, the meter should read the pickup's resistance. The jack sleeve should read continuity to the volume casing, the tone casing and the bridge ground wire.
- **Jazz or PJ:** with both volumes and the tone up, both pickups should read across the jack in parallel. Rolling either volume to zero should silence that pickup. The sleeve should read continuity to all three pot casings and the bridge ground wire.

The [multimeter course](/courses/multimeter) covers setting up the meter, and [how to solder guitar wiring](/blog/how-to-solder-guitar-wiring) covers the joints.

## More bass diagrams in the library

DiMarzio's other bass sheets use the same layouts, but some of their pickups have different leads, so check the drawing for your pickup:

- [Sixties P with one volume and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/sixties-p-volume-tone): the same red, black, white and green leads as the Model P. Its bare wiring differs from the Model P sheet, so follow DiMarzio's [Sixties P sheet (PDF)](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/Sixties%20P%E2%84%A2%20Wiring%2008-23.pdf) for where it goes.
- [Relentless P Plug-In with one volume and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/relentless-p-plugin-volume-tone): each half has its own white, bare and black leads, and DiMarzio's [Relentless P Plug-In sheet (PDF)](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/DiMarzio%20Relentless%20P%20Plug-In%20Wiring.pdf) joins the two black leads as the series link. One white is the hot, on the volume's input lug.
- [Relentless P and Relentless J with two volumes and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/relentless-pj-two-volumes-tone): a PJ set where the P neck has a white hot, and the J bridge has red, black, white, green and bare leads ([sheet, PDF](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/2023-08/DiMarzio%20Relentless%20P%20Plug-In%20%26%20J%20Wiring.pdf)).
- [Area J Jazz Bass with two volumes and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/area-j-jazz-bass-two-volumes-tone) and [Colossal 5-string bass with two volumes and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/colossal-five-string-bass-two-volumes-tone).

## Next step

Open the diagram for the pickup you are installing, the [DiMarzio Model P](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-volume-tone), the [Tonerider '57 P Bass](/wiring-diagrams/tonerider/p-bass-one-volume-one-tone) or the [Model P and Model J set](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-model-j-two-volumes-tone), and check each connection against the parts in your hand. The rest of the library is in [wiring diagrams](/wiring-diagrams).

## References

### From the Tinkercaster library

- [Model P with one volume and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-volume-tone) (DiMarzio): four-lead split-coil P-Bass, connections and checks
- [P-Bass with one volume and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/tonerider/p-bass-one-volume-one-tone) (Tonerider): two-lead P-Bass, connections and checks
- [Model P and Model J with two volumes and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-p-model-j-two-volumes-tone) (DiMarzio): PJ wiring with independent volumes
- [Model J Jazz Bass with two volumes and one tone](/wiring-diagrams/dimarzio/model-j-jazz-bass-two-volumes-tone) (DiMarzio): two Model J pickups, the same layout
- Catalog: [DiMarzio Model P DP122](/catalog/dimarzio-dp122-model-p), [DiMarzio Model J DP123](/catalog/dimarzio-dp123-model-j), [Tonerider Classic P](/catalog/tonerider-classic-p), [CTS 500k Audio Pot](/catalog/cts-500k-audio-pot), [CTS 250k Audio Pot](/catalog/cts-250k-audio-pot), [Orange Drop .033µF](/catalog/orange-drop-033uf), [0.1 µF Film Capacitor](/catalog/film-01uf-tone-cap), [Switchcraft #11](/catalog/switchcraft-11-jack)

### Manufacturer sources

- [DiMarzio, Model P wiring](https://www.dimarzio.com/media/1301) and [sheet (PDF)](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/Model%20P%20Wiring%208_23.pdf): lead colours, 500K custom taper volume, 250K custom taper tone, .033µF capacitor, 2-conductor Switchcraft jack
- [DiMarzio, Model P & Model J Set wiring](https://www.dimarzio.com/media/1304) and [sheet (PDF)](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/Model%20P%20%26%20J%20Wiring%208_23.pdf): two volumes and a master tone
- [DiMarzio, Model J Jazz Bass wiring](https://www.dimarzio.com/media/1296) and [sheet (PDF)](https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/diagrams/DiMarzio%20Model%20J%20Wiring%20Diagram_0.pdf): the same layout for two Model J pickups
- [Tonerider, wiring diagrams](https://tonerider.com/pages/wiring-diagrams) and the ['57 P Bass, 1 Volume / 1 Tone sheet (PDF)](https://tonerider.com/cdn/shop/files/57_P_Bass_1_Vol_1_Tone.pdf?v=13889258953236236274): 250k volume and tone, .1µF capacitor, all P series pickups