DiMarzio wiring

Relentless Middle P-Bass with one volume and one tone

One P-Bass middle · No switch · One volume · One tone

DiMarzio Relentless Middle (DP296) P-Bass add-on through a 500K custom-taper volume, a 250K custom-taper tone and a .033 µF capacitor, to a Switchcraft two-conductor jack.

Relentless Middle P-Bass with one volume and one toneRelentless Middle P-Bass with one volume and one tone: One P-Bass middle · No switch · One volume · One tone. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Relentless MiddleRelentless MiddleVolume 500K custom taper · 500k500kTone 250K custom taper · 250k250k.033µF · 33nF33nFOutput jackBridge groundwhiteblacklug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3abtipsleeveground

Viewed from the back of the controls, as you solder them. Open the interactive diagram to zoom, move components and try the switches.

Parts and values

In the drawingValuePart
Relentless MiddleSource: Relentless Middle DP296 (RED, GREEN, BLACK, WHITE, BARE)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Volume 500K custom taperSource: Volume 500K custom taper pot (EP1201)500kCTS 500k Audio PotExample part
Tone 250K custom taperSource: Tone 250K custom taper pot (EP1200)250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
.033µFSource: .033µF capacitor (EP1033)33nFOrange Drop .033µFExample part
Output jackSource: Switchcraft output jack, 2-conductor (EP1301)—Switchcraft #11Example part
Bridge groundSource: TO BRIDGE GROUND—Bridge ground wireGeneric

“Example part” means any part with the same value and lugs will do; the source does not name a brand. “Generic” stands in for an unspecified pickup: check your own pickup's lead colours before you solder.

Specific to this wiring

  • The Relentless Middle is drawn as a split-coil P-Bass with RED, GREEN, BLACK, WHITE and BARE leads. BLACK and WHITE are joined and insulated (series link).
  • RED goes to the volume's input lug; GREEN and BARE both end on the volume casing.
  • The volume's ground lug is bent onto the casing. TO BRIDGE GROUND ends on the same casing spot.
  • The tone is drawn with its lugs up. The volume's input lug jumps to the tone's left lug; the .033µF capacitor (EP1033) sits on the tone's middle lug with its other leg on the tone casing.
  • The jack lugs are not labelled in the source: the lug fed from the volume's middle lug is the tip and the lug wired to the casing ground is the sleeve.

Connections

In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path.

#FromToHow
1Relentless Middle GREEN (with BARE)Volume casingThe source draws GREEN and BARE to the same casing spot; one wire stands for both.To a pot casinggreen
2Volume ground lugVolume casingShort black link.To a pot casing
3.033µF capacitorTone casingTo a pot casing
4Tone casingVolume casingTo a pot casing
5Volume casingJack sleeveWire
6TO BRIDGE GROUNDVolume casingShield or ground
7Relentless Middle REDVolume input lugWirered
8Volume middle lugJack tipWire
9Volume input lugTone left lugWire
10Tone middle lug.033µF capacitorWire

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
Always onOne P-Bass middle, no selector.Relentless Middle.

Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.

  • The P-Bass middle is modelled as a generic single coil; the split-coil/hum-cancelling construction is not modelled.
  • The source's custom-taper pots are not reproduced: both pots are simulated with a linear track, so settings between the knob ends are approximate.
  • Tone capacitor value matches the printed .033µF.
  • Pickup resistance is not specified, so no numeric meter readings are given.

Before you solder

Ticks are kept in this browser only, as a reminder. They are not a check of your joints. New to soldering? Read the soldering cheat sheet.

Check before plugging in

  • With both pots up, the meter across the jack should read the Relentless Middle resistance.
  • The jack sleeve should read continuity to the volume casing, the tone casing and the bridge ground wire.
  • The taped black–white series link should read open to ground.

Measure across the output jack with a multimeter on its resistance range. No exact readings are given where the source does not specify the pickups.