Precision Bass Wiring Diagram

The wiring for one split P pickup with one volume and one tone. Our P-style bass kits use this layout.

Split P pickup, 1 volume, 1 tone

Split P pickup, 1 volume, 1 toneP-style pickup123Volume250K B123Tone250K ACapOutputjackTipSleeveBridge ground: bridgeShared ground: one connection, usually the back of the volume pot
  • Hot (signal)
  • Ground
  • Tone capacitor, typically 0.022–0.047 µF
Drawing
Split P pickup, 1 volume, 1 tone
Pickups
1 split P pickup
Switch
No switch
Controls
1 volume, 1 tone

Pots are shown from the back, with the lugs on top and numbered 1 to 3. Volume and tone are 250K, B for volume and A for tone. The two halves of a split P pickup work as one pickup. Wires in your bass may not match the red and black used here, so follow what each wire does. The order of the lugs varies between switch makers, so check yours with a multimeter before soldering.

Left-handed bass? The circuit is the same: only the positions of the parts change.

Precision Bass wiring diagram: one split P pickup, one 250K volume and one 250K toneOpen the diagram as an image

Parts for this wiring

Need help?

No sound or a loud hum? See our wiring and electronics answers, or read how to wire a guitar. Spotted a mistake in this diagram? Please tell us. See all wiring diagrams.