Guitar Output Jack (TS) Symbol
Definition: The Guitar Output Jack (TS) symbol represents a mono 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) TS (Tip-Sleeve) phone jack connector — the standard output socket on electric guitars and basses — used in instrument wiring diagrams to indicate the connection point where the instrument cable plugs in, with terminals Tip (Hot signal) and Sleeve (Ground), per IEC 60603-11 and EIA/TIA wiring conventions.
Also known as: output jack, instrument jack, 1/4 inch jack, mono jack, TS jack, phone jack, guitar jack, 6.35 mm jack.
What the Guitar Output Jack (TS) symbol means
The Guitar Output Jack (TS) symbol represents the electromechanical connector at the end of an electric guitar or bass signal chain where the instrument cable is inserted. The TS (Tip-Sleeve) jack is a two-conductor mono connector: the Tip carries the audio signal (Hot) and the Sleeve provides the ground return path. In guitar wiring diagrams, the output jack symbol is the final stage before the signal leaves the instrument.
In a guitar wiring schematic, the output jack symbol connects to the volume potentiometer output (Tip/Hot) and the instrument's common ground bus (Sleeve/GND). Some output jacks include a third contact (ring, making it a TRS jack) used as a battery-disconnect switch in active-pickup guitars, but the standard passive guitar output uses the two-terminal TS configuration.
How to identify the Guitar Output Jack (TS) symbol
The Guitar Output Jack (TS) symbol is drawn as a small rectangle or jack connector outline with two labelled terminals: Tip (Hot) emerging from one side (typically the right or top) and Sleeve (GND) from the other. In detailed wiring diagrams, the symbol may show the physical jack body profile — a cylindrical housing with the Tip contact at the end and the Sleeve contact along the barrel. The Tip terminal connects to the signal wire (typically white or black insulated), and the Sleeve terminal connects to the ground/shield wire (typically bare or black in guitar wiring).
Function in a circuit
The output jack provides the physical and electrical interface between the guitar's internal wiring and the external instrument cable. When a TS plug is inserted, the plug Tip makes contact with the jack Tip contact (completing the Hot signal path from pickups through the volume and tone controls to the cable) and the plug Sleeve makes contact with the jack Sleeve contact (completing the ground/shield return path). In passive guitars, inserting the cable also closes the ground circuit, completing the circuit for signal flow.
Standards: IEC vs ANSI
| IEC 60617 | IEC 60603-11 defines the 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) phone connector standard. The Tip contact is conductor 1 (signal), and the Sleeve is the ground/shield. IEC wiring diagrams represent the jack as a connector block with terminal labels T (Tip) and S (Sleeve). |
|---|---|
| ANSI/IEEE 315 | EIA/TIA-568 and related North American audio standards use the 1/4 inch TS jack for instrument and amplifier connections. ANSI/IEC 60603-11 is the recognised connector standard. In schematic symbols per IEEE 315, the output jack is represented as a connector with labelled pin 1 (Tip/Hot) and pin 2 (Sleeve/GND). |
| Key difference | IEC 60603-11 and North American EIA/TIA practice are aligned for the 6.35 mm TS jack; the connector standard is internationally harmonised. Schematic symbol style differs slightly — IEC uses terminal block notation, while North American instrument wiring diagrams typically show a stylised jack silhouette. |
Terminals / pins
| Pin | Name |
|---|---|
| tip | Tip (Hot) |
| sleeve | Sleeve (GND) |
Typical values
Connector size: 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) diameter. Conductor count: 2 (TS: Tip + Sleeve). Impedance: typically 250 kΩ–1 MΩ source impedance from passive guitar pickups. Signal level: instrument level, approximately -20 dBu (approx. 77 mV RMS). Contact resistance: < 10 mΩ. Insertion force: < 30 N. Rated voltage: 250 V AC maximum. Operating temperature: -20 °C to +70 °C.
Where the Guitar Output Jack (TS) symbol is used
- Electric guitar output: primary output socket connecting the guitar to an amplifier or effects pedal via a 1/4 inch TS cable
- Electric bass output: same TS jack standard used on bass guitars for amplifier connection
- Effects pedal input/output: 1/4 inch TS jacks on guitar effects pedals for signal in and signal out
- Keyboard and synthesiser output: mono line-level output from keyboards using 1/4 inch TS jacks
- Amplifier input: 1/4 inch TS input socket on guitar amplifiers receiving the instrument signal
- Direct injection (DI) box: passive DI boxes use 1/4 inch TS input jacks to accept instrument-level signals
Example
In a single-pickup Telecaster wiring diagram, the output jack symbol (TS type) shows its Tip terminal wired to the output lug of the volume potentiometer and its Sleeve terminal connected to the common ground bus that ties together the volume pot casing, tone pot casing, and bridge ground wire; inserting the cable plug completes the circuit and allows the pickup signal to flow to the amplifier.
Key facts
- The Guitar Output Jack (TS) is a 2-conductor 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) mono phone connector standardised under IEC 60603-11, with Tip (T) carrying the audio signal and Sleeve (S) carrying the ground/shield return.
- In guitar wiring diagrams the jack has two terminals: Tip (Hot) connected to the volume potentiometer output, and Sleeve (GND) connected to the common ground bus including the bridge/tailpiece ground wire.
- The TS (Tip-Sleeve) jack provides a mono, unbalanced connection; balanced stereo connections use TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) jacks which are a different connector type with three conductors.
- On active-pickup guitars, a TRS output jack is often used as a combined signal output and battery-disconnect switch: sleeve contacts open when the plug is removed, disconnecting the battery to prevent drain.
- Inserting the TS plug simultaneously establishes both the signal path (Tip) and the ground return path (Sleeve), completing the circuit; removing the plug breaks both connections, silencing the output.
- Common output jack part types used in guitar manufacturing include the Switchcraft 11 (open-frame) and Switchcraft 12A (enclosed barrel), both conforming to the 6.35 mm TS standard.
- The reference designator for connectors including the output jack is J (per IEEE 315), so the output jack on a schematic is typically labelled J1 or OUT-J.
Diagrams that use this symbol
- guitar wiring diagrams
- humbucker wiring diagram
- electric guitar diagram
- guitar pickup wiring diagram
- pickup wiring diagrams
- 5 way switch wiring diagram
- electric guitar wiring diagram
- 5 way switch wiring
Frequently asked questions
What does the guitar output jack symbol look like in a wiring diagram?
The guitar output jack (TS) symbol is drawn as a small rectangular connector outline with two labelled terminals: Tip (Hot) and Sleeve (GND). Some wiring diagrams show it as a stylised side-view of the jack barrel with the Tip contact at the end and the Sleeve contact along the side. The Tip wire connects to the signal chain output; the Sleeve wire connects to the ground bus.
What does TS mean on a guitar jack?
TS stands for Tip-Sleeve, describing the two conductors of the 1/4 inch mono phone connector. The Tip is the end contact that carries the audio signal (Hot), and the Sleeve is the cylindrical barrel contact that carries the ground/shield return. TS connectors are mono and unbalanced, standard for electric guitars, basses, and effects pedals.
What is the difference between a TS and TRS jack?
A TS (Tip-Sleeve) jack has two conductors: signal (Tip) and ground (Sleeve) — it is mono and unbalanced. A TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) jack has three conductors: it can carry stereo audio (Tip = Left, Ring = Right, Sleeve = Ground) or a balanced mono signal (Tip = +, Ring = -, Sleeve = Ground). Guitar output jacks are typically TS for passive guitars; TRS is used for active guitars with battery-disconnect switching.
What standard defines the 1/4 inch guitar jack?
The 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) phone jack is defined by IEC 60603-11, which specifies the connector dimensions, contact arrangement, and electrical ratings. In North America, EIA/TIA audio standards reference the same 6.35 mm connector geometry. The Tip is defined as conductor 1 (signal) and the Sleeve as the ground/shield in both standards.
Which terminal of the output jack is the Hot signal?
The Tip terminal of the TS output jack is the Hot (signal) terminal — it carries the audio signal from the guitar's volume potentiometer to the amplifier. The Sleeve terminal is the Ground (shield/return) terminal connected to the instrument's common ground bus. This Tip = Hot / Sleeve = Ground convention is consistent with IEC 60603-11 and universal in audio industry practice.
What is the designator for the guitar output jack on a schematic?
The reference designator for any connector, including the guitar output jack, is J per IEEE 315. The output jack is therefore labelled J1 (or OUTPUT J) in a guitar wiring schematic. This designator distinguishes connectors (J) from other components such as resistors (R), capacitors (C), and switches (S).
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