Ashdown FS-FUNK-FACE PÉDALE DE FILTRE/AUTO WAH SIGNATURE STUART ZENDER

A signature pedal crafted for Stuart Zender's funk DNA

Developed in collaboration with Stuart Zender (founding member and original bassist of Jamiroquai ), the FS-FUNK-FACE has a clear goal: to recapture those dynamic, snappy, and percussive bass lines that defined 90s funk, with immediate response to attack. The idea is not just to slap an auto-wah on your sound, but to highlight the playing and rhythmic placement, giving a speaking, articulated quality that naturally fits into a mix.

Who is it for, and in which styles?

This pedal is aimed at bassists seeking an expressive envelope filter that's easy to use, from intermediate to pro level. It excels in funk, acid jazz, neo-soul, disco, but also finds its place in rock and electro whenever a rhythmic movement and a "speaking" sound are desired.

In live settings, foot operation (wah on one side, drive on the other) allows building sections: tight, clean verses; more open choruses; or breaks with more biting saturation. In studio, it helps sculpt the signature of a line without multiplying effects, especially when you want each note to trigger a coherent, musical sweep. On a pedalboard, it's generally placed before delays/reverbs, and depending on the desired result, before or after compression (to test: compressor before to even out triggering, compressor after to smooth volume).

Controls, modes, and design: essentials without complication

The Funk Face adopts a straightforward approach with a design focused on playing: a dynamic filter (auto-wah) and a separate drive, both footswitch-activated. The drive offers a "tube" character via emulation, useful for adding harmonic thickness, grit, and a push sensation without losing filter articulation.

The highlight is the routing flexibility : a selector allows placing the drive before the filter (for a snappier trigger and more aggressive sweep) or after (to saturate an already filtered sound, often sharper and more "speaking"). The output level control lets you precisely adjust overall volume and can be used to boost a passage in the mix, particularly useful when the filter is bypassed.

The sound

The FS-FUNK-FACE delivers a distinctly funk tone: a sweep that follows playing dynamics, with sensitivity to attack and how you mute notes. Played with short notes, it emphasizes the percussive, "chopped" feel; with more legato playing, it highlights a rounder, vocal movement. The dual filter creates a sense of depth, as if the spectrum is shaped in multiple stages, helping maintain presence without necessarily increasing volume.

With the drive engaged, you gain density and harmonic richness : ideal for making a Jazz Bass or active bass stand out in a busy mix. In pre-filter mode, saturation feeds the filter and increases character; in post-filter mode, it enhances bite and projection. True bypass ensures a direct sound when the pedal is off, appreciated if you often switch between processed and clean parts.

Technical specifications

Effects	Bass, Envelope / Auto-wah, Overdrive	EQ	No
Technology	Analog	Type	sector
Format	Pedal	Use	Bass
Inputs	Jack	Color	Black
Outputs	Jack	Power supply included	No
True bypass	Yes	Power supply	DC 9 V
Number of tracks	1

Category	Envelope / Auto-wah	Input	6.35mm Jack
Design	Dual dynamic filter (auto-wah)	Output	6.35mm Jack
Drive	tube drive emulation, footswitch-activated	Height	65 mm
Signature	Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai)	Width	116.2 mm
Controls	Sensitivity, Output, Drive	Depth	145.5 mm
Wah footswitch	On/Off activation	Weight	0.9 kg
Drive footswitch	On/Off activation	Required power	DC 9 V (center negative)
Drive placement	Pre / Post wah selector	Consumption	45 mA