The Ashdown FS-JLO Drive is a bass distortion pedal built around one idea: instead of distorting the whole signal, it selects a band of frequencies in the mid range of the bass and applies the distortion only to those, leaving the top and bottom end untouched1. Ashdown calls it a unique bass distortion pedal, and it was created in collaboration with James Lomenzo, whom the company describes as a hard rock bass legend1.
That midband-only approach matters for bass players because the low end stays clean and full even when the mids are growling. Ashdown says the powerful mids can be tuned from a mild growl to full-on distortion, and describes the drive section as far from typical, built to create the fire-breathing overdrive sound that James craves1. It sits among Ashdown's wider range of bass pedals, which includes related designs like the Ashdown Lomenzo Mega Drive, the Ashdown Triple Shot and the Ashdown NM2.
How the controls work
The pedal's controls follow directly from its split-band design:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Distortion frequency range | Tunes the distortion frequency range to suit your bass and style1 |
| Mix | Balances the original dry signal back into the mix1 |
| Output level | Dials in the perfect balance between the effect and the true bypass level1 |
| Input level | Combined with the VU meter, lets you easily find the sweet spot for input level1 |
The frequency range control is the heart of the pedal: it chooses which band of mids gets distorted, so you can place the growl where it suits your instrument and your playing. The mix control then lets you keep as much of the clean signal underneath as you want, and the Output level control matches the effect against the bypassed signal so there is no volume jump when you switch it on1.
The VU meter and Input level knob work as a pair: watch the meter while turning the knob to find the sweet spot going into the drive section1.
Bypass and build
Ashdown says its pedals feature genuine true bypass switching for zero coloration of your input signal when the pedal is not in use1. The company also describes the build across its pedal range: metal casings, premium controls and switches, and recessed knobs and kickguards to protect screens and VU meters, which matters here since the FS-JLO Drive carries a VU meter on its face1.
Where it sits in Ashdown's range
The FS-JLO Drive is built to the same standard Ashdown describes across its pedals, with metal casings, premium controls and switches, and recessed knobs and kickguards to protect screens and VU meters1.
Sources (1)
- FS-JLO Drive, Ashdown Engineering
