The Ashdown SZ Funk Face Twin Dynamic Filter is a bass effects pedal that combines a valve drive and a wah in one enclosure, using a twin filter setup to inject fuzz, drive and dirt into a bass tone1. It is the signature pedal of bassist Stuart Zender, designed in collaboration with Ashdown1, and was introduced as the Stuart Zender signature bass autowah2. For players chasing a filter sound, it sits between filter pedals and overdrive pedals, with the two stages able to work in either order.
What it does
The pedal's real star of the show, as gearnews.com put it, is the auto wah, which reacts to how dynamic your playing is2. That makes it an envelope filter: the filter sweeps in response to the instrument's output rather than to a treadle, in the manner of wah-wah pedals that sweep themselves. The drive side is provided by a single 12AX7 preamp tube, adding some warmth and gain as well as harmonic overtones2, and MusicRadar likewise describes the drive stage as built around a 12Ax7 valve1.
The controls
The layout is simple: three knobs, labeled Output, Drive and Sensitivity2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Sets the overall level of the pedal1 |
| Drive | Adds drive, from tasteful drive to snarling, wall-levelling grit1 |
| Sensitivity | Affects the sensitivity of the envelope filter in response to the instrument's output and playing style1 |
A selector switch on the side of the chassis chooses whether the wah effect comes before or after the valve, so the filter can track either the clean bass or the driven signal1.
The SZ display
The 'SZ' display on the pedal doubles as a status light, showing which of the two effects are engaged1:
- Blue signifies the twin dynamic filters of the wah effect being called into operation1
- Selecting the Valve option turns the 'SZ' display red1
- With both selected, the display turns almost purple with both colors combined1
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's verdict was that the Funk Face is "A well thought-out pedal that surpasses expectations."1
gearnews.com, writing when the pedal was announced, took a more measured view of the price: "The price is pretty high for a single pedal, but if you're scouting around for tight, funky autowah for your bass tone," it could be worth it2.
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Questions
Does the Ashdown SZ Funk Face use a real valve?
Yes. The drive stage is built around a single 12AX7 preamp tube, which gearnews.com notes adds warmth, gain and harmonic overtones. MusicRadar likewise describes the pedal as using a 12AX7 valve in its drive stage, so the drive character comes from a real tube rather than a solid-state simulation.
Can the wah come before or after the drive on the Funk Face?
Yes. A selector switch on the side of the chassis lets the player choose whether the wah effect sits before or after the valve stage, so the filter can react to the clean signal or to the driven one.
What do the red and blue lights on the Funk Face mean?
The 'SZ' display shows which effects are engaged. Blue signifies the twin dynamic filters of the wah effect being called into operation, selecting the Valve option turns the display red, and with both selected the display turns almost purple with both colours combined.
Is the Ashdown Funk Face made for bass or guitar?
It is a bass pedal. gearnews.com introduced it as the Stuart Zender signature bass autowah, and MusicRadar describes it as a bass effects pedal combining valve drive and wah effects through a twin filter setup.
Who designed the Ashdown SZ Funk Face?
The pedal was designed in collaboration with bassist Stuart Zender, and it is sold as his signature pedal with Ashdown. MusicRadar noted it as his pedal collaboration with Ashdown, and gearnews.com called it the Stuart Zender signature bass autowah.
Sources (2)
- Ashdown SZ Funk Face Twin Dynamic Filter review, MusicRadar, 2018-04-06
- 'Virtual Insanity': Ashdown Funk Face Stuart Zender signature bass autowah, gearnews.com, 2017-05-17
