The Wilson Effects Funk Factory is a wah pedal built as a faithful reproduction of the vintage Ibanez WH-10, the wah John Frusciante-era players associate with the classic WH-10 sound. Wilson Effects describes it as "fuzz friendly" and as giving more sweep options than the original, with vintage WH-10 tones plus additional variations through its switching. It is hand-built in the U.S. and housed in what the maker calls a military-grade case, built to endure years of what it calls "funk-filled abuse"1.
The Funk Factory has been retired by Wilson Effects and is no longer in production1. Replacement pots are still available from the maker for existing units.
Ibanez WH-10 tones in a wah pedal
The Funk Factory exists to capture the tone of the vintage Ibanez WH-10, a wah pedal from Ibanez's Power Series 10 line31. Wilson Effects positions it plainly: "Looking to capture the classic tones of a vintage Ibanez WH-10? The Funk Factory is the only pedal that faithfully reproduces" it, and the maker's headline for the pedal is "Authentic WH-10 Tone"1.
Where the original WH-10 is a discontinued vintage unit, the Funk Factory brings that circuit into a new hand-built pedal with modern conveniences: true bypass switching, a super bright LED indicator so you can easily see when the wah is engaged, and an output buffer that Wilson Effects says eliminates the WH-10's unwanted volume boost while preserving tone integrity1. The maker's own summary of the sound is short: "Vintage WH10 tones and then some! Get your funk on!"1
For players who already own a real Ibanez WH-10 rather than buying a reproduction, Wilson Effects also offers a WH10 modification service for WH10V3 and V2 pedals, which the maker describes as bringing a wah "closer to the original vintage WH-10 tone"45.
The controls
The Funk Factory's control set goes beyond a standard single-pedal wah. Wilson Effects lists these controls12:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth knob | Dials in the wah intensity |
| 4-position Q switch | Works with the Guitar/Bass switch to offer 6 unique tonal variations |
| Guitar/Bass switch | Optimized wah tones for both guitar and bass |
| Exterior volume control | Adjusts or removes the WH-10's natural boost |
The Q switch is the heart of the expanded sweep options. Wilson Effects describes it as "a four position Q switch that allows you to not only get the original WH10 tone but an additional 6 tonal options when utilizing the guitar and bass switch in conjunction with the Q switch"2. In other words, position one gets you the stock WH-10 character, and the remaining positions interact with the instrument switch to shape the wah's frequency peak and sweep.
The exterior volume control matters for anyone running the pedal into a dirty amp or a fuzz. The original WH-10 has a natural boost, and the Funk Factory's volume control lets you dial that boost back or remove it entirely1, while the output buffer handles the same job from the circuit side.
The WH-10 circuit and retirement
The Funk Factory's wah sweep depends on a dual-gang potentiometer, and Wilson Effects has kept the WH-10 lineage alive through its replacement pots even after retiring the pedal. The company sells a Ten Spot II/Funk Factory replacement pot, described as "a dual gang 500k/50k clone of the vintage WH10 pot." It is the second generation of that potentiometer, and current stock is left-over NOS (new old stock) of the old style pots used in the Ten Spot II and Funk Factory, sold with no warranty. That pot will not fit any version of the WH-10; it is only a replacement for the Wilson Effects Ten Spot II or Funk Factory61.
Separately, Wilson Effects sells a WH10 replacement potentiometer that does fit the Ibanez originals: "these are exact copies of the original WH10V1 potentiometer," and they "will work in all variations of the WH10 wah as well as the Funk Factory and Ten Spot II." The maker says the pot restores a wah's original sweep and response78.
If you are servicing a Funk Factory, check which pot you need before ordering. The Ten Spot II/Funk Factory pot fits only Wilson Effects pedals; the WH10 replacement potentiometer fits both the Ibanez wahs and the Funk Factory67.
The Funk Factory itself is retired, so a player wanting a new Wilson Effects wah today looks to the rest of the maker's line, such as the Ten Spot II V.3, the Mini Ten Spot II, or the WH10V3 Retrofit, which rebuilds an Ibanez WH10V3 around Wilson Effects parts.
Warranty, returns and shipping
When the Funk Factory was sold new, Wilson Effects backed it with a one-year warranty on parts and labor1. Returns were accepted within 7 days of receiving a new pedal, with shipping costs not refunded and return shipping the customer's responsibility. All items shipped via USPS Priority Mail2.
Videos
Wilson Effects
Brett Kingman
Pedalicious
Questions
Is the Wilson Effects Funk Factory still made?
No. Wilson Effects has retired the Funk Factory, so it is no longer part of the maker's current wah lineup. The company still sells a replacement potentiometer for it, the Ten Spot II/Funk Factory pot, for owners who need to service an existing unit.
Can the Funk Factory be used with bass?
Yes. The pedal has a Guitar/Bass switch, and Wilson Effects describes it as giving optimized wah tones for both instruments. Combined with the four-position Q switch, the switch offers six tonal variations beyond the original WH-10 sound.
Is the Funk Factory true bypass?
Yes. Wilson Effects lists true bypass switching on the Funk Factory, with no signal degradation when the pedal is off. It also has an output buffer that the maker says eliminates unwanted volume boost while preserving tone integrity.
What is the return policy on the Funk Factory?
Wilson Effects accepted returns within 7 days of receiving a new pedal. Shipping costs were not refunded, and return shipping was the customer's responsibility. The pedal carried a one-year warranty on parts and labor and shipped via USPS Priority Mail.
Sources (8)
- Funk Factory, Wilson Effects
- Funk Factory, Wilson Effects
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Modify Your WH10, Wilson Effects
- Send in Your WH10 for Mods, Wilson Effects
- Ten Spot II/Funk Factory Replacement Pot, Wilson Effects
- WH10 Replacement Potentiometer, Wilson Effects
- WH10 Potentiometers, Wilson Effects
