The Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face is an Ashdown overdrive pedal, currently around $175.52. Close alternatives include the Ashdown MAS Vintage-Fuzz and the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the Peavey MiniMAX.
Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face
Ashdown · pedal
The Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face is a dual-function bass effects pedal designed in collaboration with Jamiroquai bassist Stuart Zender. It combines a tube-driven overdrive section powered by a 12AX7 valve with an autowah dynamic filter, covering warmth and dirt through to synth-like filtered funk textures. The drive section delivers warm, harmonically rich tube overdrive while the wah section responds dynamically to playing intensity via a single sensitivity knob. Built for professional stage use in a durable chassis at 0.9kg. Particularly associated with the funky bass tones of Virtual Insanity-era Jamiroquai. Suited for funk, soul, R&B, and jazz fusion bass players.
- autowah
- drive
- dynamic
- tube
- filter
- funk
- synth
- soul
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face is commonly used in
- Soul
- Funk
- Alternative Rock
- Jazz
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
20% matchWhat Marshall Super Bass brings here leans toward bright — that's worth building a pairing around
Peavey MiniMAX
Peavey
19% matchFeed a saturated signal into Peavey MiniMAX and it comes out closer to tight
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchRun EVH 000 into that low gain platform and it finally gets some high gain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Synergy SL2 Module gives it high gain to fill it with
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchInto a low gain tone, Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchInto a low gain tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head
Randall
tonal matchRun Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head into that low gain platform and it finally gets some high gain
Pedals that stack with the Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
21% matchInto a low gain tone, Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz brings the high gain it's missing
Wren and Cuff Box of War OG
Wren And Cuff
21% matchRun Wren and Cuff Box of War OG into that low gain platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
11% matchCrazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying
Boss CE-20 Chorus Ensemble
Boss
11% matchPut Boss CE-20 Chorus Ensemble after Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face in the signal chain, clear of Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face's own gain stage
Fjord Fuzz Mime
Fjord Fuzz
7% matchFjord Fuzz Mime's dark voice goes after Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face's own dynamic character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
6% matchKeep Strymon El Capistan after Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face in the signal chain, clear of Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Demon FX Gladiator
Demon Fx
tonal matchRun Demon FX Gladiator into that low gain platform and it finally gets some high gain
Fuzzrocious Demon King
Fuzzrocious
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Fuzzrocious Demon King gives it fuzzy to fill it with
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Ashdown MAS Vintage-Fuzz
Ashdown
68% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, warm
Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive
Ashdown
67% similarityShared character: filter, subtle, warm
Aguilar Octamizer (Bass Octaver)
Aguilar
66% similarityShared character: pedal, mono_synth, warm
Mission Engineering Momentum Bass Overdrive
Mission Engineering
65% similarityShared character: compact, solid_state, warm
Ampeg F17-1
Ampeg
65% similarityShared character: pedal, subtle, warm
Behringer BDI21
Behringer
65% similarityShared character: bass, overdrive
See all alternatives to the Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face?+
The closest matches in character are the Ashdown MAS Vintage-Fuzz, the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive, the Aguilar Octamizer (Bass Octaver). Budget picks: Aguilar DB 925. Boutique upgrades: Orange Bass Butler Bi-Amp Bass Preamp, Dophix Lussuria overdrive, Dunlop MDU JCT95.
What pairs well with the Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, Peavey MiniMAX, EVH 000 — What Marshall Super Bass brings here leans toward bright — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the Ashdown Stuart Zender Funk Face cost?+
Around $175.52 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).