Funk tone is clean, bright and percussive. The magic is 90% in the right hand — tight 16th-note muting and dynamics — with a clean, snappy tone that lets every stroke speak.
Go clean and bright. A clean amp (Fender-style) with the treble up. Little or no gain — funk rhythm needs clarity so the muted chucks and chords stay articulate.
Use the bridge single-coil. A Stratocaster bridge (or bridge+middle) single-coil gives the snappy, glassy funk bite. A Telecaster works great too.
Add light compression. A compressor evens out your strumming and adds sustain and "pop" to the percussive strokes — a staple of Nile Rodgers and Cory Wong.
Tighten the low end. Roll bass back a little so the tone is tight and percussive, not muddy — funk is about the upper mids and treble.
Try a wah or auto-wah. A wah parked or an envelope filter adds that vocal, quacky funk flavour (think "Voodoo"-era, or classic 70s funk).
💡 The right hand is the tone: practice tight 16th-note muting and let ghost notes and dynamics breathe. A clean tone just exposes it.