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| UK Distribution Hub: | 1 |
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1-year warranty & 30-day money-back guarantee included
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
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We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
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Key Features
The Ashdown SX-5H Guitar Head is suited to players who want straightforward control of gain, tone and dynamics in a compact amplifier format. Its front panel offers a clear layout built around a responsive preamp stage, an interactive EQ system, a Boost function and a flexible Master section that shapes overall output. The result is a head that adapts naturally to different playing approaches by responding directly to variations in pick attack and instrument output. You can shape cleans with precision or move into controlled overdrive by adjusting the balance between Gain and Master.
The inclusion of an aux input, an effects loop and a mute switch supports modern practice and performance needs. Inputs are designed for tonal consistency and the EQ section allows significant shaping across bass, middle, treble and presence. The SX-5H provides a focused platform for players who want reliable real-time control without unnecessary complexity.
Ex-Demo: This product may be ex-display, have light signs of use, have slight cosmetic marks or may have non-essential parts or software missing. The original box, packaging or manual may not be included. Each item is checked by our team of repair technicians to ensure it meets our high standards. This is a great opportunity to buy a fully functioning product at a discounted price.
Product Ref: 350142
The SX-5H is designed around a gain stage that reacts cleanly to instrument output. The Gain control determines how much signal reaches the preamp. Low settings provide clean articulation that relies on the Master to set overall volume. Increasing the gain introduces natural overdrive with a shift in harmonic content that can be controlled through pick attack and guitar level. The Boost function sits before the preamp so you can add additional input strength in the same manner as a traditional front-end boost pedal. This gives you the option to push the circuit for stronger breakup or retain a lighter overdrive that supports rhythm lines. The structure makes it straightforward to tailor the response to your instrument without sacrificing control at lower volumes.
The EQ layout gives you access to bass, middle, treble and presence controls. These work together as an interactive system so a change in one area influences the others. This approach provides a wide range of tonal adjustments that can be fine tuned for different guitars and pickup types. The presence control adjusts high frequency detail to help you set clarity in brighter or darker rooms. Some versions of the SX-5H also include an EQ switch that adjusts the circuit to replicate a British voicing or an American voicing. This adds an additional layer of flexibility for players who rely on specific tonal references in their setups. The overall design remains simple to read while offering the scope needed for detailed modification.
The Master control governs the final level sent to the power stage. Clean tones require the Master to be positioned high while the Gain determines the volume. Gain driven tones require the opposite approach. Managing the relationship between both controls provides the most effective way to adjust the character of the amplifier without resorting to additional devices. Reverb is available on some models through a single dedicated control that introduces ambience before the signal reaches the power amp. This produces a subtle sense of space that can be used to support clean lines or to add depth to low gain tones. The design aims to maintain clarity across different playing environments.
The SX-5H includes a standard quarter inch input designed for consistent performance with a wide range of instruments. Some models provide two differently voiced inputs that offer a bright British crunch tone or a thicker American base tone. The aux input accepts sources such as phones or media players with level controlled at the Master stage. The mute switch silences the amplifier for instrument changes. An effects loop is included on suitable models for routing signals to and from external processors. This keeps delays and modulation effects clean by placing them after the drive section. These features help maintain an organised signal chain for practice or performance while ensuring the amplifier remains straightforward to operate.
