Danelectro Billion Dollar Boost review

Take your playing right to the Edge

  • £79
  • €66
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MusicRadar Verdict

A versatile boost with plenty of oomph and tonal sweetening that’s great for stacking.

Pros

  • +

    Well built.

  • +

    Versatile.

Cons

  • -

    Very few.

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The familiar-looking control layout combined with Danelectro’s claim that the Billion Dollar Boost is a reissue of a 1980s secret weapon of A-list Irish and Brit rockers, makes us think that it’s most likely based on the Boss FA-1 FET Amplifier as used by The Edge. 

What you are getting is a solidly built pedal that offers either a flat boost across all frequencies or a boost that rolls off some bottom end. Unity gain is at about 10 o’clock on the Volume knob and above that there’s loads of signal driving capability with the option of bringing in the Bass and Treble knobs, each offering practical cut and boost. 

At lower levels with our clean amp it delivered a touch of airy enhancement and extra clarity, while further on it was able to induce breakup, grit and crunch. Where we really liked it though was in front of a drive pedal where it laid the perfect jumping off platform to another level. 

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.