The Donner Triple Threat is a 3-in-1 multi-effects pedal that puts distortion, phaser and echo in one compact metal enclosure. It was made by Donner in collaboration with Third Man Hardware, Jack White's gear line123. Each of the three effects has its own footswitch, so you can run them individually or stacked, and the whole unit measures 2.5 by 7.7 inches1.
The pedal launched at $99 in a standard black finish, with a limited-edition yellow version at $129 sold exclusively through Third Man's Reverb store45. Donner's own store currently lists it at a regular price of $119.99 with a sale price of $99.99, and shows it as sold out1.
Three analog effects in one enclosure
The Triple Threat combines three analog circuits in one aluminum alloy enclosure, each based on an existing Donner pedal7. The distortion is described by Donner as a "wide-range high gain" circuit with volume, gain and tone controls "to create a threatening rock sound"1. The phaser is an upgrade of Donner's Pearl Tremor pedal, with extended modulation controls638. The echo is adapted from the Yellow Fall Delay, Donner's first-ever pedal, released in 2013, and Donner says it delivers "warm analogue tone and rich feedback"64.
Guitar Pedal X reported that the distortion is likely the same or similar to the analog British-voiced high gain distortion found on Donner's Alpha Cruncher, with the phaser and echo likewise being tune-ups of the Pearl Tremor and Yellow Fall2. MusicRadar's reviewer noted the pedal uses the Alpha Cruncher aluminum enclosure, resprayed in taxi cab yellow or black6, and Premier Guitar observed that it looks a lot like Donner's Alpha Crunch and Alpha Force three-in-one units in identically sized enclosures9.
The effects run in a fixed order: distortion into phaser into echo, arranged in right-to-left stompbox order, with no option to rearrange them65.
The controls
Each module has three mini knobs fitted with grip-friendly rubber rings, and each effect has its own soft-touch footswitch with a green LED to show when it is active163.
| Section | Controls | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Distortion | Volume, Gain, Tone | Level, amount of drive, and tonal shaping for the high-gain circuit6 |
| Phaser | Level, Rate, Depth | Output level, speed, and depth of the sweep6 |
| Echo | Level, Feedback, Time | Echo volume (it does not boost overall output), number of repeats, and delay time65 |
The depth control on the phaser is a feature Guitar.com's reviewer called unique to the Triple Threat, opening up versatility "from gentle warbles to huge wooshes"8. Donner says the phaser can achieve "the Van Halen phase vibe" and "a classic Alabama and Waylon sound"1.
The echo has no tap tempo; Donner describes it as maintaining "a simple operation - no tap, but three responsive knobs, and it has a warm, haunting character"1. MusicRadar measured a 600ms maximum delay time6, while Guitar Pedal X listed the Time control range as 20ms to 620ms2. GuitarPlayer found the echo "bone simple and effective, offering warm, tape-style delays" from short slap-back to ambient echoes, with repeats that can be made to trail on endlessly by manipulating the time and level knobs5.
Power and connections
The Triple Threat runs on a standard 9V DC power jack, center negative, with a 100mA current draw, and an adapter is included685. There is no mention of battery power in any source. The enclosure has front-mounted input and output jacks5, and MusicRadar lists the connectivity as input, output and included power supply6.
Sources disagree on the bypass. MusicRadar and GuitarPlayer both describe buffered bypass with three all-metal on/off footswitches65, while Delicious Audio's launch coverage called it a true bypass switch7. Both reviews say buffered.
Designed with Jack White and Third Man Hardware
The Triple Threat was designed to Jack White's specifications, combining three of his favorite sounds34. GuitarPlayer's Art Thompson wrote that "Jack White conceived this sleek little multi-effector for his Third Man Hardware line"5, and Third Man Hardware designed the external appearance, adding its signature patterns such as lightning bolts from the Tesla tower, three sharp stripes and Third Man Hardware logo diagrams on both sides34. Donner produced the pedal in China5.
It was the first collaboration between Jack White and Donner10. Premier Guitar noted the pricing philosophy behind it: "White, staying faithful to his roots, likes the idea of making sure there's fewer financial obstacles to making a racket"9. White himself told Guitar.com: "The Triple Threat will fit very comfortably on my pedalboard"8.
The yellow and black versions differ only in color; Donner states "the functions are the same"1. The yellow was the limited edition, exclusive to Third Man's Reverb store at $129, while the black standard edition sold for $9945.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley awarded the Triple Threat four and a half stars for build quality and usability, and four stars for sounds, citing "three well-voiced effects," a price tag that "makes it a bargain," and a "robust enclosure and solid built" as reasons to buy. His criticisms included the lack of presets: "without presets you will want to keep a note of your favourite settings with a pen and paper"6.
GuitarPlayer gave the pedal an Editors' Pick, praising its "small, elegant design that offers three good-sounding effects" and calling it an ideal thing to keep in a gig bag, taking up less floor space than a lot of single-effect pedals. The reviewer found the distortion easy to dial in for lead and dirty rhythm and responsive to guitar volume controls, and liked that the phaser could be set for "stony MXR Phase 90/EHX Small Stone swirl" as well as shimmering sounds nudging into chorus and rotary territory, though he noted the phaser circuit "does suck signal" and that the level control needs adjusting to keep from losing punch5.
Premier Guitar found the distortion "serviceably covers Jack White sounds ranging from organic amp filth to fuzzier stuff," but noted that in the phaser section, "to reach unity gain, you need to set the level at 3 o'clock, which leaves much of the parameter's lower reaches pretty ineffective." The reviewer also found the enclosure "feels super sturdy" with removable rubber rings around the knobs that work as bumpers9.
Pedal of the Day called it "a powerhouse to be reckoned with" that fits any collection from beginners to seasoned veterans3, and Guitar World's Paul Riario said of the collaboration, "I'm impressed"11.
Videos
Guitar World
Reverb
DragonForce
Questions
Is the Donner Triple Threat true bypass?
Sources disagree on the bypass. MusicRadar and GuitarPlayer both describe the Triple Threat as using buffered bypass, with three footswitches that switch each effect in and out. Delicious Audio's launch coverage instead called it a true bypass switch. The majority of published reviews describe it as buffered.
What is the difference between the yellow and black Triple Threat?
The only difference is the color. The standard edition comes in black at $99, while the limited-edition yellow version was sold exclusively through Third Man's Reverb store at $129. Donner states the functions are identical between the two finishes.
Does the Triple Threat echo have tap tempo?
No. Donner describes the echo as having no tap tempo, just three knobs: Level, Feedback and Time. Delay times run from 20ms to 620ms depending on the source, and repeats can be pushed into self-oscillation for spacey effects.
Is the Donner Triple Threat analog?
Yes. Donner, Third Man Hardware and multiple press outlets describe it as an all-analog pedal, combining three analog circuits in one metal enclosure. The echo is adapted from Donner's Yellow Fall Delay and the phaser from the Pearl Tremor.
Does Jack White use the Triple Threat?
The pedal was designed to Jack White's specifications, combining three of his favorite sounds, and he told Guitar.com that it would fit comfortably on his pedalboard. It was the first collaboration between White and Donner.
Can you change the order of the effects on the Triple Threat?
No. MusicRadar's review states there is no option to change the order of the effects. The signal runs distortion into phaser into echo, in a fixed right-to-left stompbox order.
Sources (11)
- Triple Threat 3-in-1 Analog Multi-Effects Pedal Donner X Third Man Hardware, donnerdeal.com
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-01-26
- Donner / Third Man Triple Threat Jack White Multi-Effect, Pedal of the Day, 2024-11-16
- Donner teams up with Third Man Hardware for budget-friendly multi-effects unit, Guitar.com, 2024-01-25
- “Kudos to Jack White and Donner for creating this great-sounding and affordable piece of hardware”: Donner Triple Threat review, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2024-04-29
- “It's built in Jack White's spirit, with abundant potential for dialling in sounds that range from the practical and useable to wild and anarchic”: Donner x Third Man Hardware Triple Threat review, MusicRadar, 2025-06-02
- New At NAMM: Third Man Hardware Donner Triple Threat, Delicious Audio, 2024-02-05
- Donner Triple Threat review: Jack White-approved multi-effects, Guitar.com, 2024-02-09
- Donner X Third Man Triple Threat Guitar Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2024-07-23
- Best budget multi-effects pedals: a world of effects, Guitar World, 2022-09-27
- Meet the Triple Threat, the ultracompact, three-in-one analog pedal collab from Donner Music and Jack White's Third Man Hardware, Guitar World, 2024-01-26
