The Eventide Knife Drop is an octave fuzz pedal with a monophonic analog synth built in, released on October 29, 2024. It was made by Eventide in collaboration with Third Man Hardware, Jack White's gear company, and developed with White himself, whose presets ship in the pedal12. The launch announcement pitched it as "a commanding new effects pedal that merges aggressive octave fuzz with earth-shaking analog synth tones"1.
Under the hood, an aggressive distortion crushes a three-way blend: your input signal, a monophonic analog-style synth, and footswitch-enabled octaves3. Guitar World describes it as a synthesizer pedal with octave and overdrive, adding octave up and down functionality2. The sounds themselves come from White's favorite bits of Eventide's H9 multi-effects, including tones heard on tracks like Blue Orchid4.
Octave fuzz and analog synth in one pedal
The Knife Drop's core idea is the blend. Your incoming guitar signal is mixed with a monophonic analog-style synth, and the Synth knob sets how much synth tone you hear against your dry signal27. On top of that sit an overdrive circuit and octave up and down functionality, engaged by a second footswitch25. Because the synth is monophonic, it tracks one note at a time, which shapes how the pedal responds to chords versus single lines.
Eventide's own tone notes promise "bone-rattling distortion and generous heaps of sonic chaos"5. The filter is central to the design: a sweepable filter whose starting point you set with the Cutoff control, with a resonance control for its depth5. A button above the Active footswitch moves the filter before or after the distortion, green for pre-gain and red for post-gain56.
The controls
The pedal keeps its main interface to three top-mounted knobs plus footswitches and buttons, with secondary functions hidden underneath26.
| Control | Primary function | Secondary (alt) function |
|---|---|---|
| Synth | Blend of synth tone against dry guitar signal2 | Attack, 0 to 1000ms26 |
| Drive | Gain in the circuit; adds the overdrive, movable pre or post filter25 | Resonance, filter depth56 |
| Level | Output volume2 | Filter cutoff, where the sweep begins56 |
| Alternative Endings | Selects alternate settings6 | Alt button for secondary controls6 |
To reach the secondary functions you press and hold a small LED/button to the right of the Level knob, marked "3 alternate endings"2. Guitar World's reviewer found this awkward in practice: the alternate-controls button is momentary, and the reviewer would have preferred a latching switch2.
Other hardware:
- Two footswitches: one engages the effect, the other engages the octaves56
- Octave mode button: green for octave-up, red for octave-up plus a sub-octave5
- Filter position button: green places the filter before the distortion, red after it56
- Five onboard presets created by Jack White, indicated by an "LED ladder" on the front, with settings cards that slot over the knobs47
Power and connections
The Knife Drop runs on 9V DC. The published figures disagree on current draw: Guitar World lists 300mA, while Guitar Pedal X lists 500mA (4.5W)26. Either figure is well beyond what a battery or a typical small daisy chain supplies, so plan on an isolated or high-current supply.
The two press sources disagree on current draw, 300mA versus 500mA. If your power supply is close to the lower figure, the higher one is the safer assumption when choosing a supply.
Connections are flexible. There is a single 1/4-inch input that takes a TRS cable for stereo input, with switches for mono or stereo and for guitar or line level, plus two outputs and a TRS stereo jack for stereo out267. The guitar/line level switch means the input accommodates various signal levels, so the pedal works with line-level gear and synths as well as guitars1. An expression input and a mini-B USB port round out the rear panel16.
MIDI, expression and presets
Beyond the knobs, the Knife Drop offers full MIDI control, expression pedal and external footswitch operation47. Five presets are built in, created by Jack White14. Guitar.com's reviewer called the package "MIDI-enabled, app-controlled"4.
History and versions
The Knife Drop came out of a collaboration between Eventide and Third Man Hardware, announced and released on October 29, 202413. On Eventide's side, the announcement names CTO Russell Wedelich as the designer1. The pedal's sounds derive from White's personal favorite parts of Eventide's H9 multi-effects platform, whose algorithms and presets were sold individually through an app48.
Two versions exist:
| Version | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Black Standard Edition | $299 at launch (£329 in the UK) | Third Man Records' storefronts in the US, Eventide's authorized distributors internationally156 |
| Yellow limited edition | $333 | Exclusive to Third Man; sources place it on Third Man Records' website and on the Third Man Hardware Reverb storefront15 |
What reviewers said
Reviews were mixed on usability and positive on sound. Guitar.com's verdict praised the tones outright, listing "truly epic synth, drive and octave sounds" among the pluses4. Guitar Pedal X was more critical of the operation:
"So the verdict is that it’s a cool sounding pedal - but somewhat clunky to operate and fairly flawed in several departments."
That review also noted the cost of building a full rig around it: paired with an OXU Three controller, the total came to £463 in the UK6. Guitar World's reviewer echoed the usability complaint about the momentary alt-controls button2.
Videos
Eventide Audio
Eventide Audio
Reverb
Questions
Is the Knife Drop made by Jack White?
No. The Knife Drop is made by Eventide in collaboration with Third Man Hardware, Jack White's gear company. It was developed in collaboration with White, who contributed presets, but the pedal is an Eventide product. Eventide Audio CTO Russell Wedelich is named in the announcement as the designer on Eventide's side.
Does the Eventide Knife Drop work in stereo?
Yes. The dual input and output configuration supports both mono and stereo operation. There is a single 1/4-inch input that can take a TRS cable for stereo input, plus mono/stereo switches, and stereo output is available via a TRS stereo jack. Two output jacks are also provided.
Can the Knife Drop be controlled with MIDI?
Yes. The Knife Drop offers full MIDI control, along with expression pedal and external footswitch operation. It also has a mini-B USB port. Five onboard presets, created by Jack White, can be selected from the pedal itself, indicated by an LED ladder on the front.
Where can I buy the yellow Knife Drop?
The yellow Knife Drop is a limited edition sold exclusively through Third Man. Premier Guitar's announcement says it was offered on Third Man Records' website for $333, while Guitar World reported it on the Third Man Hardware Reverb storefront, also for $333. The standard black edition launched at $299.
Does the Knife Drop work with synths or line-level gear?
Yes. A guitar/line level switch on the pedal lets the input accommodate various signal levels, so it can be used with line-level gear as well as guitars. The synth section itself is monophonic, tracking one note at a time, which matters if you feed it chords.
Is the Knife Drop a Jack White signature pedal?
Guitar.com's reviewer describes it as Jack White's latest signature pedal and his most technologically advanced yet. It carries onboard presets created by White, and its sounds are derived from his favorite parts of Eventide's H9 multi-effects, including tones heard on tracks like Blue Orchid.
Sources (8)
- Eventide and Third Man Hardware Knife Drop Announcement, Premier Guitar, 2024-10-29
- Eventide x Third Man Hardware Knife Drop review, Guitar World, 2025-01-23
- Eventide / Third Man Knife Drop Sub-Octave Fuzz & Analog Synth Terror, Pedal of the Day, 2025-01-30
- Eventide Third Man Hardware Knife Drop review: outrageously fun, Guitar.com, 2025-02-28
- “A commanding new effects pedal that merges aggressive octave fuzz with earth-shaking analogue synth tones”: Third Man Hardware joins forces with Eventide for the Knife Drop, MusicRadar, 2024-10-29
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-10-30
- “Conjuring nightmarish soundscapes through a sinister blend of distortion and synthesis”: Jack White's Third Man Hardware teams up with Eventide on Knife Drop, Guitar World, 2024-10-29
- Eventide announces the H9 Stompbox at NAMM !!, Eventide Audio, 2013-01-23
