The Eventide / Third Man Knife Drop is a sub-octave fuzz and analog synth pedal built as a collaboration between Eventide and Third Man Hardware, developed with Jack White. Released on October 29, 2024, it merges what Guitar World called "aggressive octave fuzz" with "earth-shaking analog synth tones" in a single box1.
Under the hood, an aggressive distortion crushes a three-way blend of your dry input signal, a monophonic analog-style synth, and footswitch-enabled octaves2. An ADSR-style envelope sweeps the cutoff frequency of a resonant lowpass filter, giving the pedal its synth-like voice, and the filter can be routed pre- or post-distortion for radically different textures2. Guitar.com's reviewer found the sounds were derived from White's personal favorite bits of Eventide's H9 multi-effects unit3.
Sub-octave fuzz with an analog synth blended in
The Knife Drop's core idea is a blend, not a single effect. Pedal of the Day describes the signal path as an aggressive distortion crushing a three-way mix of input signal, monophonic analog-style synth, and footswitch-enabled octaves2. In practice that means you can dial in how much of your clean guitar, how much synth, and how much octave-down sits under the fuzz, rather than choosing one or the other.
The filter is the other half of the character. An ADSR-style envelope sweeps the cutoff of a resonant lowpass filter, with adjustable Attack, Resonance and Cutoff, so each note you play triggers a synth-style sweep2. The filter position can be swapped pre- or post-distortion, which Pedal of the Day says lets you "explore radically altered textures"2. The drive circuit can likewise be moved to pre or post-filter4.
Pedal of the Day summed up the sound in characteristically vivid terms:
Eventide and Third Man Hardware describe the Knife Drop as a sub-octave fuzz and analog synth pedal that can conjure walls of fuzz that sound like they're crawling out from the depths of a cursed VHS tape2. Under the hood, an aggressive distortion crushes a three-way blend of the input signal, a monophonic analog-style synth, and footswitch-enabled octaves2.
The controls
The pedal keeps its front panel simple: three knobs and a small LED button. Each knob has a primary function and an alternate function reached through that button134.
| Knob | Primary function | Alternate function |
|---|---|---|
| Synth | Synth blend | Attack (attack speed, 0 to 1000ms) |
| Drive | Gain in the circuit; adds the overdrive circuit, movable pre or post-filter | Resonance (depth of the lowpass filter) |
| Level | Output volume | Cutoff (starting frequency of the filter envelope sweep) |
The push-button, marked "3 alternate endings", sits to the right of the level knob. Pressing and holding it accesses the secondary controls4. Guitar.com's reviewer noted this is a two-handed job: the alternate functions "can only be accessed by holding down the 'alternate endings' button and then twiddling the respective knob"3. The cutoff knob selects the starting frequency for the filter envelope sweep, and the resonance knob increases the resonance of the lowpass filter4.
Stereo and level connections
The Knife Drop is a mono synth/fuzz pedal at heart, but its connections are flexible1:
- A single 1/4-inch input that can be used with a TRS cable for stereo input4
- Two 1/4-inch outputs4
- Stereo out via a TRS stereo jack3
- A guitar or line-level switch for using it with different instruments4
- Mono/stereo and line/guitar input switching for its stereo capabilities1
The line-level switch means the pedal is not limited to guitar: keyboards, drum machines and other line-level sources can drive it. Full MIDI control is also on board, along with expression pedal and external footswitch operation3.
Presets and MIDI
The pedal holds five presets, with room for more via MIDI1. The factory presets include exclusive ones handcrafted with Jack White, which Pedal of the Day says "pulse with +6db of additional gain"2. You can design and store your own presets alongside his, then recall them through an LED ladder on the pedal25.
Made with Jack White, and the yellow edition
The Knife Drop was developed in collaboration with Jack White and is his latest signature pedal13. Third Man Hardware, the design arm behind the project, has a history of collaborations with brands like Donner, Fender, MXR and Anasounds, nearly all sporting contrasting yellows and blacks with symbolic pattern motifs6. Earlier Jack White effects projects include the CopperSound Pedals Third Man Triplegraph digital octave pedal7.
Two versions shipped at launch:
| Version | Price | Where sold |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (black) | $299 | Third Man Records' storefronts; preorder via Third Man Records' website in the US and Eventide's authorized distributors internationally |
| Limited edition yellow | $333 | Third Man Hardware Reverb storefront |
MusicRadar reported the yellow version at £/$399 available direct5, while Guitar World gave its price as $333 on the Reverb storefront1; the two reports disagree on the yellow edition's price.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's review praised the pedal's "massive sonic versatility"3, and Guitar World's reviewer called it "A superb choice for experimental players"4. Guitar.com also noted White's signature status made it his most technologically advanced pedal yet, offering synth, drive and octave sounds in a MIDI-enabled, app-controlled package3.
Videos
Premier Guitar
Eventide Audio
Eventide Audio
Questions
Who designed the Eventide / Third Man Knife Drop?
The Knife Drop is a collaboration between Eventide and Third Man Hardware, developed with Jack White. Guitar.com's reviewer described it as White's latest signature pedal and his most technologically advanced yet, with sounds derived from his favorite parts of Eventide's H9 multi-effects unit.
How many presets does the Knife Drop have?
The Knife Drop holds five presets, including exclusive presets handcrafted with Jack White that carry +6dB of additional gain. There is room for more presets via MIDI, and an LED ladder on the pedal guides you through them.
Can you save your own presets on the Knife Drop?
Yes. You can design your own presets and store them alongside the factory Jack White presets, then recall them through the pedal's LED ladder. MIDI support adds room for more presets beyond the five stored on the pedal itself.
Is the Knife Drop stereo?
Yes. The pedal has a single 1/4-inch input that accepts a TRS cable for stereo input, and two 1/4-inch outputs. Guitar.com's review also notes stereo out via a TRS stereo jack, with mono/stereo and line/guitar input switching.
Can the Knife Drop take a line-level input?
Yes. A guitar or line-level switch lets you use the pedal with different instruments and line-level sources, which also feeds its stereo capabilities through the mono/stereo and line/guitar inputs.
What does the push-button above the top dials do?
It activates a secondary mode. Pressing and holding the small LED button, marked '3 alternate endings', to the right of the level knob switches the three knobs to their alternate functions: Attack, Resonance and Cutoff for the filter envelope.
Where was the Knife Drop sold?
At launch on October 29, 2024, the standard version sold for $299 at Third Man Records' storefronts, with preorder via Third Man Records' website in the United States and Eventide's authorized distributors internationally. A limited edition yellow version was sold for $333 on the Third Man Hardware Reverb storefront.
Sources (7)
- “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 / 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
- Eventide x Third Man Hardware Knife Drop review, Guitar World, 2025-01-23
- “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
- Anasounds La Grotte Analog Spring Reverb review, Guitar World, 2024-11-06
- Jack White and CopperSound Pedals' Third Man Triplegraph Digital Octave is a retro-futurist's dream, MusicRadar, 2020-09-28
