The Third Man Hardware / JHS Pedals Troika Delay is a collaboration between Jack White's Third Man Hardware and Kansas City's JHS Pedals, and it is not a typical delay pedal. It is a multi-purpose, pro-audio, studio-grade delay device designed to work with microphones, guitars, or any instrument you want to put through it12. Where most delays assume an instrument-level signal on a 1/4" cable, the Troika carries a microphone preamp, balanced XLR connections and transformer-coupled audio, so it can sit in a live vocal chain or on an amp or cabinet as easily as on a pedalboard12.
Guitar.com described it as a "horse-powered" instrument and microphone delay product "unlike anything else on the market"3. It is a digital delay with a mic preamp and a balanced XLR output4.
A delay for microphones and instruments
The Troika came out of a specific need: Jack White wanted delay on live microphones, and he brought the idea to JHS founder Josh Scott. Pedal of the Day reports that when Jack brought the idea to Josh, JHS gave it the same care and attention they gave to their Colour Box and Pulp N Peel preamp and compressor designs2. Guitar.com quotes the same lineage, noting the project got "the same care and attention we gave to the Colour Box and the Pulp N Peel"3.
The result is a device that works on vocals and on amps or cabinets, not just guitar2. Delicious Audio called it "a studio-grade signal-processing machine built for the stage"5. For a player, that means one box can add echoes to a vocal mic, a guitar, or anything else you can plug into its XLR or 1/4" jacks.
The controls
Instead of knobs, the Troika uses three sliders styled like a mini mixing console. Guitar.com reports White opted for sliders specifically to give him greater real-time control in a live setting3, and Pedal of the Day says the design gives Jack White, and now everyone else, easy, real-time control on stage2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Repeats | Governs feedback, how many echoes repeat and how long they sustain54 |
| Volume | Sets the effect's output level4 |
| Distance | Delay time, from 80ms to 1000ms (1 second)4 |
| Mic Gain | A mini dial on the side of the pedal, for the mic preamp6 |
The bypass switch sits above the sliders, positioned to keep it out of the way of on-the-fly adjusting2. Pedal of the Day found that "the simple control layout makes it a cinch to dial in a great tone in mere seconds"2.
"the simple control layout makes it a cinch to dial in a great tone in mere seconds"
Inputs, outputs and the mic preamp
The Troika is equipped with both XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs13. The microphone path is the part that sets it apart from ordinary delay pedals:
- A hi-grade Lundahl transformer on the mic input12
- A secondary output transformer12
- A microphone preamp with adjustable gain from +20dB to +80dB24
- Passes +48V of phantom power, but does not provide phantom power itself2
That last point matters for anyone hoping to run a condenser mic straight into the pedal: the Troika will pass phantom power through from a source that supplies it, but it cannot generate the 48 volts itself, so you still need a mixer, interface or supply that provides it2.
History and versions
The Troika was announced on 12 November 2025 as a collaboration between Third Man Hardware and JHS Pedals35. JHS says the project was given the same care and attention as its Colour Box and Pulp N Peel pedals3. Both versions of the Troika are available now: the standard black version at $349 and a limited-edition yellow version at $3691.
It ships in two colorways:
| Version | Price | Where it is sold |
|---|---|---|
| Standard black | $349 | Exclusively at Third Man Hardware17 |
| Limited-edition yellow | $369 | Exclusively via Third Man Hardware's Reverb shop13 |
Both versions were available at launch3, and JHS's own product page confirms the standard version is purchased exclusively at Third Man Hardware7. The yellow model is the limited edition of the pair13.
Videos
JHS Pedals and 3 more
Reverb and 3 more
R.J. Ronquillo and 2 more
Questions
Does the Troika Delay provide phantom power?
No. The Troika passes +48V of phantom power from an external source through to a condenser microphone, but it does not generate phantom power itself. You still need a mixer, interface or dedicated supply that provides the 48 volts.
What is the delay time range of the Troika Delay?
The Distance slider sets delay times from 80 milliseconds up to 1 second. That range covers quick slapback echoes through to longer, more spacious repeats, and the trails behavior is selectable internally.
Can you use the Troika Delay on vocals?
Yes. It was designed for instruments and vocals alike, with an XLR microphone input, a built-in mic preamp with adjustable gain from +20dB to +80dB, and a balanced XLR output, so it can sit in a live vocal chain.
Where can you buy the yellow Troika Delay?
The limited-edition yellow version is sold exclusively through Third Man Hardware's shop on Reverb, at a list price of $369. The standard black version, at $349, is sold exclusively at Third Man Hardware.
Does the Troika Delay have trails?
Yes, trails are internally selectable. Inside the pedal you can choose whether repeats continue to ring out after you hit the bypass switch or cut off immediately with the effect.
Sources (7)
- Third Man and JHS Pedals Debut Troika Delay, Premier Guitar, 2025-11-14
- Third Man Hardware / JHS Pedals Troika Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2025-11-13
- Third Man Hardware and JHS Pedals’ new Troika delay is “more than a pedal”, Guitar.com, 2025-11-12
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-11-14
- New Pedal: Third Man + JHS Troika Delay, Delicious Audio, 2025-11-12
- Third Man Hardware and JHS Pedals release Troika Delay, Guitar World, 2025-11-12
- TROIKA - JHS Pedals, JHS Pedals
