What drums did John Densmore use on The End by The Doors?

John Densmore used a Rogers drum kit on "The End." The drums were tuned low with loose heads to achieve the deep, resonant tribal sound heard on the recording. This tuning approach was crucial to the track's epic, spacious character.

How was The End by The Doors recorded?

"The End" was recorded at Elektra Sound Recorders in Los Angeles by engineer Bruce Botnick. The drums were captured using two Neumann microphones (U67 and U47) positioned far back as a stereo pair to capture room ambience, with additional natural reverb from the studio's stairwell.

What microphones were used to record The Doors The End drums?

The drums on "The End" were recorded using a Neumann U67 and a Neumann U47 microphone. These mics were positioned far back from the drum kit as a stereo pair to capture the room's natural ambience rather than close-miking the individual drums.

How to get John Densmore drum sound on The End?

To recreate John Densmore's drum sound, tune your drums low with loose heads, record in a large room with natural reverb, and place microphones far back from the kit to capture room sound. The key is the ambient, spacious recording approach rather than close-miking techniques.

Who engineered The End by The Doors?

"The End" was engineered by Bruce Botnick and produced by Paul A. Rothchild at Elektra Sound Recorders in Los Angeles. Botnick's microphone placement and use of the studio's natural acoustics were essential to achieving the track's iconic sound.

drums from "the end" by the doors

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Tone Profile

Epic and tribal, with a deep, resonant sound achieved through natural room ambience and careful microphone placement.

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Rogers Drums(instrument)
Neumann U67(microphone)
Neumann U47(mic)

The Story

John Densmore's legendary drum sound on "The End" was captured at Elektra Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, engineered by Bruce Botnick and produced by Paul A. Rothchild. The iconic deep, tribal sound was achieved using a Rogers drum kit tuned low with loose heads, recorded with two Neumann microphones (a U67 and U47) positioned far back as a stereo pair to capture the room's natural ambience. The stairwell at Elektra studios provided additional natural reverb, contributing to the epic, spacious quality of the recording.

Production Credits

Producer: Paul A. Rothchild

Engineer: Bruce Botnick

Recorded at: Elektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Rogers DrumsShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Use a large, open room with natural reverb.
Position microphones further back from the kit to capture more room sound.
Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot for room ambience.
Tune the drums low with loose heads for a deeper, more resonant tone.
Consider using a vintage Rogers drum kit or similar for an authentic sound.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Warm Audio WA-67Shop on Reverb$900-$1000

Alternative to: Neumann U67

Faithful recreation of the U67's tube warmth and frequency response, perfect for capturing room ambience from a distance

Golden Age Project R1 MkIIIShop on Reverb$300-$400

Alternative to: Neumann U47

Budget ribbon mic that captures the vintage character and room sound essential for this tribal, ambient drum tone

Gretsch USA CustomShop on Reverb$2500-$4000

Alternative to: Rogers Drums

Premium drums with similar shell construction and resonant qualities to vintage Rogers, capable of the deep tuning this track requires

Valhalla VintageVerbPlugin Boutique$50-$60

Alternative to: Elektra Studios room sound

Excellent vintage hall and room algorithms that can recreate the natural stairwell reverb character heard on the original

Pearl Export SeriesShop on Reverb$600-$800