TONEDB

drums from “the end” by the doors | ToneDB

the end

the doors

drums

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

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

Gear

Rogers Drumsinstrument
Reverb$40Sweetwater
Neumann U67microphone
ReverbSweetwater
Neumann U47mic
ReverbSweetwater

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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 Drums

Microphone: Neumann U67

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

  • Rogers Drums(drums)
  • Neumann U67(mic)
  • Neumann U47(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Warm Audio WA-67$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

ReverbSweetwater
Golden Age Project R1 MkIII$300-$400

Alternative to: Neumann U47

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

ReverbSweetwater
Gretsch USA Custom$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

ReverbSweetwater
Valhalla VintageVerb$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

ReverbSweetwater
Pearl Export Series$600-$800

Alternative to: Rogers Drums

Budget option with birch shells that resonate well when tuned low, allowing recreation of the deep tribal sound on a smaller budget

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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