The first Doors album was recorded in August of 1966 which was nearly a year before John got the Mod Orange set. The second album also came within six months of the first album so it also pre-dates the mod orange. There are pictures of the Doors in the studio recording the third album waiting for the sun and John is using the Gretsch. It looks like the Mod Orange set was acquired so that John could use it as a touring set and the Gretsch could be in the studio. Waiting for the sun was recorded in early 1968 and it is the last time I have ever heard the Gretsch set being used. John acquired a WMP downbeat set in mid 1968 which went on tour with the Doors when they went to Europe. I have seen John in newer footage where he is using a Pearl set with concert toms and the WMP 14' floor tom. Not sure if he still has the rest of that set.

Great article. I really enjoyed it! Thanks for that.

-Doug

There`s football in Texas ?

That's the understatement of the year! Lol....

My wife's best friend lives outside of Dallas and the kiddie football stadiums are bigger than some of the college football stadiums around here. It's crazy how much football is played around there. I'm sure there are a ton of great kids playing now too.

This picture of the Gretsch kit nevertheless seems to be powered by a Ludwig Supraphonic, which is what my ear here's in that first crack that opens Light My Fire. I was mystified to think that sound could have come from a Gretsch snare drum with its brass shell and cast hoops.

You would be correct. I think John got his Gretsch set in high school and I have seen pics of him with a WMP Gretsch snare. I think by the time he joined the Doors though he purchased a supra. I'm pretty positive that every Doors album was recorded using a supra.

Great work! I wonder where his Supraphonic is.

Cool article. Thanks for sharing your info!!!

Any insight into the cymbals he used on the albums? Sizes, weights, etc.?

I can't say I know a lot about John's cymbals. I think most people are aware that by Morrison Hotel John was using a Paiste 602 ride. Not sure if he took one on the road though. His road cymbals always seem to be zildjians and if I were to make a guess I would probably say a 20" ride, 18" crash, 16(Possibly 15") crash and 14" hats. His ride cymbal on the first two albums is quite distinct but I don't know what it was.

As for the supra, I would guess that he bought his first one in either 1965 or 1966 as he used a supra the entire time he was with the Doors. His Gretsch set came with a WMP Gretsch snare but John used a supra when he was in the Doors. I just don't know how many supras he had. The mod orange probably came with one and possibly the WMP downbeat came with one. He used a standard set in 1970 but I doubt a supra came with it(even though that is what he used). Every pic I ever saw of any supra John has used was a supra with a ball bat muffler.

I heard somewhere that back in the 60's John kept a spare behind the drums and one was stolen during a concert. If I were to guess I would say John had three supras when he was with the Doors and he claims to still own at least one of them. I have also seen footage of John from the 90's playing a red Pearl concert tom set with a 60's WMP floor tom. I assuming this is the drum from his WMP downbeat set that he got in 1968.

Here is a pic of John on his original Gretsch with the Gretsch snare drum.