A Shure SM58 microphone used by Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek during live concerts by The Doors. The microphone has been tested and remains in excellent working condition.

Jim Morrison can be seen using a Shure SM58 microphone in numerous photographs, including those shown here.  Included here is an 11″ x 14″ original black & white photograph of Morrison using a similar microphone, by legendary photographer Eliott Landy (the second photo illustrated).

We acquired this microphone from longtime Doors road manager Vince Treanor III, who built the group’s legendary stage amplification system. Treanor kept this and a number of other Doors microphones for more than 45 years, and in 2014 sold the complete collection to Jeff Gold of Recordmecca.

The following is excerpted from Vince Treanor’s letter of authenticity for the Doors microphones:

‘The 3 Shure microphones were used by The Doors during performances beginning in Summer of 1967.06.  It is likely they were purchased from Yale Radio in Hollywood, California by Bill Siddons- Road manager for The DOORS during 1967.  They were used by Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison.  There was no selectivity as to which unit was used by which person.  It is guaranteed they were all used by both members of The Doors.  Their use was terminated by replacement not later than 1968.01.”

In Treanor’s letter and various emails, he explained in detail the provenance of this microphone. When Treanor took over as road manager of The Doors in January 1968, he replaced the Shure mics they’d been using with EV-676’s. Morrison used a chrome EV-676 for a short time, but soon switched to a gold plated model, which became his primary microphone for concert performances.

Numerous photographs exist showing that Morrison continued to used Shure SM58 microphones on occasion during rehearsals, television broadcasts and occasionally for live performances.

Treanor noted after retiring the Shures, the microphones used by The Doors during his tenure were purchased “by me and with my own funds” at Yale Radio. Treanor also owned the mic stands, sound mixers and the telcom (telecommunications) system used by The Doors. When The Doors weren’t working, Treanor occasionally did sound for other acts, and he wanted to be able to use the microphone system on these occasions.

Treanor was a consultant to the Oliver Stone film “The Doors,” and lent the production some Doors mics and mic stands, which were used during filming. He has lived in Southeast Asia for many years, but kept his equipment in storage in Los Angeles. When his storage was moved, the Doors microphones were located among his other possessions, and sold to Recordmecca.

This is a rare opportunity to obtain one of a very few microphone definitely used by  Jim Morrison, with impeccable provenance. Included is a copy of Vince Treanor’s letter of authenticity for all of the Doors microphones, and Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

The microphone is in excellent working condition, with denting to the ball and scratching to the body (Treanor told us Morrison used to swing and generally abuse his microphones, which is one reason he replaced the Shures with the hardier EV-676’s.)

See our other listings for an AKG Microphone also used by The Doors.