Robby Krieger

Per The Doors Guide website - a website that aims to be the ultimate resource for one of the most innovative bands to come out of the west coast music scene in the late 1960s — THE DOORS":

"Robby Krieger plays a red 1964 Gibson SG Special with P-90 pickups on the first two Doors albums and for a bulk of the group's live shows from 1966-1970 (later with an added tremolo bar). Sadly, this legendary guitar was stolen and remains missing. I have the guitar's original serial number so anyone who believes they've found it can contact me for confirmation. Note: Robby sometimes incorrectly refers to this as a '64 Gibson Melody Maker."

In this photo Robby Krieger is seen infront of a wall of Acoustic 260 Amps

In an interview published on MusicRadar (http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-robby-krieger-on-the-doors-la-woman-jim-morrison-and-skrillex-527068), Robby says: "...I had a Maestro Fuzztone, which I used..."

In an interview with Guitar World in 2008, Krieger talks about how this pedal was used on "Waiting for the Sun".

It might have just been a Gibson Maestro fuzztone, or it might have bee n these Acoustic amps we had with a built-in fuzz. Actually, I think it was a combination of those things. But there definitely was some heavy fuzz on that stuff—maybe too heavy.

Stompbox: 100 Pedals of the World’s Greatest Guitarists specifies it to be an FZ-1, as can be seen in this teaser image.

At about 1:35 during this video for Reverb, Krieger discusses his studio rig for recording with The Doors: "Recording wise, it was the SG and a Twin Reverb. That was pretty much it." The recording dates for the first two Doors albums indicate this would have been a Blackface model (the Silverface variant was not manufactured until 1968, at which point "The Doors" and "Strange Days" had already been recorded and released).

In an Interview w/ Premier Guitar, Robby Krieger discusses his Boss ME-10 multi-effect unit:

"I use a Boss ME-10 multi-effect unit, which they don’t make anymore, and I use the gain channel on the amps too. That’s my basic rig. Very simple."

Per The Doors Guide website - a website that aims to be the ultimate resource for one of the most innovative bands to come out of the west coast music scene in the late 1960s — THE DOORS":

"According to an Elektra memo, Robby Krieger purchased a red 1967 Gibson SG Special in November 1967. It was likely acquired for use in the studio as session photos from early '68 show him with this guitar. He also played it during at least one set at the Fillmore East in March 1968."

According to Robby Krieger’s Guitars and Gear, Robby Krieger used Vox Tonebender on stage

According to TheDoorsGuide.com, a website that aims to be the ultimate resource for one of the most innovative bands to come out of the west coast music scene in the late 1960s, "Robby Krieger started playing a red 1968 Gibson SG Standard in March 1968 and used it throughout the '68 summer tour."

This is verified by Gibson from this article.

Here we can see Robby playing a Strat.

In this article from PremierGuitar, Robby tells Bob Cianci "My current rig is two Fender Hot Rod DeVilles, with either 2x12 or 4x10 speaker cabs."

According to Robby Krieger’s Guitars and Gear, Robbie Krieger uses GHS Guitar Boomers Roundwound Electric Guitar Strings (10-46)

In this January 23, 2024 interview with Guitar World, Krieger discusses his inspirations for fingerstyle playing and later usage of a pick:

[Guitar World]: "How does your current process compare to your days with The Doors?"

[Robby Krieger]: “The main change is I’m using a pick more nowadays. Back in the Doors days, I never used a pick; I’d always play fingerstyle. I didn’t get into using picks until the ‘70s, but even then I still used my fingers on the old right hand often. The main difference would be using a pick and trying to get the right speed going with it.”

[G.W.]: "What led you to primarily play fingerstyle back then?"

[R.K.]: “Fingerstyle is still the most comfortable. I initially played flamenco guitar, and Wes Montgomery, who I loved, never used a pick – well, he didn’t use one early on. But later I read an article on him, and by then he’d started using a pick.

“He was asked why and said, ‘If I had to do it over again, I’d use a pick because it’s easier on the fingers.’ I felt bad for him when I read that, but I also understood what he meant because fingerstyle can leave your fingers and thumbs all thrashed up and your nails ragged.

“So at that point I said to myself, ‘Okay, I’m going to try and use a pick too.’ It wasn’t easy for quite a few years; but eventually I became comfortable enough to where I’m not actually comfortable, but I can do it just the same.”

[G.W.]: "Your dabbling with flamenco can be heard in your playing and compositions, along with your classical and jazz leanings."

[R.K.]: “Yeah, that’s most definitely true. But you also have to remember that Ray Manzarek was very into classical music, which affected the composition too. All of that definitely was a significant product of me in those styles; there’s no doubt about that.”

[G.W.]: "Did the transition from fingerstyle to pick impact your tone?"

[R.K.]: “People ask me about the secret to my tone… for starters, there’s no secret! Everyone has their own sound; and with me, a lot of that definitely came from me playing fingerstyle. But my viewpoint on tone has always been that I have my own sound, and everybody else should too. If your mother can’t recognize you when she hears your sound on the radio, then you don’t have your own sound.”

[...]

Here is a picture from Gibson, Krieger with his 1954 Les Paul Custom.

On this pic we can see Robby playing an sg custom.

According to Robby Krieger’s Guitars and Gear, Robby Krieger uses Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal

In the image provided by Sndimg, Robby Krieger is seen in the studio with a Gibson ES-335, highlighting his use of this iconic semi-hollowbody electric guitar.

On a Robby Krieger interview, there's a picture of him playing on a Gibson ES-335 TDSV on stage, a picture by Linda Kyriazi.

You weren't big on pedal effects in those days, were you?

"Not very much. I had a Maestro Fuzztone, which I used, but other than that… let me think... Oh, I did use a 12-string [a Gibson ES-335] on a couple of songs, like Love Her Madly and Texas Radio."

Tommy Thayer (Kiss) lets Robby Krieger test his new signature guitar

This is one of the first guitar that Robby ever got – his first one was a cheap knock-off.

His father bought it in Madrid during a business trip for $200, and for those first couple of years it was all that Robby played and practiced on

This is perhaps the most collectable guitar in Robby’s collection. He bought it just couple of years back persuaded by his friend Al Jackson.

The guitar is rarely played live.

This guitar was custom-built for Robby. He plays it very often live in the recent years on “Spanish Caravan”, perhaps to take the stress off the 1963 Ramirez – which is dear to him for obvious reasons

This Studio monitor can be seen Right in between of two monitor screens at the right side of Robby Krieger.

This studio monitor can be seen on top of Robby Krieger's Piano/Keyboard and at the left side of Robby.

Boss DS-1 Distortion is in his pedalboard in this photo.

Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer is in his pedalboard in this photo.

In the user-uploaded photo, Robby Krieger's pedalboard features the Boss FV-50H Stereo Volume Pedal.

Boss TR-2 Tremolo is on his pedalboard in this video.

In a recent Instagram post by officialrobbykrieger, Robby Krieger is seen utilizing a Danelectro Baby Sitar while creating music, highlighting the unique sound and versatility this instrument brings to his compositions. The post, captioned with reflections on the joy of music creation and a mention of the new song "Samosas & Kingfishers," serves as direct evidence of Krieger's use of this particular gear.

In a video reposted on Facebook by Back Beat, Robby Krieger is seen with a DigiTech Whammy Ricochet on his pedalboard.