total newbie in need of some advise

[newvintage69]

i am starting my own little studio and i need a bit of advise.

Q#1: best condeser mic $300 and below? w/ multipattern?
Q#2: tube mic vs. solid state, what's your preferance?
Q#3: best instrument/basic "workhorse" mic? shure sm57?

i really appreciate the help
thanks

[ermghoti]

It's too early in the day for me to come up with suitably glib responses. The site's search button, or just a little browsing (like the first page of the Mic section), will point you in the right direction.