Best Condensor under $200

[kikling]

Okay, im a kid and cant spend over $200. I went to musiciansfriend.com and put together condensor mics that were under 200. I will use it for everything. Instruments such as drums, guitar amps and vocals. I use PC recording, cool edit pro. No mixer, so no Phantom power Please tell me which is the best for what i need:
RODE NT1
RODE NT3
AKG C1000
MARSHALL MXL2001
SHURE SM94-LC.

I want this to be a tough mic that doesnt easily get ruined, and i want a deep sound. go to www.musiciansfriend.com and search under thesse mics for more info. WHERE CAN I GET THESE MICS FOR THE BEST PRICE, (please say guitar center because i have a $75 certificate there) Thanks Alot. I can always trust on this forum for help. kikling@mail.com


[This message has been edited by kikling (edited 06-06-2000).]

 

[KingNothing]

The consensus vote on this BBS out of those choices would be the NT1. You can pick these up at Guitar Center, so you can use that certificate.

Or...you could go with the NT3 and post a review of it, cause no one here has used it yet I dont think.

 

[ola]

If you don't have phantom power, the NT1 and MXL2001 are out. They can't run on battery. (Well, they can if you know how to wire a fake phantom powering but that's another story...)

If you are going to use the mic on drums and guitar amps, why not go for a SM57? Sure (pun intended, of course) it's not a condensor mic but I would hazard a guess that it will produce just as good sound for those applications as your other choices but at a lower price. For vocals, the NT1 may be slightly "better" than the other if you want the "large condensor sound" but it doesn't run on without phantom power.

So where does this leave you? Get the C1000 That did of course not make sense from the above reasoning but it's a great allround mic and works on just about anything. I've heard many say that if you're getting only one mic, it should be AKG C1000. Maybe you can even get a used one. They're basically bullet proof so it's not as risky as buying a used large condensor mic. I bought mine for $80 with case et all (they're about $250 new in Sweden) so bargains can be had. If you're buying used mics, I would suggest that you buy it from a music store rather than ebay or similar just because they're so delicate and it's hard to say if it's damaged until you have tried it. As far as I've gathered, there's generally not a good return policy at ebay.

/Ola

 

[Track Rat]

C-1000 would be my choice.

 

[kikling]

thanks for the responses. Does anybody know a store that sells used mics. Preferably in L.A, CA
Thanks

 

[Fishmed]

Check the Guitar Center in Santa Ana.

 

[Guest]

I am in love with the SM-57 but i guess the C1000 would be my second choice. My advice to you is to go to whereever you are going to buy and listen to them both very close and maybe even again on another day..(ears change) But one of those two pretty much hands down.. http://www.mp3.com/codyyoung Most of it done with either my AT 4033 or SM-57's

[This message has been edited by ShakesTheClown (edited 06-07-2000).]

 

[Hot Rocks]

I just sold my barely used AKG C3000. I made enough money on it to buy a Mint/new cond. Rode NT1 and a zoom 506 bass processor.The Rode is a much better mic in my opinion. The zoom is cool too