Hey, You can get a L.D condensor for about 80 dollars. The CAD gxl 2200. it's cheap, yes but I've found that it makes a big difference to use any L.D. condensor mic rather than a S.D. or dynamic. Just my little piece of thought.
I bought a MXL V67G for around $100. I was able to convince the vender to throw in a shock mount and mic cable.
Also the Studio Projects B1 ($99) is a popular mic recommended here (hr.com) often.
I bought the M-Audio DMP3 mic pre from recommendations I've read here. The Rane is a highly rated mic pre but I needed something I could stereo mic and I was limited on how much I could spend. I also like the fact that I can meter with the DMP3.