mic advice: help me pick

[cracked lid]

So my home recording gear at this point consists of a cheap radio shack mic plugged directly into my sound card, because it was what I already had. I have decided to upgrade equipment and have narrowed down my mic choices to what fits my budget. Basically, I need advice on which my will suit my needs best. The mics I'm trying to choose between are:

Shure SM86
Cad M179
Rode NT5 pair
AT3035

I will be recording mostly just my voice and an acoustic guitar (Taylor 710 dreadnought if it matters). I would rather have a mic that helps the guitar sound rather than my vocal sound, because no mic is going to make my voice sound great, but my guitar playing ain't half bad. I play mostly blues, so I'm looking for a darker, heavier sound. Not boomy, but solid on the bass. My voice sits in baritone/bass end of the spectrum.

I've decided to get two of whichever mic so that I can record the guitar in stereo. If this is a stupid move, and I should spend more money on a single mic let me know. At this point I have the impression (from reading and a little listening) that stereo micing will give me a fuller sound than a single mic so that's my reasoning.

If you've used these mics please let me know not just whether you like it or not, but your impressions of what they sounded like seem to fit with what I'm looking for. I would love to be able to just demo the mics, but I don't think I'm going to be able to do that.

Thanks.

 

[bgavin]

Mic direct to sound card means a dynamic mic and no power source required. Most of the mics mentioned above require phantom power to operate: meaning you need a preamp, or other 48v power source.

Perhaps a Studio Projects VTB1 preamp is a good fit for you?

 

[tdukex]

Mic direct to sound card means a dynamic mic and no power source required. Most of the mics mentioned above require phantom power to operate: meaning you need a preamp, or other 48v power source.

Perhaps a Studio Projects VTB1 preamp is a good fit for you?

Except he wants to record in stereo, so I think the DMP3 is a better choice, and it sounds great on acoustic guitar.

A DMP3 preamp ($160) and two Studio Projects B1 mics ($160) would probably be a good budget setup.

 

[cracked lid]

I know I need a mic pre and I will be getting a DMP3 pre amp and upgrading my soundcard to a Delta 44. I'm just trying to decide about mics now. I've got somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 budgeted for mics.

 

[tdukex]

In that case...

I'd get these for guit:
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=6450&Category=Microphones

Then, for vocals, I'd save another $50 and pick up a new AT 4040 off ebay from one of the resellers that have been offering them for $250.

Or I'd consider these: http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=3060&Category=Microphones

At $200 each, by buying the bulk pac you save about $80 each off the normal retail of $280 each.

 

[Big Kenny]

The 3035 will sound good on either
In HIs Name
Big Kenny