Over in Oz at the moment you can buy a Rode Classic II for only about $150 AUD more than a SP's T3. That's a difference of about $80 U.S. While I've auditioned a T3 and reckon it sounds pretty nice I was interested in someone who has spent time with both these mics in a studio environment.
OK, here's some really vague information that may be of a little value.
Last month I read an interview in TapeOp with a Nashville engineer (if I remember right he had done a lot of work for Emmylou Harris) and he said the the Rode Classic was the best vocal mic he had ever used, and that includes the U47 and Elam 251. I'm not sure, though, if he meant the original Classic or the Classic II.
This is one of those questions that is hard to answer.
Different mics respond to various voices differently. Both of these mics are good mics. I have actually tried both at one point and choose the T3 in most cases. But again there were times I would use the Classic.
If your choice is for your own voice you need to get both into a situation where you can try them both out. This is the only was to do it and be happy in the end.
