I'm with Chess -- reach high. Consider saving until you can choose between the C-3 and a good used KSM44, for instance. $500 puts you in range of so many truly excellent mics that you can keep for the rest of your life, if you like them, or easily resell if you don't (especially if you're buying clean used mics to begin with). These include the C-3 (new for $350), the TLM 103, the C414B-ULS,
the Audio Technica AT4050 (even AT4060), the RE20, some of the BLUE mics -- the difference between $300 and $500 is WAY more than the $200 difference in price when it comes to mics.
The ONLY drawback to the C-3 is that there aren't enough of them around to be showing up used as yet (ditto the C-1). Likewise
the KSM27, the Rode NTK and other newer model mics. Remember, more hits have been recorded with old stand-bys than ANY newly released mic, so don't just jump on the bandwagon in order to have the latest thing. A couple of years ago, you'd think the then-new Rode NT1 was the breakthrough of the 20th Century (it was, but only in price). Today, people treat it like it was crap. It's still the same mic it was two years ago.
You're obviously serious about recording. One of the hardest things to do is to prioritize your want list. Sometimes you really need better stands and cables, even though they don't have the same appeal as a new mic. Or maybe you need to sell some stuff so that you have enough to get what you really want.
Since you're NOT a beginner, I'd nudge you towards holding out for quality.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
