I'm actually taking my guitar to a high end audio shop on Friday afternoon - they have Neumann, Schoeps (although I don't want to even ask the price!), AKG 840-something (can't remember), AKG C 414 as well as Rode NT5 for comparison - I'll also take a 603 with me. No Josephsons though, haven't seen them except in catalogues over here. In terms of preamps they have Avalon, TL Audio, Drawmer, Focusrite and few others. I'll see if the sales guy can get me a decent sound. He's offer to drag a few units upstairs to their studio area/room so I can demo them. He was keen on a single tube Avalon channel strip unit whose model number escapes me at the moment. Very expensive though. Wasn't a 2022, which they don't have in stock. Only Behringer thing I saw in the shop was a DI.
I figure in about an hour there of A/B-ing various combos I'll know whether it's the guitar, the room, or my equipment.
