LDC Overhead Drum Mic Suggestions

I am looking to move to a set of large diaphragm condensers over my drum kit.  Currently, and for the better part of 15 years I have had (SDC) sm81’s over my kit.  The price range will be pretty broad and I will know more after I hear back from my accountant but I am thinking $1K to $1.5K for the pair.  Any thoughts or experiences with the following mic’s as overhead drum mic’s would be greatly appreciated.

Neumann TLM 102 - $700 (the reviews on this one are all over the place ranging from absolutely despised to the greatest thing since sliced bread).

Rode NTK - $530 (the NTK and K2 are their tube mics … the NTK is cardioid only)

Mojave 201 FET - $695

I am going to move the 81's to close mic the high hat and possibly the ride.

Not LDC, but for me, hands down.....Beyer Dynamic M-160.  And SO useable on other "things".

OK, so two of you are suggesting ribbons for overhead application instead of moderately priced LDC’s.  The Coles at over a thousand dollars would definitely put me over budget but the Beyer Dynamic M-160 (2 of them) is within my budget.  Skull, have you used the M-160 as an overhead drum mic? … if not, what do you normally use?  My understanding is that the M-160 / 130 combination is on many classic recording in the M/S configuration.  I will be using them in an A/B spaced pair configuration.

Rode has a number of mic’s in my price range that have great reviews … will have to do some research on the NT 1000.

Dave...I've used the M-160's both in XY config and as spaced pair quite a bit.  Absolutley love them either way.  PLUS, I've never heard a better ROOM mic for drums.

I don't currently use them as overheads...but that's ONLY because I've been using a single AT-4047 as a mono overhead for a couple of years now...moved the M-160's to stereo room mics.

I didn't switch from them because I didn't like them.  I wanted to go mono for OH, and I loved the M-160's room sound so much.  In fact....no drummer has ever come in here and freaked out about the mono overhead once they heard it.

But I'd use them in a heartbeat if a drummer demanded that I go stereo on OH.  In that case, I'd move my pair of 4047's to the room.

One thing to be aware of with the M-160 vs the Coles.  M-160 is a hyper-cardioid.  The Coles is the traditional Fig-8 ribbon design.  If your room has low ceilings, you might like the M-160 better than the Coles.

If I do ultimately decide to go with the M-160’s will I need a high gain pre?  I have an AEA R92 ribbon mic that I run into a Grace 501 (in a Lunchbox).  That would put me a bit over budget but I think worth it.  The Grace 501 is a very nice pre … I have 2 pre’s in my Lunchbox, the Grace and the Great River and I was thinking that later on down the road a second one of the two would come in handy for stereo recording

Wrt to the AKG 214.  My humble collection includes a 414 B ULS which is currently out of production.  I bought it used on ebay several years ago and have been very happy with the purchase.  If I do go with an AKG (a possibility), my thought is to seek out a second “ULS” on ebay.  I have actually been following them on ebay for a couple of weeks now trying to get a feel for what people are getting for them.  On items where there is competitive bidding you kinda’ have to have a strategy (sniping) or you will either never win the auction or simply over pay.

Can you still get hold of KM86's these days?

I used to love those, either singly or as an X-Y pair, but bear in mind I'm an old fart, and used to go a lot by why the engineer used to tell me they were good for me.

I think the '86 was primarily a dual diaphragm figure 8 pattern condenser.

I could kick myself these days for not paying more attention back then.

EV 635a is a fav on over heads for a cool break beat type sound.