Mic Shopping

This is my list...
 
AKG D880 - dented grill from a time the mic stand tipped over - used for vocals sometimes
 - Purchased in 1998
http://www.akg.com/D880+++D880+S-1290.html?pid=1574
 
Shure SM57
 - Purchased in 1998
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/sm/sm57-instrument-microphone
 
Shure SM86 - vocals
 - Gifted in 2005?
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/sm/sm86-vocal-microphone
 
Shure PG81 - Drum Overhead
 - Purchased in 2003?
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/pg/pg81-instrument-microphone
 
I have 3 of these  - Purchased in 2002? - Drum mics
Shure PG56
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/pg/pg56-snare-tom-microphone
 
Shure PG52  - Purchased in 2002? - Kick Drum Mic
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/pg/pg52-instrument-microphone
 
CAD TSM411 - Purchased in 2014 - Snare Mic
http://cadaudio.com/TSM411.php
 
Studio Projects SP B3  - Purchased in 2007? - Vocals or whatever - my first mic with a figure 8 pattern.
http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/b3.html
 
MXL Guitar Cube Pro - Purchased in 2014 and let go 2015 for the MXL R77 because the Guitar Cube Pro couldn't handle a loud guitar amp. It might have been ok on an unamped acoustic guitar, but for loud stuff, it wasn't the right tool. MXL inspected the mic and helped me upgrade in exchange for the Cube.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/condenser-microphones/mxl-guitar-cube-pro
 
MXL Mogami Edition V69 Tube   - Purchased in 2008 - Anything but usually Vocals
http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/studio/V69/
 
Blue Bluebird  - Purchased in 2009? - Anything but usually Vocals
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Bluebird
 
MXL V63M  - Purchased in 2006 - Anything but usually Acoustic Guitars - frankly, for low level recordings this one sounds awfully like the MXL R77
http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/900-series/63M/
 
2 KM184 Neumann Mics. 2015
https://www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=current_microphones&cid=km180_description
 
MXL R77 Ribbon Mic - 2015 - Handles high volume better than anything else I've got, but I'd be scared to use it outside and it comes with white gloves to wear while handling.
http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/studio/R77/
 
********************************
****   Now what should I get?     *****
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I'm thinking of a Royer Ribbon Mic...
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/R121
 
My budget is flexible. I'm choosing a mic over a lunch box because I feel I'm still weak in the Mic dept. I love my MXL R77. Really, I'm flexible though. I'm seeking input. I have preamps to handle 16 inputs and exactly 16 mics. I don't have that many stands though. And usually the bands have some mics.
 
The Royer R121 Live has a 4 micron ribbon and the studio has a 2.5. The MXL has a 1.8 micron ribbon.
 
I like the idea of a Ribbon that I can use on a stage, but I worry about wind etc. Should I?

Thanks lawajava. I spent some time checking them out. Seems like they are Mics that are worthy.

Batsbrew, do you ever use Ribbons?
 
I will say I have a hole in the nice Dynamic Mic area of my kit. For live work, it would be a nice to have, but I don't do a lot of live performing personally, so I hesitate. When recording performers, I usually like to capture the mic they use most.

gswitz
Batsbrew, do you ever use Ribbons?
 
I will say I have a hole in the nice Dynamic Mic area of my kit. For live work, it would be a nice to have, but I don't do a lot of live performing personally, so I hesitate. When recording performers, I usually like to capture the mic they use most.

If dynamics are a weak area, then it would seem that you would want to fill it.  Sometimes, even in the studio, they are the right mic for a given performer or instrument.

That's a mighty impressive list already, Geoff. Nothing essential is really missing, so you're really just thinking about stepping up to the next level of quality, no?
 
If you're thinking about Royers, and you're concerned that your current ribbon is too delicate for transport, then you might want to take a look at Shure's ribbon mics. I haven't ever heard one, though. They're priced comparably to Royers but I gotta imagine that Shure would not make an overly-fragile microphone of any type.
 
If you're looking specifically for a ribbon for vocals, I'm a big fan of AEA. They're also pricey, but different from your average ribbon mic. For one thing, they make a stereo microphone, the only stereo ribbon I'm aware of. They have some very nice mics that are more affordable than the Royers or Shures, used mostly for miking guitar cabinets but a friend reports than an R92 works great for vocals.
 
But it's AEA's flagship product that's far and away my favorite microphone of all time, and would be at the very top of my shopping list if I won the lottery.
 
That's a reproduction of the classic RCA model 44. Real vintage 44s are almost impossible to get and cost as much as a Lexus. Heavyweights such as Barbara Streisand have their own that they take to the studios. Mortals can get AEA's reproductions. Still pricey, though: $2500 for the exact replica, or $5000 for the active version. The active version has a built-in preamp so you can plug it into any old interface/preamp and won't need a special amplifier. The passive version is half the price but requires an expensive (~$1500) preamp.
 
For stage use, Neumann does make a handheld condenser that's quite nice but prone to sibilance due to its extended highs. I see them being used a lot on live television, e.g. American Idol and the CMAs. Those go for about $700. I wouldn't buy one for my own voice, which benefits from the frequency response of ribbons and dynamics over condensers. But I'll bet they'd be great for things like acoustic guitar or drum overheads and female vocals.
 
One thing that's not on your list is a high-end large-diaphragm condenser. For that category, the Shure KSM-44 is a great value. Rugged, crystal-clear, extremely low noise and around $1000. Same price as the superb Mojave Audio (David Royer's other company) MA-200, but far more flexible. For a less-expensive vocal condenser, Mojave Audio's MA-201FET is really good and goes for around $600, but like the MA-200 it's cardiod-only.
 
For maximum flexibility, for a microphone that can take on literally any job, I don't think anything beats the old standby AKG C414. It's a LDC but smaller than most so it fits into tighter spaces. IIRC it has 5 polar patterns. A great mic that was going for $1200 last time I checked. You can literally use it for anything.

Yes it is. It was my vocal mic for many years, back in the day. I only got rid of it for the dumbest reason imaginable: I didn't like its looks. I went to sleek-looking AKGs for the next 20 years. Today, I don't give a flying fleck about appearance. Nowadays I slobber into a good ol' SM58.

gswitz
I found a AKG C414 XLS for $715 (Amazon) and ordered it.
 
I did offer a fairly local vendor of mics the opportunity match, but they said no.
 
I always struggle with that.

I paid $700 for mine over 25 years ago. Still going strong.

It's a struggle having to pick just one mic to get. I am reminding myself this is my next mic, not my last mic.

@Rob
What went wrong with it?
How was it repaired?
You say 'already'. How long have you owned it?
Did the repairs cost you? Was support helpful?

Because I record lots of friends and strangers, I don't always know what I may need.

You are probably right. I should have waited for a specific need.

I have made few purchases I have had second thoughts about. In 1995, I bought a Fender blues deville. It has four ten inch speakers. I love it, but it is a little heavy.

I remember when I bought it, I was considering a matchless amp. I wonder what if I had bought that one?

I still use all my Mics often. I don't have so many that any are retired.

I'm looking forward the this new one.

Yikes! Gosh, I hope that isn't in my future. I don't have the budget to leave that much behind!

SM7B vs Equitek e100S  Same price...great discussion... e100S is my fav mic for vocals, guitar... almost everything... quitest mic I've ever used and I got a zillion; gave most away (I'm insane but...ain't using them...  Haven't used anything but the US made equitek since purchasing...
 
another recent review/discussion In blind tests it "beat out the Neuman u87 mic @ $2700" I AGREE  with this guy totally...
 
e100S... u will luv it.  3.7Db noise... lowest in it's class...  wonderful floating system

http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20161030_Harlan_02.mp3
 
This is a much better example of the new AKG C414. I recorded with the AKG front and center with 2 KM184s mixed at 30% for ambiance. 3 tracks per take.

bitflipper
That's all room ambiance? No reverb? Sounds great!

that sounds really good :-) but I bet it's not just room ambience, there are some good IRs involved