MXL - R144

Same here. I used my 58's when we were playing live and 57's when I've needed more mics or have been limited on space. I've recently been using my R144 as a room mic for drums. That's the only thing I've ever liked it on. It just doesn't do it for me on vocals. I've thought about trying it paired with a 57 on guitar cabs since I don't have a royer 121, but haven't devoted the time to experimenting yet. Edit: what's the 991 like? I just bought the 990s and not the combo set.

I have an MXL R144 for vocals at home and it's far better than the Shure SM57, SM58, or any other mic in that class from like Sennheiser or others. I absolutely love it.

I also have an R144 and I still find myself pulling out the 990 instead of it. I'm really only holding on to the R144 because it was a gift.

the times i swapped out the u87 i preferred: c414, rode ntk or nt2 (i dont remember which) but they were both transparent and i was happier with what i got. For stuff that was clearly warmer i borrowed a warm audio ribbon (idk the model), and even preferred the cheap mxl ribbon mic (extreme on the other end of the spectrum, arguably different use case). i was over the u87, especially for the price. id probably even prefer a number of live mics, give me a 58beta or a senn e835 instead... disclaimer, i only tried it on vocals, mostly female, i didnt own it, i just got to use it for 5 sessions i think. but i wouldn't shell out that cash out of my pocket for one. i would rather get a bunch more mics or id lean into a nice ribbon for that price, not sure which.

Uhmmmm the beyerdynamic TG I51 is a great mic it lives on my fender along with my mxl ribbon mic (I put a new transformer in there so it wouldn’t have so much mud sounds crisp imo) those are Fs cheap also 57 can be had at estate sales 20-40$ online 60 all day. But my most favorite cheap mic is this mf’n cad E-100Sx amazing acoustic mic like made for acoustic and I have it on a Marshall cab and origin 50 I also have a wa-87 it’s alright I almost like the 47jr more but I have lots of uses for the 87 I just kinda forget about it it’s so versatile so that’s all debatable