From what I've been able to gather, and from the rigs I've seen from some recent shows I've collected, the two predominant mics used were Schoeps CCM4/Vs and the DPA 4021/2s..
In many months time, I guess I could afford the DPAs, but certainly not the Schoeps. I heard an incrediible source from AKGs, but from what I've been able to tell, they do not make mics suitable for steath projects (clubs/small halls). If I'm incorrect in this assumption, please let me know.
Is there a quality, popular option in the $500 range along the lines of the CCMs or DPAs? After doing some poking around on sonicsense.com it seems like there's the coresounds (and like items from soundprofessionals.com) in the $250 range, then a jump up to ~$1000 for the DPAs, with the CCMs coming in around $2600 for a pair.
Also, I mentioned this in another thread, but....
If I were to go with something like the DPAs, could I conceivably run them into a pre, then into a JB3 and do this all stealthily? Or is that too much equipment to deal with when I have to stand amongst a crowd?