Microphone Shootout - Prelude

So, in addition to the multitude of other things i perpetually have going on, I decided to spend some good quality time checking out different mic's in my cabinet, and how they sound on certain things. I started with a kick drum, partly because they are difficult to record REALLY well, and partly because they demand a microphone that can take very high sound pressure levels. I recorded the kick in several configurations (with both heads on, with only one head on, mic's inside the shell, outside the shell, etc... I've come up with some very enlightening and interesting conclusions so far. I think tomorrow I'm going to go to Guitar Center and buy a bunch more mic's, try em out, and keep the one(s) i like the best (if any are better than my current choices) and add all results to the shootout list.

So, as this blog title eludes to, this post is only a prelude to the mic shootout, I'll be (hopefully) posting all of my results, along with audio clips, in the next few days, so you can hear for yourself. I'll also probably be doing a similar mic shootout on snare drum, and maybe even toms, hats, and cymbals.

Here's my charge to you the reader and hopefully participant in this shootout.

What mic(s) would you like me to test out? Please suggest a mic that might have a prayer of sounding good on a kick or snare, as well as have the ability to take the sound pressure levels. Dont be shy. If you'd like me to check out a mic and you really dont know if it'll be good, just post anonymously so nobody knows it was you :-) This is a chance for everyone to learn. If i already knew what all the results would be, i wouldn't be doing this.

Are there any specific "other requests" any of you would like me to try? Maybe a specific drum head or mic placement? Be SPECIFIC if you reply, but come on, now's your chance. You ask, and if i can, I'll try it, and I'll blog about it.

I'm using a Pearl Masters Studio drum kit with Birch shells, and my snare's will be a DW brass, and a Fibes snare. I'm running all of the mic's in the kickdrum shootout thru my Avalon 737 with no EQ or compression. and once i've picked my favorites, I'll probably do a mic pre shootout with my favorite mic(s) and configurations so i can really hone in on what sounds the absolute best.

Thanks for your input

-Ken