The AT4040 should be ok. Here is the "chain" of recording an acoustic.

Good guitarist > good instrument > good sounding room > good mic > good preamp

Off the bat I know that your mic and your guitar are good. How are the other things listed in comparison?

As far as a pair of SDC's go....in your budget....Oktava. They are pretty damn good for a low price. You may have to sit down with a bunch of em and match them yourself though.

I sold mine for some Rode NT5's and I'm sorry that I did. Next up...Josephson C42's!!!!

If you can find an AKG C451E, that might be the ticket.

you dont need a different mic, 4040'll do it if you put it in the right place, right room etc. plafcement palacement placeamanent

jahtao and TRA are right that just the 4040 should be ok. Record the guitar mono, double track it (record the part again) and pan L/R to get an amazing image.

But if you really want to record in pairs and want an SDC to match up with your 4040 for under $200 take a serious look at an Oktava MK-012 with the cardioid or omni capsule from The Sound Room. Their Oktava's are hand picked and worth every penny and are under $200. Oktava capsules from the sound room are really sweet as are the preamp bodies. An AKG C1000 is a nice choice, the R0de NT5 is nice, the AT's you chose will surely get the job done too. Also IMHO, if you're "rebel" enough, there's not a better SDC on the market for $200 than Scott Helmke's "Alice" mic (http://www.scotthelmke.com/alice-mic.html).

Then again, you can always opt for another LDC and get yerself an AT3035 which is a very, very sweet LDC for AC guitars and would complement your 4040 nicely for under $200.

You've got a lot of choices and that makes it fun.

I've got 2 AT 3528, they work very well. Sure SDC works ok, more than Big Daddies for guitars. (Spanish or steel ones). The 4040should b ok., CLOSE to the 12th freet. And build an artificial stereo.

I just won a KEL HM-4 on ebay for $99. I haven't used it on acoustic guitar, yet. But I don't own an acoustic guitar either. I did buy this mic with the hopes of using it as a guitar type mic. Just another suggestion

Cardiod or omni SDC condenser

folks,

thanks for all your input. I will look into using just the AT4040 for starters. after getting more experience on the micing techniques, will try out others.