Noam,

There's SM57's, Used 421's, AKG 416's, Audix D4, D5 in that range.

There's one of the new [[url=http://[/URL]="http://cgi.ebay.com…"]SHURE-PGDMK4[/]="http://cgi.ebay.com…"]SHURE-PGDMK4[/] kit's on eBay. Don't know about em' but it's in your price range.

Max

For hard-driving metal oriented rock, my favorite Tom Tom microphone is the Sennheiser MD421 since they are nearly impervious to overload. They have a beautiful solid fat sound to them. The Shure SM57/Beta 57 are also wonderful but not as fat sounding. Then there are the "Drum microphone kits", which frequently have miniature capsule condenser microphones for the Toms. The condenser microphones are a little more susceptible to overload but the smaller the capsule, the less sensitive they are and so, the less chance they will overload. Because they are less sensitive, their output noise level is higher than that of a standard small or large capsule condenser microphone but since we are talking within only a couple of inches off of a drumhead, the increased noise is not a factor.

Now go beat off
Ms. Remy Ann David

sm57

I usually stick with 57s because I know they're reliable.

Okay, I've got my flame proof vest on, and I'm ready for the backlash...

Who cares? Really, in the grand scheme of things, we hear a whole three minute song and there might be three tom shots in the whole thing. Nobody is ever going to listen and say, "Well, the song was great, but he chose the wrong tom mics so I don't like it."

As I see it, the time to spend money just on a tom mic is when I have every other mic I could possibly imagine, including those I have only dreamed of, and I haven't yet run out of money.

okay, my chin's out. Hit me...

Keith

That acutaly dose make a lot of sense...but!!!!
I realy like my setup of mics for everything, but what I use now for toms are AKG c1000 wich would be a hell of alot better if I use them on overheads for hihats and cinabels...wich means I need 2 more mics (for toms...)and I have 450$ wich I saved...don't you think that it would be a good idea to buy a good pair and just stick with them?
thanks a lot guys for all your answers!!! :lol:

what do you think about a pair of Shure Beta 56???
or Audix D4 ?? anyone had any expirince with anyone of them?? thanks!

FWIW, a personal favorite is the recently discontinued ATM25. (Not any of the other AT "25" mics, though.) Versatile, and built like the proverbial tank. Smooth, deep, round sound. Often works for me on kick, toms, and even bass cabs.

Easy to find for $150 now.

MR.Anxious, even though he IS from Calipornia, is right on the mark.

Remy too....A pair of ATM25's and you have enough left for a fine Scotch...or a pair of used MD421's. These are both mics you can use lots of other places, though the Senns are more versatile. So instead of thinking about 'tom mics' think of mics you can use on toms,guitars,bass,percussion,vibraslap,backing vocals,catfights, rectum surgery...etc.etc.etc.

No way, dude. I was like so totally born on the East Coast, and completely like dragged here many years later. But like now that I so kinda mmm talk like whatever, they won't let me move back, or anything.

Like, uhh, wow, dude, I like can really attest to the pain thing.....dude.

Haha...Dave you are classic!

I've been diggin' the Audix D2 lately. I've found that getting the right placement can be tricky. At one point my toms were sounding really un-natural with a huge extended low end (not in a good way), and changing the position a hair changed everything. I ended up with a round tom sound with a slap for days. Very versatile across many genres.

Can someone please give a quick primer on the various incarnations of the MD421? Anything special to look out for when buying them used?

check out sennheiser e604 tom mic. it's small yet juicy.

noamlev5 wrote:
what do you think about a pair of Shure Beta 56???

I think these are excellent tom mics (though I have only ever used them for live sound.)