Tried a lot of them... The AKG 422 and 426 I think are excellent mics as is the C-34. Very useful and good sounding. The Neumann SM 69 tube is a great mic, but it is pretty bright. Probably one of my favorite drum mics. The 69 FET is way to bright to be useful IMO. The SM 23 and SM2 have similar sounds, but being small-diaphragm, they don't sound as "big" as the SM69.

The Schoeps CMT-301 is another fantastic microphone, provided you can find one that works. Schoeps sound and quality in a single point setup with variable patterns on each capsule.

The VP-88 is a bit noisy, but also can be a useful mic at a much lower price. I have had good luck with it on drums as well.

Now, do you have a specific mic in mind?

--Ben

For myself(I don't have one...yet), only from what I read, I'll buy the Rode, with the "pre-aligned" heads. I will never use it for critical work(I just don't do any), but I believe it would be a nice - all-in-one-ready-to-go, no fuss mic for general stereo recording/use(Looks cool too, "pro-like", "Specialized-looking", for which their is advantage!). I'm sure the quality would be fine. I plan to use it to get sound effects, and do general remote recording with one of the new portable recorders. For "serious" work, I'd have to buy a "matched pair" of some sort, with the proper(Adjustable) mount, then learn how to aim them, etc. To much work for me... But if you need absolute quality, or just the ability to try for it, "seperates" would likely be best.

TG