Help me choose some nice equipment

[SurfingMusicMan]

I have a $5,200 budget. I have a home studio that I use for personal purposes along with a small client base that I would like to increase. The studio is not my main source of income. My equipment currently includes:

-Stereo pair of AKG C 414 B-XLS
-Studio Projects C1
-SM57
-Grace 201
-GT The Brick
-E-Mu 1820m
-Event Studio Precision 8 monitors
-Les Paul Studio electric guitar
-Fender American Precision bass
-Martin DM acoustic guitar
-Mesa/Boogie Nomad 100 212
-Sansamp DI
-UAD-1 plugins
-DFHS drum samples
-3 sets of AKG K 44 headphones, a nice set for myself (can’t remember what kind), and a cheap set
-Plenty of mogami cables
-Acoustically treated 13’ x 12’ control/recording room with foam by mail (yayaya, I know its not as good as Aurolex) and a plywood deflector on the back wall

My goal is to attract new clients and be able to offer them a really great place to record. I want to work with mainly modern type styles (rock/rap/pop stuff).

What should I buy?

[SurfingMusicMan]

This is my tentative plan (eBay prices):

$1,700 Neumann U87
$1,650 Peluso 2247 LE or Pearlman TM-1
$1,300 Portico 5012 or UA 2-610
$500 Audix DP-5a drum mic kit
$75 Presonus HP4 headphone amp

That puts me at $5,225.

I’ve considered the Seventh Circle DIY preamps, but I’ve never soldered before. I’m also wanting to stick to “name brand” stuff to a certain degree for the “wow” factor in trying to attract new clients. Maybe I’ll sell the Grace 201, do some DIY preamps, and have one “name brand” preamp like the UA 2-610.

What do you guys think of my plan?

Thanks!

[rwhitney]

I think the U87 is a great idea. I'd get a pair, but I always get pairs (not matched) for stereo recording. Others may question the U87 based on bang-for-buck, but I've always found them well worth the money.

[SurfingMusicMan]

Originally Posted by rwhitney

I think the U87 is a great idea. I'd get a pair, but I always get pairs (not matched) for stereo recording. Others may question the U87 based on bang-for-buck, but I've always found them well worth the money.

Any opinion on vintage v. ai on the U87?

[Mike Tholen]

Vintage

[rwhitney]

Some do say vintage. My experience is only with the ones made in the 1980s (I guess that's the "a" version) and the current ai. Between those, I don't think there's a significant difference, so I'd go with the newer ones. Maybe I'm wrong, but I myself would not trip over that at all.