Why spend a fortune on 414s when you can get these at less than half the price ... this microphone simply rocks! Fab for vocal recording, natch, but also stupendous at capturing the true sound of acoustic guitar or strings (haven't tried it on anything else yet, sorry!). In my past life as a pro broadcast soundman I'd even happily rig a stereo pair of these for a live string quartet or small vocal group. Love it!