This condenser mic is primarily a studio mic. I've never heard of it being used live, and wouldn't recommend it. I have used it mainly on vocals and guitars, both electric and acoustic. I've heard that they've been used to record an amped Fender Rhodes or a Wurlitzer as well, though not owning either of those instruments, I can't say for sure.

OVERALL OPINION

I've only used this mic for a few months, but I've grown pretty fond of it. While it's not my go-to mic for most projects, I like the way it sounds for some singers, particularly when I record myself. I like the rich, smooth tone that it provides. The vocals I recorded with it were rich and powerful without being raw or grainy. They are great for baritones and bass singers more than alto or sopranos, though most male vocals will sound pretty good with it. It doesn't tend to sell the higher registers as well as the lower ones. I've also had pretty good when recording acoustic and electric guitars (at least when the electric is clean, and not cranked too loud). It gives them a similarly rich, warm sound that sits well in a mix and doesn't really get in the way. I've never compared it to the older Rode models but I can't imagine it not living up to, or exceeding them, in terms of quality. I think that for the price (I got it for $400), these are not too bad, but don't make it your first condenser mic. I say this because its not exactly the most versatile condenser mic you can get and it's definitely a more particular type of sound, most likely one that you won't be using that much. It's certainly not a bad first choice but there are better ones out there. For someone with a larger collection but not much of a budget, look into this mic. It's served me well and it will most likely serve you well too.