All the advice so far has been in terms of particular models. It'd also be handy to have someone advise about what sort of mike might be best for different situations - a single person singing and playing, or a small group etc. Or with different levels of tape recorder.

I mean, to use an analogy, before you get into deciding what sort of guitar you want to try to get hold of, it's advisable to decide whether you actually really want a guitar rather than a mandolin or a fiddle.