The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum

For dynamic, the Shure SM57 is a classic as is Sennheiser's cardioid MD421.

Here's a cool site that extensively compares different mics and placement.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug07/articles/guitaramprecording.htm

If you're on a pretty small budget like me I would recommend the Blue Microphones Snowball. You can hear some samples here: http://soundcloud.com/mark-damon-matt-wahlberg

that's a vox ac4tv with a squier classic vibe custom telecaster

You know, 'Leary, it really depends on the sound you're looking for. Want something detailed and hi-fi with some punch? Yeah, a 57 will get you there, especially with a good pre-amp.
If you're just looking for a good dirty blues kind of vibe, sometimes a crappy Radio-Shack mic will sound just as good, if not better.
Just my opinion, but I own quite a few mics, and have experimented a lot.

Damn these have gone up in price. I remember when I first started recording bands live I had a pair of these, I think I got them for $200 for the pair with the cardoid caps.
Mine didn't have the mod but my AKG 461's smoke the oktava's.

Ridgeback - 5 days ago  » 
Another amazing little mic that is under the radar is the Russian Oktava MK-012. It is $270ish or $375 if you get them from this guy Michael Joly, who does this upgrade mod (ala AnalogMan) on them that makes them sound indistinguishable from a Neumann KM84. Those sell for $1500.
I have a pair of them that I use for spoken dialog work. Incredible. A ton of people use them for recording drums (like for the overheads). Never tried it on an amp. Anyway, do a search on them and you will see all the fans of that one.
Here's a link to Oktava Mods:
http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_23&products_id=35

@ ridgeback didn't mean for my comment to come across
like that. I just meant for the way I am using my mics that
the akg 461's were a big improvement. Also, mine were not
modded. I just remembered when guitar center was blowing
the oktavas out for like $100 each. Amazing difference what
Ten years can make!

Messing around with my shitty computer mic. Sounds like shit from far away, but it actually sounds pretty decent when you put the mic right against the speaker... the problem was I had to move my computer. I can only do it at low volumes or else the sound gets distorted. How well do the professional mics handle loud volumes?

Condenser mics often have -10dB "pads" either on a switch or as a screw-on attachment to damp the voltage from very loud sources.

Dynamic mics like the SM57 and Sennheiser 421 mics are somehow able to handle higher sound levels and probably one reason, beyond the sound reproduction, that they are used for amps and drums.

In another recent thread about TBK recording the Buddy Holly track, it states that they used the 421 on Dan's amp. New the 421 is $380 and the SM57 is $100 so perhaps try the SM57 first. There are tons of great deals on eBay that "look" good. Especially for the SM57. You should be able to get used ones for half retail or less there.