Hi Wicked deeds
Mic's can generate some heated debate, and your'e right not everyone has the luxury of 2 or 2 mic stands or the space to set them up.
I can only give you my own personal experience.
Neumann U87 condenser mics are popular in pro studios, but they are very expensive (way over £2.5k ea) and yes they sound very very clear, and they do pick up EVERYTHING from a long way away, scratch your eyebrow from a metre away and it'll pick it up.
As for placement that's why I posted this here, I just wanted to get the vibe from you all, and see if there was a clear concensus, or if mid side was a popular setup with you.
I was always looking for the best sound, and wasn't convinced I was getting it, so I thought I'd invest a day in controlled conditions to find what works best for me, it really paid off because now I know what to do to get the sound I want, I suppose it's getting one's money's worth from your gear.
I tried condenser and dynamic, mono , stereo, in/out phase stereo, mid side, 12th fret and soundhole, along with the K&K trinity preamp in the guitar.
If you haven't tried it, give it a shot, you might be pleasantly surprised.
This is a good place to start
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013311/10-Microphone-Placement-Techniques-for-Acoustic-GuitarHope this helps
cpm