Nice vintage $2k Turntable, cartridge, and phono stage

OP,

You mentioned wood, I presume natural (not painted) wood.

Are you sticking to that? Many of the TTs mentioned are NOT wood.

Aside from the solid/veneer/wrap issue I mentioned above, Wood Plinth Construction varies.

1. a frame to drop the TT into

A solid looking wood plinth, however the top is perhaps 1 layer of 3/4" thick MDF with veneer. This one is a frame and top board, many appear like thick slabs but are not

Next are thick slabs, some solid wood, some layers of wood, some, like JVC and Denon’s (not all) are their 70mm thick 7 layer construction: 4 layers of wood or manufactured wood like MDF medium density fiberboard, with 3 thin layers of special compounds

Note: some have removable arm boards, you pick an arm, drill a hole where needed. future replacement armboards can be found, refinished, or made.

A SYSTEMDEK IIX  is a wooden plinth turntable that can be readily upgraded with any number of tonearms and phono cartridges. The initial purchase price of a stock IIX in nice condition should be no more than $300 to $400, which leaves plenty of money left for a good tonearm and cartridge and possibly even a phono preamplifier. 

@lewm yes i have heard Eclipse in 3 systems now…. it would turn a Sapphire in good working order into a formidable table.

Agree on Denon or any vintage table pricing…my local shop here in San Diego has a DP-1250,  Grace 707 arm and almost new Ortofon Bronze for ask of $950

to the OP - i am not a super big Linn fan for those new to TT as they require some key adjustments to get the most out of them, once tuned they are capable of great sound ( footfall skipping on bad old house floors is an issue )…

You can't go wrong with a VPI HW-19 Mk 3 or 4. There's plenty out there that have been pretty tricked out with nice tonearms, etc.. Built like a tank and simple. I've had mine since 1989. Mine's gloss black, but they also came in solid wood you could refinish to your heart's content.

Have you read the Recommended Components lists published by Stereophile & The Absolute Sound? Lots of ideas there, all vetted by people who compare such gear all the time.

Another source is anything that Michael Fremer has published, such as his TrackingAngle & older AnalogPlanet reviews & YouTube videos. Mikey has never let me down.

And re: buying used gear, lists from past years are available on those magazines’ Web sites.