Top used turntables under $500

@lohanimal, your nomination of the Townshend Rock Elite is interesting. It IS a brilliant design (I’ve owned one for a quarter century), but I don’t know that you can acquire one for under $500. They rarely become available (I include Townshend in my Hi-Fi Shark search "preset"), and when they do they sell for more than that. The last marketed version of the Rock---the Mk.7---goes for over $3000 used, so that’s no help ;-) .

I bought a Rock Elite for about £300 about 4 years ago in the UK - that equates to $500 USD. Trawl some British websites.
I have spoken to MAX a few times, and people who really know his TT's and I get the impression that from the Avalon to the reference there is a house sound. I modified mine with: a Berger lahrs motor from a DPS; a two phase power supply, and an acrylic platter. Love it so much that other projects have taken a back seat as I sit back and enjoy the music

Great buy lohanimal! I got my Rock Elite just before it was discontinued for $650 U.S., which was a ridiculous bargain. A better motor is a good idea; my VPI HW-19 Mk.2 has a Berger Lahrs motor on it, which VPI used a long time ago. So you like the acrylic platter more than the stock Townshend?

 If you can do the micro DD 40 for that budget that's a great table.  I have one that came with and MA 505 arm that by itself goes for between 5 to 800 bucks.  Much better than anything you could get new for anywhere's near that money. Also if you can get and SOTA those are also great tables. 
 Another one I'd be looking for in that budget is a technique's 1200. 

@dvdgreco

a nice Technics SL 1200 black or silver color chosen among the different Mk ....... and you will live happily; spare parts are still found.