What turntable to start out with ? Pioneer PLX-1000 or VPI Nomad

To be very clear if your PLX-1000 has loose tonearm bearing.

It takes all of 30 seconds to tighten and fix.

Not an issue.

Is if you don't know how to do it .

Love that Pioneer TT but have not purchased same due to the "loose bearing" thing. Is this something easy to resolve or does it take an expert?

There are also several other good turntables in the $1K range, many of which have pre-mounted and aligned cartridges, and some of them have nicer cartridges than the 2M Red on the Nomad (not that it's bad). 

Pro-Ject offers the Carbon Expression for $999 including an Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge; it's like a 2M Red but with silver internal wiring.
http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Xpression-Classic-in-Black?sc=2&category=45

Pro-Ject also offers the RPM 3 Carbon with mounted Sumiko Blue Point 2, a high output moving coil cartridge. That's a $450 cartridge.
http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-RPM-3-Carbon-Turntable?sc=2&category=45

And Music Hall offers the MMF5.1 LE, on sale at AudioAdvisor for $849, and includes a Music Hall Magic 3 cartridge with replaceable nude stylus. Cartridge is sourced from Ortofon.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHMMF51L

Of course, if the idea of dropping the a turntable into various systems (such as plugging directly into powered speakers) appeals to you, then the Nomad's your answer.

Lenco is a good starting point.