$1000-1500 range for phono preamp... what to buy?

Try to find a used Herron Audio VTPH-1.  You will NOT find anything close for less than $3000 used except a used Herron VTPH-2, if you can find one.

I called Keith Herron to inquire about the discontinued VTPH-1mm (mm for moving magnet), and he happened to have one in Mint condition to sell (a trade-in, perhaps). Keith optimized the phono amp for my cartridges (lowest possible gain for my very high output London's, capacitance and resistance), installed new tubes (and sent along a couple of extras for an additional 2dB of gain), and performed a few upgrades (the majority of the VTPH-1 to VTPH-2 improvements were to the mc version, the VTPH-1mm and VTPH-2mm being very similar). Keith sold it to me at a great price (right in the center of your budget, Justin), and sent it to me in a new shipping carton, with a full warrantee. I couldn't be more satisfied!

Used Manley Chinook

for just $100 more (I'm sure you can get some discount from their dealers) you should go for Gold Note PH-10 phonostage....plenty of reviews out there