Not much talk about Yamaha turntables.


I've been wanting to jump into the analog world for years, but for a lack of experience and/or knowledge about the equipment, I haven't. There's plenty of talk here about the big names in analog and I was surprised the other day browsing around somewhere that Yamaha has turntables.  Are these any good?  What do they compare to in terms of other more well-known analog names?  I'm not asking about their $8,000 models.  I will never be able to afford that.  I'm asking more about their sub $1k models.  

Thanks!
shtinkydog
By "descendant", they mean a copy! It's built to a price. It's very good for the money but it's no 1200.
Put a Nagaoka MP110 on it and you'll be a lot better off than on many other cheap belt drives. If it was my money, I'd save for the 1200GR. 
@yogiboy, Thanks for recommendation and link for Grado cart. I just ordered one and headshell for it.  Easy as pie!  
Re Russian second hand market: they bring Yamaha turntables from Japan (Yahoo or InJapan), with lots of risks involved (technical and cosmetic condition, etc.).
Most of buyers upgrade stock tonearms. I think that Micro Seiki (direct or belt drive turntables) are more popular, with same reservations.