Upgrade my older Linn Sondek or move on?

I had a 1980s lp12/ittok. Nice sounding but a bit bloated. Replaced the valhalla

with a mose/Hercules which tightened the bass. Well worth the upgrade.

Then I found a michell gyrodec. So much better and cost less than the price I got for my linn. Hard to find nowadays but worth the search. Trouble free,  built to last and it looks gorgeous!

@OP, I've been delayed in posting on this topic due to ID verification issues which, self evidently, are now sorted.

In answer to your opening post, it makes no economic sense to upgrade an LP 12 from the early eighties on the budget you are planning. To get that LP 12 to an acceptable standard, you'll end up replacing everything except the plinth and top plate and, possibly the motor.

The reason why there have been so many upgrades to the LP12 over the year is that the standard deck doesn't sound very good and buy the time you eradicate it's various problems you end up with a very expensive turntable that is up against serious competition.

At your price point, the Technics SL1200 G is a good option. In terms of the Clearaudio options, they are worth considering, although personally, I'd prefer to start with an Innovation Basic which, with arm, would be outside your budget. I think at your price point, a Rega Planar 8 is certainly worth a listen.

If you want to stick with a suspended subchassis turntable, the Michell Gyro SE is a good alternative.

From the Link that I have attached, I have been demo'd the version on the Kuzma Base for quite a few hours at a event a few years passed.

I do not know what it costs to create such a design. I do not know how it compares to a modern version of a Uplifted Linn Sondek.

What I do know is that the experience in front of this design for parts belonging toa Linn Sondek has a very attractive presentation and is very easily lived with.

The design I am referring to, can be seen as a Image and description of the methodology in the link.

  https://www.hifiwigwam.com/threads/diy-turntable.85042/

OP look on US Audiomart there you can find some very nice used tables at very attractive prices like https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650004623-kuzma-stabi-s-stogi-turntable-w-extras/

Good luck with your search

You mentioned plug and play. The Rega P8 is the definition of that and can  be had in the low $3K range and if you put it on a wall shelf on top of a Townshend platform (I think around $5-600 nowadays since Max passed away unexpectedly) you will eliminate vibrations dramatically and foot falls completely. If foot falls are not a problem, the Townshend alone will solve your vibration problems. You get the RB880 arm which is fantastic. You can't beat the value, and it is in your budget range (including a good value MC cartridge - you didn't mention wanting to replace that or what phono stage you are using).

If you want to spend more and start mixing and matching arms and tables, you can go down the path like @mijostyn and others are mentioning (unless you want to spring for an end game table like an SME) or you can get the Rega P10, but that price is getting into tables with excellent built in suspensions. There are no dealers of SOTA near me and I will not buy a table and ship it. I personally would stay away from VPI because their arms are a rip off.

The LP 12 is legendary, but too finicky and way more expensive than it used to be (what isn't? )new things have come out in the last 50 years. I'm not saying you have to get the latest and greatest, but there have been improvements.