Advice and recommendations needed for a turntable rig...

That Pioneer table looks like a great way to go.  A 32# table for $700!  Looks like a bargain.  I have the Project X2 in a headphone based system.  It's a beautiful table to be sure with a nice tonearm.  I'm very pleased with it.  But that Pioneer looks very interesting.

"I listen to Jazz, Blues and instrument music mostly..."

Another reason to start with an arm with removable headshell.

Jazz and Blues: many, many great Jazz masters were born around the turn of the prior century, made their reputation's 30's 40's 50's prior to Stereo, thus Mono LP's are in your future. Mono recording technics in the 40's and 50's were already very good, some Mono carried into the 60's. you are buying great listenable music, prior to that, 30's you are buying 'history'.

Thus, tonearm with removable headshell makes it easy to get/use a mono cartridge, as I learned here, it is MUCH better than playing a Stereo Cartridge in Mono Mode. Every friend agrees when they listen here. Several have gotten their own Mono Cartridges after that.

Looking for advice from those who have used any TT set up and why.

Why is easy. Vinyl pulls you into the music more than digital IMO. I think the biggest reason may be the ritual. Every 20 minutes or so you are going to have to do the dance, (the ritual). IOW it makes you pay attention and keeps you involved. Whenever I listen to digital I have a tendency to let my mind wander which turns into not really listening to the music. it has become a background event rather than the main event. I also believe there is something about the quality of sound from vinyl. Back in the CD player times, the advertising always mentioned the player having an analog sound.. So why not listen to vinyl? My system is skewed toward the vinyl so to say my digital is an unfair comparison. But I do like the convenience of digital. And it sounds pretty good.

Now about the ritual. Are you ready for the ritual? That’s what I usually ask the younger crowd.I suspect you remember the rituals, etc. But If you don’t like the ritual you won’t like vinyl all that much. BTW clean records are a necessity.

I’m partial to VPI TT’s I had several prior to my Teres and liked them. There are 2 rightn now that fit the bill for your budget on the 1st page of USAM. I lean more towards this one which has extras. But the TNT is a good deal too.

VPI Aries 3 with upgrades For Sale - US Audio Mart

good luck & Happy hunting

Again guys, thanks for the recommendations. I have an old friend, Mike, for whom I have been close with off and on for decades. He passed with Covid about 1 year ago and his wife told me he wanted me to have his turntable and albums. We used to listen to the Beatles when we were early teenagers. The Dual TT is shot, but I now have 3 crates of old albums. I think buying a TT and listening to those records will help keep my good memories of him alive. So that will be part of the ritual for sure. I have waiting long enough to do this, even though I am a digital guy now. I do understand the big investment part. My budget is upper limit, I might spend much less but I will need a decent phono stage, since I don’t currently have one.