Advice and recommendations needed for a turntable rig...

I’ve had the VPI HW MK IV with SAM since 1985. 

It’s built like a brick schiethaus, as the saying goes. Weighs a ton: the platter alone is 16 lbs. 

Feichert Volare?  A little above budget, but otherwise fits criteria of high mass design I think.  I have no experience of it personally, but very highly regarded by people I tend to find credible.

Not much to add to this very interesting string of comments but your options for high quality TT/arm/cartridge combos go way up if you buy used. Of course, you don't have the local shop or manufacturer to back you up, but it seems most people who sell here and on USAM are straight-up and you have a lower probability of being burned maybe compared to Ebay.  

I have a VPI HW 19 Mk 1 and I've used it for a very long time and I've had no problems with it. I also own a barely used HW 19 Jr which I intend to use as a motor donor, if the need arises. I think there are plenty of parts and potential upgrades for most quality used TT so, think about that path. On the other hand, your original choice seems like a good start.

The OP has an excellent budget of $3,500.00 including cartridge. I own several tables ranging from a REGA P10, P8, a 50th Anniversary P3 and a recent to the market Denon 3000 NE. The P3 50th Anniversary tops out at less than $2,000 and is an excellent table. I would purchase the REGA Ania Pro cartridge for $1,225 and then still have a table under the front porch $3,500 budget. 

The best value in Turntables right now and the most fuss free is the Denon 3000 NE. Weighs 40 pounds, built like a tank, is from a company that has producing HiFi equipment since 1910 and has a direct drive brushless motor with less than .006 wow and flutter for a price of $2,500.00.  It has adjustable VTA and an extra tonearm weight so it can handle almost every cartridge on the planet. Buy a Ortofon 2m Black cartridge and you have a winner. 

However, there are many offerings in this price point that will do the job, the Technics 1200GR is a great DD table as well. The Planar 6 by Rega is a critics choice and VPI Scout is a fussy but excellent table. Even the new Thorens TD-1600 is a nice choice. Whatever you decide, jumping back in to the vinyl experience is a great way to expand your musical enjoyment. Good luck in your selection.

dogberry

"I can change a cartridge and set up the replacement in twenty minutes. If I change the headshell on the one tonearm I have that uses interchangeable headshells, it takes about 10-15 minutes including the set-up of the new cartridge (the SME 309 headshells don’t allow for individual overhang: that must be set by moving the arm"

Good skills! There is no way most people could change/setup a cartridge on a fixed arm in 20 minutes. My friend knows how, has the tools, but waits for me, I supervise, he does it. Takes longer that way.

And, a heck of a lot of people do not have any cartridge mount/align skills,

the fixed arm comes with factory aligned cartridge, UNTIL ,,, stylus is worn.

If MM, switch stylus, the cartridge body remains in-place/aligned, takes seconds.

IF MC, everything must be mounted/all alignments, with a few inexpensive tools, and some skills practiced enough to be confident. Or have a friend or hired person do it. Give yourself a lifetime gift by learning/doing it yourself.

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As you say, some arms, you move the base in/out.

Typical ’standard’ removable headshell with slots, (allowing prior overhang and null points adjustments) stay aligned, change the headshell in seconds: all that is needed: verify azimuth (headshell fitting allows minor azimuth adjustment prior to final tightening, takes seconds) then set tracking weight and anti-skate: (altogether less than 5 minutes).

I buy headshells with allen key clamps, allowing the initial azimuth adjustment while in the arm fitting. Micro-Seiki 505 arms allow you to adjust the fitting on the arm for azimuth, a terrific feature.

Alternate Mono Cartridge; Alternate Stereo Cartridge: same as MC: mount/overhang/2 null points/azimuth/vta/ all pre-aligned once. simply adjust tracking weight/anti-skate when you want to use that pre-aligned cartridge.

The majority get anti-skate wrong, re-builders and makers say the majority of stylus they check are worn on one edge only! Using Hudson Hifi alignment LP with other side blank allows easy and accurate anti-skate to be set with visual confirmation, very quickly.

Arm Height: VTA. Refined VTA is for perfectionists, most of us get very good results with ’parallel arm method. Tonearm parallel to LP when stylus is in the groove (cantilever flexed by tracking weight), that is why it is important or very important to have an arm with easy height adjustment.

For me: changeable headshell/easy height adjustment, I haven’t seen anything as easy and smooth as the Acos Lustre GST-801.