He can get a Hagerman Trumpet MC (better than Cornet, though I'm sure that's a great value too), still well under budget at just under $1300. Stupid good, fun sound for the money. Responds very well to tube rolling (not all tube phono stages do).
+1 Don’t really think you can beat it for the $. And can improve upon it as you get your feet wet. Tubes, power supply….