If you are spending under a thousand dollars, there is only one definitive unbeatable choice...
Technics SL-1200 Mk-2 , from Ebay or your local second-hand market.
The mark-2 edition has extremely accurate full auto quartz locked speed control.
The ones produced for DJ's had a tempo adjusting slider on the top right.
The ones produced for Audiophiles had no slider.
The only thing a fanatic needs to do to turn the technics into an audiophile dream is to upgrade the tonearm and cartridge.
You cannnot lose if your friend doesn't want it; these turntables keep their value when re-sold.
Technics SL-1200 specifications:
Type.....................: manual turntable
Drive method.............: direct drive
Motor....................: brushless DC motor
Control method...........: servo (mk1), quartz (mk2)
Platter..................: 330mm 1.75kg (mk1), 332mm 2kg (mk2)
Speeds...................: 33.33 and 45rpm
Wow and flutter..........: 0.03% WRMS (mk1), 0.025% WRMS (mk2)
Rumble...................: -70dB (mk1), -78dB (mk2)
Dimensions...............: 453 x 366 x 180mm (mk1), 453 x 360 x 162mm (mk2)
Weight...................: 10kg (mk1), 12.5kg (mk2)
Tonearm:--
Type......................: universal
Effective length..........: 220mm (mk1), 230mm (mk2)
Overhang..................: 14mm (mk1), 15mm (mk2)
Effective mass............: 12g (mk2)
Stylus pressure range.....: 0 to 4g (mk1), 0 to 2.5g (mk2)