Ooh boy! This should turn into quite a fun thread. Be sure to check this out too:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/what-tts-do-you-folks-have.108/
My experience - I've had around 50 turntables. I think I'm down to 8. I started with a Sony linear tracking table w/ a cheap AT cartridge which wasn't bad at all, but my first real quality turntable was an AR-XA with a Shure M75ED cartridge - still have it, tucked away in my console. I love it. It's similar in many ways to the Thorens TD166mkII I've been using, also a great table.
I also really like my Luxman PD121, with a Grace 707 tone arm and Grado cartridge.
And I also have special feelings for my Acoustic Research The Turntable with an original Sumiko Blue Point cartridge.
Lots of honorable mentions you could look up, that I also have or had, such as the Dual 1019, Garrard Lab 80, and Lenco L75 / B55. Along the way, Technics tables have always surprised me, even the lower end models have been excellent, for example the SL-D2 (edit: as I see was already posted above!).
This is a deep rabbit hole you're diving into, have fun!