[Olorin67]

The VM changers are fairly easy to work on, and have better parts availablity. The small chassis autoslim based Garrard models like the at-6 and 3000 are reliable, and one of the easier changers to work on also. The models with heavy platters like the at-6, at60, and sl-65 are the best, and have better tonearms also. The models with heavy platters will outperform the VMs by a good margin. The best of the regular VM changers were the Zenith branded ones, those have better tonearms, but take an odball Zenith cartridge. the Garrards with removable headshells will take any modern cartridge, plus you can swap to a 78 cartridge when you want to play 78s.
i like the garrards with heavy platters, maybe not quite in the same league as a Dual changer, but way easier to maintain. i have a couple Dual changers, but they are so complex I havnt dared to dive into them yet.

Pretty much any changer is old enough that it will need to be dissassembled to clean out all the gummy old lubricants if you want it to function properly. That gets expensive if you have to pay someone else to do it. The VM , BSR, and small chassis Garrards are probably the best changers for a beginner to service and get operating.