Amps get all the thunder, what about preamps?

Well I've tried quite a few over the years. If you can find a good used CAT preamp in your price budget, I seriously doubt you'll be dissapointed...especially if you consder ther tube alternatives. These tube pre's seem to work well with either solid state or tube amps as well.
Another highly touted pre, which you can find at around $1300-1100 range used, are the Audible Illusions mod 3a. These pre's are all Class A rated, very high end performance, etc However the Audible seems to do best with tube amps for impedance matching.
I've used/owned Audio Research LS16's, Sonic Frontiers Line 1/L-2, etc, Pass Labs pre's, and others as well.
However, the CAT's are my personal fav's. My MKIII, which has served me well, is simply world class.
Good luck

I second the CAT and add (used within the price range) YBA1, Goldmund 7, for speed & resolution. The CAT III is difficult to beat; also, in line form, a III can be modded to Ultimate status... an added bonus for those who seek an even better RF/mains noise rejection.

I should of noted that I am not in the market, I was asking more out of curiousity.

The MFA and Counterpoint preamps are some of the best ones ever made. Especially if you use the phono section. The rare Counterpoint SA-9 is probably the best dedicated phono amp ever made, although it is very expensive and very few made. MFA had the same designer as Audible Illusions, Bruce Moore, who is one of the best in the business. These can be great bargains on the used market, if you get them upgraded with new caps.