Upgrade Linn LP 12 or buy new table

hal 253, I think that it is clear now on the forums that there are a number of people who like to Linn bash. These same people have likely never even heard the entry level LP12 Majik version, never mind the Akurate or Klimax version. However, that does not stop them from saying all kinds of garbage about the table. I have owned my LP12 for several years and have upgraded over time as funds have allowed. Each upgrade has been very worthwhile and easily heard. I have also 'AB'ed my current set up against a number of different tables in my system, and the LP12 always was preferred. Some very good advice from brf above... it's not a race, but IF you want a platform that can ultimately give you great sound, well IMHO you are right there. 

Dear Hal, I think these last few guys have put you on a sensible track.  Since your last reference point for what vinyl sounds like is your LP12, it makes most sense to spend a few hundred bucks just to bring your LP12 back to life, with no upgrades at first.  This probably would include a new belt and cleaning and re-lubricating the bearing, at a minimum.  Find an experienced Linn tech to do these things. Combined with the Ittok tonearm and your Goldring cartridge, you may like what you hear, but keep in mind that the choice of tonearm and cartridge have a huge, probably the major, effect on what you'll hear.  Spend a month or two or three listening to that rig, and then you will have a better idea where to go from there.  I am not personally familiar with the Jolida phono stage, but that too may be a limiting factor.  It may be that spending $3K to $4K, as you propose, on just a new turntable or on Linn upgrades makes no sense if you change nothing else in the reproduction chain.  But you should be the judge of that, not any of us.  

If I were you, I would take lewn suggestion.  I have recently heard a Linn.  They are great tables.  

If you decide to keep the Linn, make sure you have someone who knows what he/she is doing to set it up.  They can sound good or not depending on the setup.  Be VERY careful driving it back home...it can go out of adjustment in the move.

Thanks for the advice.  I was wondering if anyone in the group has an opinion/experience with the SOTA line of turntables. They are made in the USA and appear to be a similar in design to the Linn.      
Thanks