I'd recommend the Delta I have, if you could still get them. But, in the price range you'd like, you're going to need to find a used one. I assume you want it to work on guitars/basses, so that means no less than a 12" model. You can get 12" swings with a benchtop, but past that it'll be a standalone and prices go up fast. There's not a great deal that can go wrong with them, so a used tool isn't much of a risk, especially with older units. The older units were generally overbuilt, compared to what you'd get today with the same specs from the usual suspects.
Just remain calm and keep an eye on Craigslist. Due to the population density in your area, I'd imagine they would be showing up all the time. Unless you find a local pickup, eBay is going to involve some painful shipping charges for a tool as large and heavy as we're talking about. Unless you're looking for a deal on a new one from an importer/jobber, that's not the place to shop. You're not going to get what you want from them at that price anyway.