Recommend a 29er XC hardtail that can be had used <$1000±?
 

I'm going to be looking for an aggressive 29er XC hardtail. What are some good models and makes that can be had used for around $1000? Any really good frames hidden under sub par parts?
I'd like to stick at least close to this budget and am not opposed to building one from the frame up.

Is the budget for a complete?

Frame material?

Specialized Crave/Carve/Chisel

All would fit.

It would be nice if it were complete... I have a Ridley X-Fire 'cross bike in Campy chorus I built for that price range... Should be able to do a XC bike for that... Right?

Aluminum is cool, although I've never been a fan.

Are those all basically the same frame?

I think you can hit ~$1k pretty easily if you don't need latest/greatest/lightest.

Spend some money on a decent fork and make sure the wheels are functional.

I don't find aluminum to be too big a deal on a HT, though I kinda have preferred the ride of the steel HTs I've had. The big tires will mute a lot of the chattery feel, and you can typically get into a decent alloy frame for much less than a decent steel frame.

Any of the major manufacturers alloy HT frames are pretty good - the aforementioned Chisel/Crave/Carve, the Trek X-Caliber, Giant Fathom, Scott Scale, Kona Kahuna, maybe an older Santa Cruz Highball or one of Marin's current options.

If you're willing to go 27.5+ and stretch your budget, this is local to you

Definitely doable—but this is a job for Craigslist because shipping a mtb might eat a lot of your budget.

Konas-canondale-spec are good places to start.

That spot looks good^

29er hardtack shouldn’t be requesting a premium. Do you want boost spacing and + size tires?
If you go with a regular 29 non boost you should be able to find something.

So... What IS boost spacing and why would I want it? Also, do 27.5 wheels have anything over 29 for a 6'4" rider?

"Boost" is just 148mm rear, 110mm front hub spacing. Most decent bikes made after 2016 are this spec, so the advantage to you is that it will be easier to find forks and wheels that are worth having. That said, there are plenty of perfectly good "old" 142/100 spaced bikes around, and the parts for them still exist, and because they are not the latest/greatest, there is usually a deal to be had there.

I'm a 29er evangelist, I think you'll be happiest on that wheel size. Every time I ride a 27.5" bike, I seem to put my wheels in a bunch of 28" holes that 29 would have rolled right over.