Here's a couple of cheap Ric toasters, provided you buy direct:
http://store.guitarfetish.com/gfsnyodestsu.html
No idea how the sound is, though, and I'm not giving a warranty - just that it's the price range you mentioned.
Also - don't be alarmed at the 6 polepieces, the field is supposed to be diffused enough for it to uniformly catch bass strings.