I guess it partly depends on what you are going to do to them. The thread referenced by Spartan has my take, based on what matters to me. My advice is just not to assume that plastic pipes are the only acceptable way to get the price under a grand. If you actually want plastic pipes for some reason, get the Dunbars and enjoy them. If you want pipes but are not sure about the material, think strongly about getting wooden pipes. They do sound different (I believe better, though your opinion matters more if it is your money) and wood will mature in sound quality over time.

That said, see if you can manage an upgrade to a blackwood chanter. If you get one at the time you get the pipes, it will generally add only about $100 to the price, as opposed to $300 down the road when you decide that you really want the wood chanter. There is a very real difference in sound between the plastic and the wood in the chanter and nobody who can hear accurately will deny that. The plastic is brighter (and a little harsher to my ear) and can be a little grating. The wood is a little quieter and mellower, but still has plenty of volume. Wood will also get better with years of playing. I would rather use plastic drones and a wood chanter than wood drones and a plastic chanter. And if you join a band, they will almost certainly issue you a plastic chanter anyway. So, you play the band chanter for band purposes and the good chanter for your pleasure.

Also, ask around. Are you planning to join a band? If so, ask at band practice if anyone has a set of pipes gathering dust. Sometimes an older set may not be gorgeous to look at, but can have a maturity of sound that means it should be worth a lot more than they seem to sell for. Pipers will often sell old pipes cheap to a new piper who they believe will actually play them. While you are at it, check the Dunsire forum Trading Post regularly. I've seen very nice chanters go for fairly low prices (my dad now owns one that was supposedly once owned by Alasdair Gillies, but the important thing about it is that it is a very good chanter and didn't cost an arm and a leg) and even seen sets of pipes sell for pretty cheap. Beware, however, a used bagpipe isn't always cheaper than a new one. I keep seeing Dunbar poly pipes up for sale in the $800-$1000 range and that's what they sell for new. Why do I keep seeing those same plastic pipes being offered for sale? My guess is the owners are upgrading to blackwood.

Do your research on current prices. I have found sources for McCallum pipes (what I play) for about 50% more than I spent on the same instrument! One retailer will have the purpose of getting good pipes into the hands of people who will play them, another will want to charge all he can. So, one source isn't going to have the same prices as another. The sources I give in the other thread are the best prices I have found, but I'm not really covering every source. Both retailers I link to are reputable and reliable folks. If you are uncertain about the reputation of a seller, check on Dunsire and ask if anyone else has had experience with him/her/them.

Your instructor has probably already told you to get the pipes you will want to play ten years from now. Worth thinking about.

I only meant to make a quick note and I've written a chapter of a book! Sorry!

-Patrick