Kind of depends what sort of riding you were planning on doing. General riding (ie. not racing) I would look at some Shimano/Campy (whatever is compatible with the group you're running) hubs, laced with 36 14/15G spokes and brass nipples to a good solid rim, not the lightest thing you can find, there are a lot of such things out there. Such a build may not be too exciting, but it will stand you in good stead over the long haul.
If you're looking at race/higher performance wheels you could cut down on the spoke count, go for some lighter rims, and use alloy nips everywhere except rear drive. You could also consider some "boutique" spokes, though that would probably push it over your budget.
The last, but by far the most important, ingredient in the mix is the builder. Almost any set of combined parts can be built into a strong and durable wheel by a competent builder. However you can take the very best parts and turn them into a wheel which is complete cráp if you don't know what you are doing. Finding a builder who you trust can be hard, so if you have some mechanical skills I would highly recommend getting a copy of Jobst Brandt's The Bicycle Wheel and doing it yourself.
Sam
If you're looking at race/higher performance wheels you could cut down on the spoke count, go for some lighter rims, and use alloy nips everywhere except rear drive. You could also consider some "boutique" spokes, though that would probably push it over your budget.
The last, but by far the most important, ingredient in the mix is the builder. Almost any set of combined parts can be built into a strong and durable wheel by a competent builder. However you can take the very best parts and turn them into a wheel which is complete cráp if you don't know what you are doing. Finding a builder who you trust can be hard, so if you have some mechanical skills I would highly recommend getting a copy of Jobst Brandt's The Bicycle Wheel and doing it yourself.
Sam
