The Penn State "Benjamins Best" are in roughly the same class without the uncertainty and allow you to buy onsies instead of a set so can actually be a bit cheaper.
As far as chisels it'll be hard to get three turners to agree on a starter set so take this for what its worth. My choices would be (based on what I use):
- 3/4" rouging gouge
- 3/8" spindle detail gouge
- 3/4" or 1" skew
- 5/8" bowl gouge
- 3/8" bowl gouge (this is also nice for detail spindle work as its very forgiving, hence two bowl gouges, I use both of them on bowls and spindle work - especially things like turned spoons)
- you'll eventually want a couple of scrapers - I use these a fair bit on the difficult parts of bowls: http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCSIDE2.html
- If you're doing pens or really small stuff a smaller detail gouge or another detail gouge you can grind to a sharper point might be useful (I've ground some "skew gouges" out of allen wrenches that would quite nicely for tiny detial work as well) but I mostly use the skew for that.
I would also add to that list:
- a set of calipers
- a steb center drive center (more forgiving to start) I actually have a larger (1") and a small (1/2")
- if you don't have a face plate you'll want a face plate. something in the 3" range should handle pretty much most of what you want to do.
- You'll eventually want a chuck. Pick a chuck system because you'll want different jaw sizes/types and its nice to have a couple of chuck bodies you can use for all of the jaws. I've been pretty happy with the supernova2 from http://www.teknatool.com/ - they often have sales on refurbs http://www.novatoolsusa.com/Reconditioned-Products_c10.htm - my one SN2 is a refurb and looks just the same as the full priced one.
There's more of course
But that would get you started.