J.Max
03-12-2006, 06:56 AM
I have a ton of experience with ProWinds, and they are very good. I'll copy my post from the A17 vs. Optimum discussion:
Here's the deal with ProWinds, if you didn't know the story behind them...If anyone knows that I shouldn't tell this story, please let me know.
ProWinds was started in 1993 by Dean and Leichen Foster. Leichen was one of Eugene Rousseau's very top students at IU (She was also my teacher in my first year there.). Her husband Dean was finishing his MBA at IU and helping Dr. Rousseau with his mouthpiece business. Under Dean, they began the E Rousseau line of reeds, expanded the "New Classic" mouthpiece series, and began importing the BG line of products. (Ligatures, etc) Initially, they worked out of a small office across from the Bloomington Mall as "RM Pro Shop". (I worked there for a little while inspecting mouthpieces which were made at the Babbitt factory). I believe that Dean received a small loan from Dr. Rousseau to open Pro Winds across from the IU School of Music. There was a serious need in Bloomington for a good woodwind/brass/repair shop, and Pro Winds filled the need to a tee. They started getting stuff that absolutely no one else in the country could get, and they expanded with the advent of the world wide web. (They also own the coffee shop next door, which I have heard is a big hang out for music students now. Heh.)
I was their very first customer at the new store, which is how I know all of this! They are super legit, have excellent customer service, good pricing, and great shipping. The people that work there are wind players too!
I recently ordered an Optimum from them and got it VERY quickly, and I told them that I needed to try it and it was NO problem.
Here's the deal with ProWinds, if you didn't know the story behind them...If anyone knows that I shouldn't tell this story, please let me know.
ProWinds was started in 1993 by Dean and Leichen Foster. Leichen was one of Eugene Rousseau's very top students at IU (She was also my teacher in my first year there.). Her husband Dean was finishing his MBA at IU and helping Dr. Rousseau with his mouthpiece business. Under Dean, they began the E Rousseau line of reeds, expanded the "New Classic" mouthpiece series, and began importing the BG line of products. (Ligatures, etc) Initially, they worked out of a small office across from the Bloomington Mall as "RM Pro Shop". (I worked there for a little while inspecting mouthpieces which were made at the Babbitt factory). I believe that Dean received a small loan from Dr. Rousseau to open Pro Winds across from the IU School of Music. There was a serious need in Bloomington for a good woodwind/brass/repair shop, and Pro Winds filled the need to a tee. They started getting stuff that absolutely no one else in the country could get, and they expanded with the advent of the world wide web. (They also own the coffee shop next door, which I have heard is a big hang out for music students now. Heh.)
I was their very first customer at the new store, which is how I know all of this! They are super legit, have excellent customer service, good pricing, and great shipping. The people that work there are wind players too!
I recently ordered an Optimum from them and got it VERY quickly, and I told them that I needed to try it and it was NO problem.