OH My....sorry to hear of your problems but .....I have to come to the defense of the 6500....I have had mine for 3 years now and have never had any problems with her at all. I use her just about every day and although she is not an embroidery machine she does make pretty decorative stitches.

LOVE my 6600! also had a Jem that was superb-lightweight for classes, but upgraded to 3160 for the increase in stitches as well as a cutter! Love the cutter feature. Go for the best you can afford. Pegeth

I got the 6600 four years ago when I retired and I love it. I have the Jem 760 for classes/retreats. I also have an older Janome (still working perfectly), a Janome serger, and a 300E. No problems with any of them.

I just received my 8900. I love it. Set the machine for FMQ according to the book, did not change bobbin case, needle, nothing...it FMQed like a dream, no eyelashes on the back with my curves.... The machine is so quiet....
Beautiful decorative stitches with the 9mm. If you do not want to spend this much, I would opt for the 6600 for quilting. I have two of them, one for home, one for cabin....they are real workhorses....never in the shop. I love the Accufeed on the 6600 and the Accufeed flex on the 8900.
I have: 8900/6600/3160/4900/11000SE Another Janome gal....
Diana in TX

I am 100% Janome sold. I have embroidery, 2 Jems, 1 Jem Gold, & now a Memory Craft 6600 - if I were younger I'd go get another top of the line embroidery too.
What to do when shopping for a machine. I can't stress enough to go to a reputable Janome Dealer. Call ahead and lit them know you want to come in and "test drive" their machines and you plan on being there at least 2 hours maybe longer. Hey these are expensive! Don't you test drive a car? Okay now do some homework and take a stack of stuff with you. Take your threads, take your fabric, do you do jeans? Do you mend? what weight of fabrics do you sew with? Take em all.
At the dealer let them go through their explanations then tell them you have your own fabric etc and get to work.Have a list - what do you want the machine to do for you? Quilt piecing only - well you sure don't need the bells and whistles. Do your own quilting - get that built in walking foot - like to do Stitch in the Ditch well they have a really great foot for that too.
Take your time.
My Janome experience has only been great no kidding. Largest amount of thread in a bobbin bar none! Quiet, solid. Oh by the way speaking of the extra "feet" they do not charge an arm and a leg for them. I know, I've had a V and a B and never would again.
Have a great day when shopping.

I love my Janome 4800 memory craft. Janome makes several other machines, so be sure to Google Janome to see what the other brands are. Some of them are really high dollar machines. froggyintexas

I had a 6260 & just loved it, then I visited the dealer & saw the 7700 Horrizen. I fell in love with that one, so I got that one, thinking I'd get rid of the 6260, but so far it's so handy to have both . I use both of them. When I first got my 6260 I packed away all my cheap junky thread, thinking this new one won't work with it. Well one day I needed a certain color I had in my junk, so tried it, & it works like a charm. I still try to mostly use a good thread, but it's very handy when you need a certain color. I have never tried it in the Horrizen though. I was so shocked to hear anyone being unhappy with a Janome. A couple of years ago I was at a quilting retreat & almost everyone had a Janome.

I hate to admit it but I have 14 machines--shhhh!
Most are vintage that I've picked up for the price of free or up to $35. (except for my little FW)
But my Janome 9000 memory craft is the one I FMQ on 99% of the time. I've had her over 13 years. Bought her new and have never had the slight problem where she's had to go to the dr.
Sewing machines aren't "one size fits all" so I applaude you for doing research. Before I bought my Janome I did that too & tested a lot of models & brands. The only thing I don't like on her is the embroidery. I bought a Babylock Esante several years after getting the Janome 9000 because the Janome was just not "user" friendly for me.
Good luck

Janome 6500
 

I would have to ditto everything you said about your Janome 6500. It is really a love hate relationship but it is 100% better than my Bernina from hell.[



QUOTE=Shelbie;5723022]I have the Janome 6500 and it has been the most expensive machine that I have ever bought and the one that I have not liked! I'm sure that I got the one made at ten to five just before a long weekend. It's had a lot of problems and so have I. I definitely have had a love/hate relationship with this machine. There are some features that I really like, needle up-down, needle threader and thread cutter. I haven't liked the feed dogs (set in at an angle and have never fed fabric in correctly), bobbin case that rattles and bangs unless you oil the oil wick under it, a machine that veers off at any seam junction, dislikes thicker fabric and growls and sometimes jams or knots up for no particular reason and all of these problems were caused by "operator error" according to my dealer. I never want another Janome and am presently looking at the Juki Exceed 600 and the Juki TL2010Q. I could buy both of these machines for what I paid for my Janome 6500. I really think that there are no perfect machines out there. It's just a matter of finding (hard to do) the best one for you and a dealer that is willing and able to work with you to resolve any problems.[/QUOTE]

Honestly, you may be right about the manufacturing date and time:) I have had one for years, still love it, had no problems at all!

I have been a long time Janome owner. I currently have a 6600P and I love it. I've never had a problem with any of my Janomes. Great machines with a good stitch.

Love my Janome Horizon 7700!! The 11" bed is wonderful for FMQ. I love the needle threader, thread cutter, hundreds of decorative stitches, and, well, there are many other features that I love. I've only had her for a year, but I'm thinking she and I will have a long-term relationship.

I have the Janome DC5100 and just love it! It is so fast and doesn't mind hemming blue jeans one bit!

I've got the 1600 and it sews so nicely. Straight stitch only but I like it. I do have other machines if I want something different.

I have owned several Janomes sewing & embroidery machines. I do love them but the company would not back me when a dealer dropped & broke my machine & smashed the base. I had to pay a lot to get it back otherwise this unscrupulous dealer could keep it due to a clause on their service slip stating it had to be picked up by a certain date or relinquished. She even admitted it wasn't broken when I dropped it off. She is now out of business after all these yrs. there are a lot of great dealers out there. Shop for the dealer just like the machine. You'll love it. Good luck.

I,ve got the DC 2010 and believe me--I have put it through a lot of things since I got it. I have not had any problems with it except for the foot pedal and the dealer was right there to fix te problem.--Even gave me another foot pdal till He esolved the problem.
If I had to get another machine it would be another Janome.
I have even quilted a queen size quilt with mine--takes some doing -but i get it done.

I absolutely love mine. I am saving up for the 6600 now.

I guess it depends on how much money you want to spend. The majority of people who own Janomes are happy with them. Since your a quilter and aren't interested in embroidery patterns, I would buy the Janome with the widest throat I could find. I love my Janome 10000 but I don't like it's narrow throat. It's my only complaint about it.

I switched from an older Pfaff to a Janome 6600 abut a year and a half ago and am very happy with my new machine. I chose the Janome over Pfaff because where I live in Maine the Janome dealer (my LQS) is only about 15 minutes up the road and a Pfaff dealer is well over an hour. You might consider your choices in this regard.

I see you are from where my Grandparents were born! Did you get your machine from David Drummond's of Edinburgh, as I do. I recently bought the Elna 720, now made by Janome, and although expensive you get what you pay for.

I totally agree with you on the Thread Cutter I wouldn't buy a machines without one now, ditto with the speed control and working the machine without the pedal. I find that it comes into it's own when doing fancy stitches or embroidery as you get a better stable speed control.

I am jealous of your upcoming New Year festivities for which Edinburgh is famous for, Happy Hogmanay :)

Very happy with my Janome 6600 (2+ years and no problems) and my Viking MegaQuilter (5+ yrs) also made by Janome. Both are workhorses !

Mine is a much older Janome but I have had really good luck with it.

I had the 6500 for years and loved it, gave it to DD and bought the 7700. I love it too. I have a Juki on a frame and the Janome 3160 to take to class (I had the Janome 720 and 760, but the 3160 sews most like my 7700).

I decided to go with the horizon 7700!!! It's being shipped Monday

Congratulations on your choice! I have the Janome 6600 and love it. What an awesome Christmas present!

I have the 7700 and love it. Join our yahoo group. Janome Horizon 7700_8900. Lots of great information.

Merry Christmas!

Congrats ! I purchased a 7700 this summer. Love every minute sewing on it. All of my piecing is much improved using it. I also have the Memory Craft 11000 SE. It's old..never a problem with it; love the quality of embroidery on it.. however, it appears that my 7700 is better for piecing. It's extra nice (saves time, too) having one machine set up for embroidery/QITH projects and one for regular sewing.

I have the 7700 love it!

Janome 6500 now for 9 yrs. Great machine with a 9 in. throat opening, knee lifter and auto push button thread cutter. The plain straight stitch version is the Janome 1600. Besure to get the one with the auto thread cutter button and the knee lifter.

Love my janome but she stays at home. If you intend to take the machine to classes I would sew on them to get a feel and pick them up to feel the weight for carrying. I think all the memory craft are heavy.

Helpful advise please.
 

I have the opportunity to purchase a Janome MC 10000 for approximately $1500. I can find very little about it on the Internet, other than it had a great initial review. The machine is over 10 years old, but has been in storage for the last 5. Does this sound like a good deal?

Personally, I think that is way too much for such an old machine. I am not familiar with that particular machine, however. You might call a Janome dealer and ask their advice.

That's my machine too. It has lots of fun stitches. I'm happy with mine, too.

I've had a 10001 for about 8 years and love it. It's only been in for service, never for repairs. It's a great machine!

I love my Janome 9000MC but the price they're asking seems too steep, especially since it's been in storage 5 years.

You could buy a new Janome Horizon for pretty close to that and it has a deep harp for machine quilting

Selling my Janome 350E
ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Janome-Memor...item4ac1feba23
Craigslist http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/art/3645105040.html

I have 2 Janomes. My 1st is the 6260 (no longer made) I've had it for 10 years and never a problem. I also have the 7700 my dream machine does all I need it to do and then some. I feel you can't go wrong with a Janome. I have several friends who have had the same experience as me with different Janomes. I suggest you go to a dealer and sit down and play with many different models and see which one feel right to you. The dealers are usually very good at explaining the differences between models. Good luck.

Go to different dealers, test drive several brands, see which ones you like best. Also, which DEALER you like best. After you purchase you new sewing machine, you will have to bring it to the dealer for yearly checkups. If you buy a machine you love, but, you have to have it serviced at a dealership you can't stand, you have a problem. The after sale customer service is very important. There is a Bernina dealer 50 miles from where I live.The problem is, he is not good at customer service. I go to the Bernina dealer 100 miles from where I live. Why? Because they are so much nicer to deal with than the closer Bernina dealer. There are Bernina customers who live in the city that is 50 miles from me that will not go to that dealer, instead they travel 150 miles to have their Bernina serviced. In fact, the dealer 100 miles from me told be that some of their customers travel across the whole state to come to their store. Having a good dealer is very important. Good Luck!

Yes mine is a Janome 350E