Janome Horizon owners
 

I am really considering purchasing a new Horizon. Has anyone had any problems with this machine?

No problems yet, although I don't use mine all that much... I just keep it on my Little Gracie II - it FMQ's wonderfully.

hugs

Caroline

I bought mine in September....Love it!!!

No problems, with mine (bought early, this year). Love it, love it, love it!!!

No problems with my 7700, I got it last month. I haven't tried all the things it can do --- yet

Mine is just wonderful!

Love mine...any problems I had were my own fault...so many wonderful people here will help if you have problems...or if you are better than me read the manual ; )

Thanks everyone. The 7700 is the one that I am considering.

Glad to see this thread. I stopped into a Janome store today for the first time. The Memory Craft 6600 is my price range, but those Horizons look really nice! Will look forward to seeing the responses...

There is a janome yahoo group where you can get lots of opinions of owners. I think it is called Janome 6500 but includes 6600 & 7700

Love mine too.

i am a very new owner---it sews cottons quilts like a dream ---had problems with satin ruching up---------but i am sure when i read up and do some try outs i will fix it--------i had my pfaff for 15+years so i am on a huge learning curve---i love the feel of this machine it purrs

love mine

Thanks snipforfun. I looked at the yahoo group but have not joined yet. I noticed they have a sister group for just the 7700. Are you a member of the Janome 6500 group? I have never joined one of yahoo's groups before and always a little hesitant before doing something like that. It took me over a year to join the QB....lol

I have had mine for over a year. Her name is Lucy and I love her!!!

I have one.

We just had to operate on mine tonight--there was a bit of thread stuck on the back side of the tension disks. However, dh got it out. (The thing I don't like is that I can't get easily to the tension disks to get that stuck thread out. I don't know if we invalidate the warranty if we take the cover off, etc. to get to it.)

It has happened one other time in the two years I've used it--intensely, I'd have to say. My DH observed, "I don't think that they meant the machine to work as if it were in a factory!" as I sometimes put 5-8 hours a day in (if I can--other days 1-2).

I've had to replace the foot pedal (went out in Feb.--a year and a half of hard, hard use) and just recently I had to replace the plate because the automatic plate converter (for making it wide for zigzag and smaller for straight stitch stitch) broke. Neither of those two things were covered under the Janome 3 year warranty, I was told. ?? (I was a bit bummed by that.)

But, it normally FMQs so well--til tonight--then I noticed I had no tension --thread was in the disks. As I mentioned before, we operated, so to speak and got it out.

So, as soon as I pull out all the loose bobbin threads in the quilt I was quilting, I will use it again. It really is a nice machine. I can't fault a machine for having a few problems when I've used mine as much as I have.

It is my first "higher end" machine as my other ones (since marriage) were $200-300 models. Both were Pfaffs purchased here in Poland. Before coming to Poland, 18 years ago, I had Singers, probably purchased at yard sales. None of them were "fun" to sew on. I think that the Horizon has totally warped me and raised my standard probably for the rest of my life, which is okay (I'm 50). It is a heavy duty machine and you just feel confident in it--it is sturdy and dependable.

I've used some of the embroidery stitches and they were nice. I haven't used all of the other functions. I did use the applique stitch (as recommended here) for putting on appliques a few days ago. I don't use the knee lifter, but I love the stop/start button and used it for a while before replacing the foot pedal. The needle threader and thread cutter are wonderful. I like all the harp space.

Lowering the feed dogs is so easy, it seems like it should be harder. The even feed is super easy as well....I really like it for putting on binding or straight line quilting (have started doing that as well.) Mine is not picky about thread.

That's my opinion...I'm kind of a new quilter, but not a new seamstress.

JustFlying, are you threading the machine with the foot down? I'm sure with your experience you know to always thread with the foot up, just asking because of the thread caught in the discs.

I bought mine when they first came out. There were some lemons then, I think, like microsoft, companies let their customers do the beta testing. I got one of the lemons. I can't remember now what was wrong, but I called the dealer, he said bring it in, and met me at the door with a new boxed machine. This one is a dream. All those lights! That nice harp space. Janome quality.

My previous machine was a 6600 which I've sold to a cousin
My machine previous to that was a 9000
and previous to that a New Home as the company used to be known as, bought used from a neighbor for $25.00 when I was about 15 years old.

And their feet are Very reasonable and the standard ones fit all their machines
Some machine's feet are so expensive!!

Hi Guys,

How much is a Horizon in the USA..... over here they are £1799.00. When I got mine (I pre ordered it so I got it the day after it was released in the UK) I got a fantastic deal from my sewing machine guy........ so I just wondered how much you gals are having to pay.

Hugs

Caroline

No. If I were threading it with the pressure foot down, the thread wouldn't be caught in the tension disks at all.

It's probably my "low quality" thread. (It's what we have--and I just work with it!)

I can't answer for them, but 2 years ago when everyone was saying in the states they were paying 3K for it, I paid about $1700 here in Poland. Since we normally pay MORE for electronic items than the US for things like computers and digital cameras, I was pleased. Very.

I think I saw they are now under 2K in the states due to the new release.

I was talking to my local dealer and they told me that the 7700 was going to be being discontinued since the 8900 is out so you may be able to find a good deal on one. They also told me that there is an 8200 out but that they won't carry it until they can no longer get the 7700 because it is in between the 6600 and the 7700 as far as features.

I currently have the 6600 and the 11000 and was thinking about trading my 6600 for the 8900 but my dealer is offering me such a great deal that I am trading my 11000 (that I bought used) for a 12000 and keeping my 6600, which I LOVE

I just bought a MC JANOME 8900 QCP on October 29. It is a new model and while I haven't sewed on it to make anything, just practicing, I rreally like it. I got a good deal on it. So far, it hasn't been too difficult to use, with the book in front of me. Going to make a couple of dresses for my great-grandaughter, who is three. Then maybe start on some quilting.

I have had the 7700 for more than 2 years and totally love how it runs and works!! The knee-lift is one of my favorite things I use ALL the time to free my hands up as I quilt. My friend has a shop and sells Janome. She told me that the Horizon 7700 is going to be sold as an online machine only in the near future. I don't know exactly what that means. She has the new model that will take the place of the current Horizon in her shop. It has a few, very few, updates and improvements on it. It is not the one with the embroidery also! But it has many more stitch choices.I think she is selling the 7700 for $2300, and the new model more in the $3000 dollar range (I can't remember exactly).
I couldn't say enough about the performance of my Horizon! Please take all the classes offered if you buy one, it will open the world up to you as you learn to sew on the machine.

I have (cough cough) many machines. (I'm a machine addict and my name is nancy :) ). I have the 6600 and 12000 very nice lovely machines! No issues outside operator error lol!

Here is the link for the Horizon group. You can get a lot of good information there. Just sign up and then you can access the data files with tons of info.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JanomeHorizon7700/

I traded my 6600 for the 7700 a couple of years ago. I love this machine. I have not had any problems with it at all. Yes it is being discontinued which is great for anyone wanting a new machine since most dealers offer them at reduced prices right now. Hope you get the chance to enjoy this machine

.

I was told a long time ago that a piece of denal floss works well in getting bits out of the tension discs. I use it regularly when I clean and oil my machines (like Glide the best).

You will love this machine. I have had mine about a year. I will say if where you are buying it offers classes, take
them, this machine does just about everything.
Deb

I was just in to my local dealer and he told me the 7700 would be sold online only. These are the prices I was quoted:
Memory Craft 6600 - $1999
Horizon 8200 - $2999
Horizon 8900 - $3999

While I would LOVE the 8900, the 6600 is more in my budget. :)

I bought mine in 2010, and unfortunately, I got one of the "lemons" mentioned in an earlier post. In the first 6 mos, I had it in for 3 major repairs. Finally, fed up, I wrote directly to Janome, and they arranged for a replacement. I haven't had a problem since. I really like the huge harp space, the extra lighting and the accufeed system. I wish it was quicker to change among the accufeed/FMQ/normal feet, and also wish it was quicker to get the plate off to clean out the bobbin area, but other than that, I love it.

I'm quilting a baby quilt now, and decided to use a bunch of the decorative stitches with a variegated thread. Didn't have to touch a thing; tension has been perfect! And my FMQ skills have improved a lot since getting "Sara"!

Horizon 7700
 

HI
I just bought one online at Ebay, the seller said it worked perfect
Well, I cannot get good stitching on " AUTO" which is supposed to
be working so I have to turn the thread tension to 5- that isn't great
in my book, I will hopefully learn how to conquor the issues but I wouldn't
buy it again, I would buy a 6500 or 6600
Hope this helps
There is a yahoo site for 7700 buyers and you can read the issues there
Hugs DI

this is a good site, some really good tips about the Janomes. I read it everyday. (I have the 6600)

Bought mine in July at a quilt show and I love it.

I have the 7700. I love it. I had trouble with the thread breaking when free motion quilting only to experiment with threads and found that it was the thread. Changed to YLI and love it.

I had the 7700 for 2 years, just upgraded to the 8900 Horizon. My dealer took the 7700 in trade and I felt I got a very good deal. If you can afford it or have something to trade in, do take a look at the 8900. It is such an amazing machine, very quiet and so smooth. The walking foot is separate not built in, so that annoying piece of metal is not there by the side of the needle. The throat plate comes off with the push of a button, no wrestling with a screw driver to remove it. It has a 9mm zig zag ( one of the largest) so the embroidered numbers and letters are actually legible--large enough to make quilt labels. I am so in love with this machine. Even makes a welted buttonhole. Same size as the 7700 has a large foot pedal--a nice improvement. It is like they took the 7700 and made everything much better.

I've had mine for 2 years and love it. I did have to have the pc board in mine replaced at its first service as the screen had been flickering. It didn't affect the operation but was just annoying. I've never seen anyone else report this problem. It's been fine since they changed it (under warranty). Some folks did have problems with the earlier releases but I haven't seen as many complaints lately so I assume most have been resolved. Would I buy it again? I sure would :)

You can not go wrong with Janome! I bought the first 6600 our dealer sold several years ago and have never had a problem with it. Also, had a Jem gold and gave it to my grand daughter when she married. Bought a Bernina, and wish I had the old one back. Tried to exchange it for the one I gave away, but she did not want to change!

I am member of both groups. They are both great groups with lots of information on the machines and extra feet.