I purchased a used Voyager 17 on a Hinterberg stretch frame, and am extremely pleased. The Voyager is a stretched industrial Singer machine (vintage, not plastic). This is a heavy machine, but the Hinterberg frame handles the weight very well. (Other frames would probably not be as good.) This particular setup with stitch regulator can be purchased directly from Hinterberg for about $4,000:
http://www.hinterberg.com/prod-Voyag...ckage-487.aspx
However, I have done Google searches and found frame and Voyager (some without stitch regulator) for less than that. (The Voyager is no longer being made, so all Voyagers are refurbished.)
In my opinion, this is a great start setup. The frame is sturdy and easy to set up (especially compared to other frames), and the bearings on the carriage are excellent. This frame handles the weight of the Voyager very well, so it would handle other machines well also. I like the Voyager a lot because I can pretty much do all of the maintenance and adjusting on it myself (so far, anyway). The manual that comes with it gives detailed information on how to re-time the machine, for example. I ***love*** the 17" of harp size with this machine.
Someone on the QB was abled to buy a used Voyager/Hinterberg setup (with stitch regulator) for under $2,500. It was listed on one of the used machine websites. Here's one website:
http://www.longarmuniversity.com/machines_for_sale.htm
but I think she found hers on the other one.