catsrule

Thanks for the great information!
I am planning on also checking out other Long Arms including the HQ

jmoore

I also love my two Janome machines and would love to give the QMP a try...but I am thinking I want more than 18" of throat space when I make a longarm investment.

toverly

Definitely go to a large market like Houston. There you can try all the machines you are interested in. Without local pressure. It's as easy as stepping to the other side of the room. Of course local service is important along with classes. I don't think I would purchase from a show, just try it out.

Kalah

Quilt Maker Pro is made by Handi Quilter.

Janome dealers were selling the Artistic rebadged prior to this.

cindynvb

I thought the babylock had a great machine

mkc

Also made by HandiQuilter. Tiara = sixteen, Crown Jewel = Avante.

pocoellie

I've ordered a sit down 20" Bailey for under $4000.00, although I would prefer to have a frame, I don't have room for one, so a sit down will have to do. Bailey's have been around for quite a number of years, and they're machines have a fairly good reputation, although they're not a "long arm" but that's okay with me, 20" is a long more room than I have now. LOL

I also would be leary of a long arm that hasn't been around long enough to have all the "bugs" worked out.

Watson

I went to the Janome Facebook page, where they advertise this to have a look and there are a Lot of complaining people on that page. (Click on the advert for the long arm) Not necessarily about this particular model, but about the fact that there is no main depot for customer service for Janome and they have multiple problems, so they are taking them to the FB page in hopes of getting help. And, I didn't see their messages answered by a Janome rep, while if someone had a normal question about a machine, there was an answer. It's not a good look P.R.-wise, that's for sure. (And, I love mine.)

Watson

c.orlando

I set one of these up for a local quilt shop today. The machine seems to be the same as an Avante. I have an HQ Fusion.

Things that are the same:

1) Bobbin Winder is exactly the same there is no difference.
2) Easy Set Tension, Regulated / Manual mode, Stitch Counter, Bobbin Thread recording etc.. Screen for the Quilt Maker Pro is configured the same as the Sweet Sixteen. I was able to use this without even looking at the manual.
3) Frame is the same as the Avante standard frame except for the quilt top bar which is lower in the front. The carriage tracks are not a continuous track. They are in 4ft sections and you have to add a coupler between to extend the tracks to 8", and 12" they are like the old style tracks that came with the Avante Frame but these are not plastic.
4) Ruler base is exactly the same as the New HQ Fusion ruler base, I have this one and it is exactly the same down to the velcro that they give you to adjust it if is wobbles. The instructions are even the same.

If you are going to spend the $10,999.00 that the my local shop is asking I would look at the Avante as the Quilt Maker Pro does not have a computer system yet it is not available at this time. Also I would go with the tried and true machine until they work the bugs out. While testing this machine after I set it up my thread kept breaking on the top when I increased my speed in regulated mode, also if the bobbin was full it kept catching in the backlash inside the bobbin case. I'm quite experienced with setting the bobbin tension it was set correct, once I ripped off thread and lowered it to 3/4 full it stopped catching in the bobbin case.

Hope that helps you decide

anonymous

Why would a company market a long arm and not invest in dealer training or customer service? Never ceases to amaze me. A company can do more to damage their reputation than help it. People are willing to support a brand name, where is the loyalty back to the customer? It is a big piece of equipment and quilting is achieved in a whole new way. A really good manual would be a starting point and a dealer that knows more than the customer.
I had a bad experience with Tin Lizzie and had to beg and demand some customer service. I finally was lucky enough to sell the set-up I had (for a big loss) and purchased an Innova. The customer service is priceless and the the quality is so much better. I know not everybody can or wants to spend big $$$, but I personally would check out the used market with some of the established well known companies out there before I'd deal with all of the headaches of poor customer service. I would do what Watson did and try to find fb posts and customer reviews before purchasing a machine that has many problems, even sadly from brands we already know and love.