I have recently retired and am about to take the plunge and purchase a midarm quilting machine. I have narrowed it down to either the Avante or the Vision. I am seeking advice on the pros and cons of each. Thanks!

I have an HQ and I love it! Price was right, has stitch regulator, 12' table, etc. Nice and quiet also. Have had no issues with machine since I have had it. :)

How much floor space will I need?

You need a lot more room than you think! You need to be able to walk around the machine, front, back and, depending on the frame, one or both sides. I have about 2' on 3 sides and that seems to work. I can still get access to one side to get to the rollers. Casters are available for some machines, but if you get a stitch regulator or computer, you will need to be mindful of keeping the frame level every time you move it.

The vision is super fun if you have the space , I have the 12 foot table and it is great. I really love it.
Marilee

Welcome to the board from Southern California!

Thank you. I have been lurking for a while and finally decided to jump in.

I have a new studio that is about 20x20, so room won't be a problem...just planning workspaces.

I live about 180 miles from the nearest dealer for each. Did you have the dealer do the setup, or did you do it yourself.

Until 8/1 the Vision is about $9,000 on sale with a pro table.

The Avante is about $10,000 with a studio table.

The features are about the same for each.

I understand that Gammill requires classes before delivery.

I have been watching every tutorial I can find and am pretty machine and computer savy.

I have the HQ with a 10' studio table. I love this machine. I just can't say enough about it. My DH set it up for me in about 3 hrs.

I have worked with Gammill's for 5 years! We actually rent them to our customers. Having many different people operating them in various ways for many years is hard on any machine! In 5 years I lost one rental due to the machine. And if we had a little more experience. We wouldn't have lost that! It was such a simple fix! There is no question that the Gammill machine is a high quality machine built for heavy use and to last for years! I think the classes Gammill Dealers provide are a wonderful thing! Its really pretty basic stuff. Why not have the dealer run thru the steps to get you up and running ASAP! You will not be disappointed with a Gammill purchase. Good Luck with whatever you choose!