Im looking for a new machine, fmq, strong powerful, for all kinds of sewing.
 

Im looking at both the Janome 7700, Horizon and the 6600
feed back, experience, good, bad and ugly Or another?

Thanks so much
Nancy

After enjoying mine for 18 months, I highly recommend the Janome 7700. I've sewn a good variety of projects and it has handled all of them well. The extra harp space is a big plus.

I love my 6600. The 7700 has a larger bed, by several inches and if I could afford it I would buy that one.

Daffy D.
Hi, thanks for the input, question, When I was testing the 7700 yesterday, using the new quarter inch foot the machine could not go over the seam. It was alarming. New needle pressure at auto default. Someone on the yahoo group said she puts the pressure at 4 and there is not problem. Could you tell me what your findings are in this regard.
12 layers of a triangle six inch patch where all seams meet in the middle. Other then that I and the fact that you have to wheel your way though the menu to change a stitch, I thought the machine was fantastic. Very heavy. Have to keep working out to handle it. :) Thanks so much. Nancy in NY

Im testing them side by side today.
Nancy in NY

I have a Janome 7700 and I love it..... but I have to say that my Bernina Aurora 630 is a darling!!!!

Hugs

Caroline

Nancy,

I believe the dealer needs to make some kind of adjustment in the machine you were trying out, possibly an adjustment to the feed dogs. Be sure to point out to him the trouble you were having.

My 7700 sews over thick seam intersections beautifully.

Daffy

I have the 6600 and am more than happy. I've sewn many miles ... and gone over many many layers of fabric and multi seams while doing the FWS blocks and never had issues!!! (well, other than operator issues. Different Story!) I know I could never have done the sewing so easily and smoothly with my previous machine.

Perhaps within time, I'll wish I had the 7700 or Horizon with the wider bed, though for now, I've done very little quilting, and no large quilts.

Compare the specs of each machine and see what they offer ... and what you want/need! Is there room for your own skills growth and future needs?

I forget now, though I know there is something that the 6600 has that the 7700 does not ... yes 7700 is the higher end machine, but the dealer pointed out one thing as not being there.

Hello from England - I bought the 7700 about a year ago at a show. It's not the machine I thought it would be - I work them very hard and thought that, being designed for quilting, it would be more robust. So far the auto tension is iffy, the machine is quite noisy and after only 9 months it began breaking thread and missing stitches because it needed more cleaning than the basic. I thought I would invalidate my guarantee if I tried anything ambitious re cleaning. It's a lovely size and I do use it a lot but it will never be the work horse that its predecessor was (sadly traded in). Sorry - terribly negative but you did ask!! Regards, Jacki

I would definitely check into the higher end Brother machines with a dealer, not online.

I love my 7700. I found although the machine had no trouble sewing over bulky seams it wanted to veer off a bit so I bought the dual feed 1/4 inch foot and now I get a lovely staight seam.

I find that the real workhorses are the older Bernina's. The 200's and 400's. All metal, powerful machines.

I really wanted the 7700, I've been a Janome girl for 10 yrs. I test drove it several times and had concerns about a few sewing issues, I went with a Viking instead. I'm very pleased!

Bringing up the thread breaking issue - I have the Janome 6500, would love to trade up but can't justify at this time. My heavier quilting thread was breaking a lot while FMQ & I remembered a posting here. If I set my machine on mode 2, pattern 16 which moves the needle to the left - I can sew forever without thread breaking. Don't know why it works but it does. I remember it from an older blog on here.

I have had Pfaff machines for over 30 years and believe they are the best. My 7570 is a real workhorse my favroite for
piecing. My other Pfaff is a Creative Vision 5.0 and it does wonderful things. The most important consideration in purchasing a new machine is SERVICE. We have the best support stores in the area with classes, repair people and just plain friendly people who work there. So it is my advice to check out the store as well as the machines. Good luck,,

Can't emphasize this enough! So many places send machines out for service, whereas ours has the mechanic on-site and in full view as his service area is a corner in the back corner of the store. Quick fixes or questions, he'll answer at any time. And if you're in a class and something goes wrong, he just comes right into the class ... just like roadside service to your car.

For those who have purchased their machines, you can get an appointment for one day service!! Yes, only one day without your machine, and usually, it's ready mid day. For out of-towners (like me) they'll even do it while I'm in town so I don't have to make a 2nd trip. I save that favour for when I really need it ... and usually drop it off a day or 2 in advance and just plan some other things when I don't have my machine. If not purchased at the store, you go into the queue behind the booked appointments, though I don't think they are left waiting too long.

Whether buying a car, household appliances, sewing machine etc., service plays a big part in my decision on where to shop and ultimately buy!

Hi - Thought I'd throw my two cents in - I've had both of these machines. I started with a 6600, then traded up to the Horizon 7700. I didn't like it as well as the 6600, so I sold it and bought another 6600. The only thing I liked better on the 7700 was the larger throat space. Several things that drove me crazy - The way the spool of thread sits on the 7700 and the way it winds through the machine (on the top, under the lid), and also to wind bobbins. I found that cumbersome. Also, the (optional) thread stand for larger spools the 7700 is stationary, it does not fold down like it does on the 6600, which makes impossible to keep a cover on the machine when not in use. Probably the main thing I disliked about the 7700 was the bobbin winder. The 6600 has a separate bobbin winder - You load it up and push a button, really easy! The 7700 needs you to use the foot pedal or unplug the foot pedal if you want to use the on/off button to wind the bobbin. I found this cumbersome also. In general, the 6600 feels more sturdy to me, it feels more robust and solid when it sews. Also, as others have stated, getting the 1/4" seam on the 7700 is problematic, and many on the Yahoo Janome 7700 list speak of the difficulty of going over thick seams.

Solomae

Thanks for your insights SoloMae ... I had been starting to wonder if I should trade up now, while I wouldn't lose any money on my 6600 (first year, we can trade in for full value), but I think you've convinced me that I have no interest!! Th positive of the larger throat space yes, but the 7700 negatives you pointed out, are all reasons why I have fallen in love with the 6600, so I know I am good to go!

For your 1/4" dilemma ... try the special accufeed 1/4" foot ... a friend who bought her 7700 the same week as I bought my 6600 sews with the accufeed almost all the time!

Thanks you all I've made a decision
 

Thank you all who replied. I have decided to go with the Janome 6600. I liked the Horizon 7700 and understand that it is sort of mesmerizing pretty and has a lot of great features, but I tested two at two different dealers and the fact that it would not sew over a simple layered intersection on a pieced block was so mind boggling to me. If it was only one machine at one dealers I would say the machine needed to be adjusted, but the real red flag was that it happened at both. After having a bad experience with a Pfaff Ex. 4.0 which I bought last August, and the dealer took back I was not up for any thing that had iffy behavior. I picked the Janome mostly because my dealer sells Pfaff and Janome, and they don't give refunds, meaning I had to find the replacement there. I lost my confidence with Pfaff, so thought I would look at the Janomes.
Through this process I discovered the 6600 and was very impressed. I tried the Horizon too. But all around I really like the 6600 more. I found it quieter, as smooth, it handled everything as well as the Horizon and more. I would have loved to have the extra two inches of harp space but I think the 9 inch harp will is good. It is all of the most important features of the Horizon. I loved the Accufeed in both machines. The fact that its has four different feet to use is great. I tested velvet and silks and all the most difficult fabrics and the seams were even and precise. I also tested piecing and the seams again were precise. I had no problem with the fabric getting pulled into the plate opening at the very beginning.
Plus a big factor is all the information I was able to find on line, and from people on the various sewing boards have been extremely helpful. Please wish me luck. I should receive my new machine in a week or two.
Thanks everyone
Nancy in NY

Glad you've made your decision - enjoy your new machine!

Glad you've found the right machine for you and I hope you have lots of fun with it.

You'll love your new 6600 Nancy! I've had mine about two weeks - I also did a lot of research and I can honestly tell you I am not disappointed. Thus far, the machine performs great on everything I've tried. I'm also finding it to be user friendly and not that hard to operate. Good luck!

I understand you've made your decision, I'm glad you're happy! This info might be useful to someone, though: Yes, I've heard of some adjustments to the feed dogs to solve the veering problem. I have had the 7700 for almost a year and love it. I only had a very slight problem with the bulky seam - the newer ones come with a new 02 foot that solves the problem, and Janome sends them to owners who have registered their machines that didn't come with the new 02 foot, for free. Also, about a month ago, I bought the Janome clear view foot - it's clear plastic with red lines for 1/4 and 1/8 inch ahead and behind the needles (very handy) and comes with 2 different guides - a 1/4 inch guide and a stitch in the ditch guide - and it works perfectly with then 7700, no problems with seams at all. And I just last night I attached a flannel double fold binding on a flannel quilt using that foot - no accufeed, and it performed beautifully. That foot was only about $12.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CGgQ8wIwBA#

Dandish,
I hear you. I thought the Horizon was a beautiful machine. If I didnt have the trouble sewing over a simple intersecting seam I would have decided to buy it. I was dissapponted. And yes I could have the tech look at the machine and make sure this would not be an issue with my purchase, but I just was not up for anything iffy. We tried all three of the feet you mention, plus the regular all purpose foot and none of them worked on either machine at both dealerships. The 6600 does everything I need it to do. Im so happy that your machine works flawlessly and Im sure that many people feel and have experienced this too. I am getting the FMQ foot that comes with the 7700 for the 6600 it is so great!
and also some other feet. Including the accufeed feet.
Happy Sewing!
Thanks for all the good advice.
Nancy