OK, here's a question for all my friends on the board. Does anyone have a Janome 1600P-DB? I was thinking of buying one. However, the only review I found was a very negative one! The lady said that the thread broke at every inch.She claims the machine is a piece of junk! Says it is always in the shop and they won't admit that there's anything wrong with it! I have a MC 9000 but would like to upgrade. As far as lokks goes I liked it for the slim sillouette, the large work area and the fact that it claims to be heavy-duty! Tell me what you know, please!
Thanks,
Bills Gall

There's a new machine that is supposed to be released pretty soon. If you're looking to buy a Janome, I'd wait until it was out so you could compare them both.

I have the 6600P and love it.

I would bet she was using a cheap thread or had it threaded wrong.

In the 'Search' above, type in Janome 1600DP and see if anything comes up.

You will find more about the 6500 and 6600 though.

I've had my 1600 P for about 3 yrs now. Never a problem. I call it The Beast, it will go through anything and is just super. Don't listen to that review. It's a great machine! Buy the extra feet too. I use the walking foot and the 1/4" foot, and even have the stitch in the ditch foot. That one is a great help if you need to sew any diagonal lines, you just let that little thing in the center guide you along the lines. Love this machine! And I traded my 9000 up for the 11,000, good machine there too. I'm a Janome lover!

Janome releases their new 2010 models in April. If you can wait a week you might find something new and exciting! Funny how they coordinate their new releases with income tax refunds isn't it :)

Hi, Pat!
Thanks so much for your input. I have a question though. You said you have the 1600 P. I can't find that model! I have found the 1600P-DB, 1600P-DBX, and 1600P-QC! I am confused! What do these letters stand for? Are there really enough differences in these machines to qualify my concern? I don't do embroidery and can't see myself ever wanting to! I do occasionally machine applique. Does your machine have a drop in bobbin or side load rotary? Thanks for your help!
Bills Gal

Hi again, my 1600 has the side rotary bobbin. I'm not sure at all what all those letters stand for. I will go look at my book and see if I'm leaving some off. ha Okay, it only has the one letter, 1600 P. It is white with purple on it, does that help? ha I don't know what the other machines with more letters have that is different than mine. But oh my goodness, I bought it in Dec. of 2004, so guess I've had it nearly 6 yrs now! It does nothing but straight stitch, which is fine with me as I have the other machine to do zig zag, etc. Hope this helps.

Thanks so much, Pat! That helps me a lot! I have a decision to make now. Yikes!
Bills Gal

Me again. You know that the 1600 series machines only do straight stitching. If you want to be able to do any zig zags or fancy stitches at all, you might want to look at the 6500, or the 6600. Also good machines. Just a thought, good luck. I know you will enjoy whichever machine you decide on.

I have used a Janomi for 2o years and never had any trouble if something went wrong i took itin and it was fixed, I droped a needle down in the machine and did not know I did and it made a noise and I took it in right away and I am sitlll uning it, I have a 1001 , 6600. serger and I am planing on buying another one. My mother sewed on an Janome when I was little. They have a good guarente, I have bought my daughter in law 3 of them and she loves them and my daughter too. We have a janome dealer here that is super. I never use coats and clark thread , in my machines, I use metler, robinson Anton, sulky, King tut , the better the thread the less brekage. I hope you get one I am sure you will enjoy it.

One more question, Pat, and then I'll leave you alone! I know the 1600P is strictly a straight stitch machine, but thank you for letting me know just in case I didn't! The question is "do the feed dogs drop?". I read on a site somewhere that they didn't. Thanks so much!
Bills Gal

No they don't. When I bought mine we looked and looked for a button to drop them. The store owner gave me the plate cover and quilting foot to compensate for them not dropping. I was surprised too, thought it was made for quilting and couldn't understand why they didn't think of that. Maybe on the newer ones with more letters (ha), they do? But boy, I use that machine now more than my other two put together. Check them all out at your nearest dealer, it's fun to go look!

I just looked at one this past weekend. She is beautiful. I will be watching this to see the answers.

Billsgirl - I have the 1600P - four reasons - 1) Non-computerized for hauling around to retreats (even though it weighs a ton!) 2) It has a thread cutter on it (most other straight stitch non computerized machines didn't have this feature) 3) It didn't need special expensive needles like the DB & DBX do. 4) It has the large 9"x5" throat area. When I first got it, it was very noisey, and got worse - so took it in, twice - needed lots of oiling to begin with - now it gets oiled the same as any of my other machines. It's still noisier than my other comuterized machines, but this one is a more industrial strength machine. It goes through layers of denim like a hot knife through butter! I'm very happy with it!

Thank you so much for your reply! I weill definately look into them. I just need to find a dealer close to me!
Bills Gal

The closest I could come with for a dealer is -

Tops Vacuum and Sewing
5753 Manatte AVE W
Bradenton, FL 34209
941-792-8048

I just bought a 'stitch in the ditch' quilting foot for my 1600P - $13.95 from my dealer - works for any of the Janome 1600 series - but with such beautiful weather here right now (70's) - in March - it's tough to be inside sewing!

WOW! Thanks again! I'll be going there this weekend!

Bills Gal

Bills Gal
you can go to Janome.com and find a dealer close to you, too. I am buying a new 3500E embordery machine. Chrickett

I have the Pfaff equivalent (GrandQuilter) and want to add that oiling is VERY important. I mean, it sucks up the fluids and there are about 4 different places to add the oil on a VERY REGULAR basis. I need a special needle for mine - sounds like you don't.

GO to www.janome.com I am buying one!!!!!!

I just sold my 1001 and bought a new embordery machine, 350 E and I love that one, it just emborderies, and I have a 6600 and that is my regular machine , If you want a comercial sewing machine then the 1600P would be your best bet for you ., I am wonder ing what thread that your friend is useing? that could cause a lot of breakage, she should go to another Janome dealer and havethem check her machine out too. The stre here where I live is super about their customer complaints, and check them out thouroughly.

I have the 1600 P-QC. I can't tell you how GREAT SUPER FANTASTIC it is! it will sew ANYTHING! If it will fit under the foot lifted all the way up, it will sew it! The QC is what I bought because it WILL NOT let you sew if the foot is not down. we all get in a hurry and forget this sometimes, so it is my favorite feature. that and it is super duper fast. i had to switch to ball point needles for FMQ but anything for piecing.

Hi Billsgirl,

I was reading through this thread because I'm looking at the same machine to use for piecing and to have for the heavy duty work it can do. I'm wondering if you bought it and if so how do you like it?

I hope you don't mind my answering. I have the P-QC I|(newest version of 1600) the only real difference I think is the fact that mine won't sew unless the foot is down (this featured has saved me from birds nests several times!)

I piece on it all the time! I don't even use any other machines (Ihave several) except my the embroidery part of my 9500.

I love it because it is fast and easy to use for piecing and quilting. I do both in the ditch and free motion.

Thank you for your reply.
I am looking at this machine or a Brother PQ1500S. I recently purchased a Pfaff Creative 4.0 that I enjoy using for sewing and embroidery. I'm thinking about getting a separate machine for quilting. But since I have so much invested in the Pfaff, I am looking for a good used machine not too much money.
So far, all of the reviews for this machine have been good. The only thing is the feed dogs don't drop - I can live without the thread cutter.
Of course my husband will kill me getting another machine, but at least I'll die happy.

Mine came with a plate to cover the feed dogs. Just a little FYI for ya. :)

I have 2 Janomes and I will bet if you change thread, you will be fine. I use only Aurifil in both of mine and have never had a problem!

I have a Janome 1600-P and use it on a machine frame. It has a thread cutter, threader, needle down position, drop feed dogs, straight stitch, etc. I have never had a problem with this sewing machine and have been really pleased with it.

Revise that: No drop feed dogs button. Instead, there's a thicker faceplate that's used for quilting.

I did purchase the Janome and really love. I made sure a read up on it and was prepared for the sideways needle, the thread path and the recessed bobbin case. It sews beautifully.
I have the DB model which doesn't come with the thread cutter, but that's fine. I'm new to quilting and have only done piecing so far.
I've been looking around for where I can buy needles. Can you recommend a website? The ones the seller sent with the machine have a flat side and I thought the needles this machine uses are supposed to be round at the top?

Mine have a flat side. Just remember the "dent" where the eye of the needle is goes to the right not the back.

I have the Janome 1600P-DBX and the feed dogs do not drop on it. I had to purchase a heavy duty plate (which is really just thicker than a normal plate) that takes the feed dogs out of play.

Is your 'stitch in the ditch' foot being used w/free motion on a frame?

I agree 100%. I have sewn on Janome for years and have never had a problem with any of them.
Love my 1600p DBX- if there's a thread problem,probably using wrong/cheap/old thread and tension is probably set wrong (easy to adjust).
Also have Janome 6260 for fancy stitches; Janome low end for my grandkids to work on when they visit; and a Janome embroidery machine.
Don't discount the 1600 series, they are really great.

I agree 100%. I have sewn on Janome for years and have never had a problem with any of them.
Love my 1600p DBX- if there's a thread problem,probably using wrong/cheap/old thread and tension is probably set wrong (easy to adjust).
Also have Janome 6260 for fancy stitches; Janome low end for my grandkids to work on when they visit; and a Janome embroidery machine.
Don't discount the 1600 series, they are really great.