I am debating between buying a new singer or a janome the singer has 600 stitches/alphabet and thread cutter but the janome is just a basic 30 stitches but seems to have a better reputation then the new singers any body have any input pros or cons? the machines are a 9960 quantum singer and the janome marigold

New Singers are not made by the same company that made the old ones many of us love. I've heard nothing but bad things about the new ones :(
I've had no experience with Janome but I've heard lots of good things about them :D

I love my janome. I have a singer too and its okay. Don't have either that you are looking at though. Try them.both out if you can.

I have a Singer Futura I got in 2006. I have been very happy with it. I have only ever owned Singers so I don't have any type of comparison.

I have 3 Janome machines and would highly recommend getting one!

Janome! They stand behind their machines when there's a problem. Lotsa features for the money.

All 5 of my machines are Janome's and I wouldn't give a plug nickel for a new singer. They are basically throw away machines. I have a Janome 2007 DCLE and it has the nicest blanket stitch for applique than any of my other machines.

Also consider the Kenmore by Sears. I got one that is made by Janome for considerably less than one that has the Janome label on it. I believe it to be identical to one of Janome's models - just with a Kenmore label. Just make sure that you buy one of the models that looks like the Janome because I am not sure if all of the Kenmores come from the same place.

I have had Janomes for the last 25 years and love them. (I actually have only had 2 over that time period which I think says something about the quality of them!) My new Janome is a Horizon and it is the BEST machine ever! Good luck with whatever you choose!

I got a new singer for my birthday 2.5 years ago. It did EVERYTHING. Now that the warranty is up, it does NOTHING. Don't buy Singer!

Please do yourself a favor and get the Janome. This comment comes to you from the owner of a new Singer Quantum L-500 that has been nothing but trouble since day one. So I know of what I speak!!

Janome is a far better machine than a singer. Singer had to play catch up with the industry and they were way behind so they have cut corners and do not have the quality or the capabilities of machines like Janome, brother, etc.

Currently Janome is making Kenmore sewing machines. (My sister works in Sears appliances.) I have one that is exactly the same as a Janome MC 9000. And I have another one 756 stitch functions that I kept as a back up machine after I got the other one so I would have a back up and because I loved how it sewed and it has some stitches none of my other machines make.

I gave up a balky Singer for a wonderful Janome. I've never had any trouble with it and I use it a LOT.

I agree- there is no question - avoid the Singer and go for the Janome... and I would also suggest Sears. They also have an amazing extended warranty for like 3 years that costs less than having your machine serviced/cleaned once - and you get to send it away every year for that - yes, send it away so make sure you have a back up machine ;)
But hands down, Janome. Love mine. I had a new Singer and sent it back within days of getting it. It was poorly made and was nothing but a headache.

I have an older janome and I love it, espically how it grabs the fabric with a smooth pull threw the feed dogs.

Friends don't let friends buy modern Singer machines. Life is too short to sew on a bad machine. Buy the Janome.

I have own three Janomes and think they are great machines. An added bonus is the cost of accessories is lower than most others. Singers in general are no where near a nice a machine as they once were.

Ugg, don't get me started on Singer. Sorry to say I wasted $300 on a CG-590. The feed dogs, not being a finely finished metal, marred the fabric / the light was horrible / there was too much play in the presser foot / and the manual has SO MANY mistakes in it - I still may send my red-circled copy to Singer's CEO. Never mind why I couldn't return it...
But there's always a silver lining, and mine is the Janome MC6300 I bought when I finally came to my senses. Love it.

When buying a new machine know what the inside moving parts are made from.Plastic gears or good solid hardware.The more bells and whistles the more things can go wrong.I have a Bernina........

I purchased a cheaper ($199) Janome 11590 with 90 stitches and I just did not feel comfortable with it. Once I got my Singer Futura CE-150, even though it isn't the quality of the old Singers, I felt that it sewed better and I have been more creative with it and using it more. Maybe it is all in my head... Now I'm looking for a vintage Singer to be able to have enough room between the needle and the right side of the machine to do FMQ...consider that before you purchase anything! My Singer and Janome only measure 6.5" and it is not enough room for much more than a baby quilt. If you do go for a Janome, check out the Kenmore from Sears, they are manufactured by a branch of Janome but cheaper.

This :thumbup: :thumbup:

I never realized how bad my Singer was till I got my Janome a few months ago.

I bought a Singer Futura SES 1000 about three years ago and what a waste of money that was!

That darn thing goes through bobbin cases almost as fast as bobbins - and at $30 a pop, who needs it?

It's spent far more hours at the shop than it has actually embroidering. :(

The next embroidery machine I buy will be a Brother.

Janome for sure.

Such a shame. The old Singers are wonderful- I have several.
Would not buy a new one though.

I hope you find what you want- you will! :thumbup:

I have never met a Singer I liked. I don't think I'd ever be convinced to buy a new Singer, unless it was a $5 Craigslist find or something.

I have just bought a Singer Featherweight on e-bay and took it to my sewing machine mechanic. He has done a fantastic job on it. Chatting about machines he stated that Janome are by far the best as far as he is concerned.Spares are readily available and Janome as a company stand by their machines!! He said most of machines are now made in Taiwan/China including top of the range Berninas but still rely on their Swissmade reputation!! From a very experienced mechanic JANOME every time!! Hope this helps!!

Singers are now made by brother. They dont have the quality they once did, but neither do any of the other machine manufacturers. Finding a good quality machine like a singer featherweight is impossible. I would go with what you can afford and had the features you like. I personally have a singers, brothers, and janome. For me it would also be about throat space and how I would be using it. If I had to pick just one out of your list, janome.

Fascinating...the store owner/mechanic who does the checks on my Janome 6600 over here is also agent for several other well known marques, a long time established business, and first time I took it there he told me that without any doubt Janome machines are the best and most reliable. I now have another Janome too as a backup and for travel. Never had a problem from either of them.
I've had Singers in the past (pre quilting days though) but always battled to get tensions right.

No to new singers, yes to Janomes and yes to old Singers :-)

I owned a Singer Quantum XL100, and was going to buy a new Singer, but it seems that it changed hands and their machines are very good...So I did some research and finally settled on a Janome 6600p...I love love it.

Singer? no no no no no

New? Janome/ Old? Singer

thanks for all the honest replies I guess I can survive without the perks of a thread cutter and go for the janome maybe someday I can afford a janome that has one but for now i think I will just stick to the basics I use everyday thanks everybody :)