OhI hate that little screw. With all the other great features, it must of been a MAN who likes to use little screws and drive women CRAZY

I have this machine, and have had it for about 5 years.
I absolutely love it! I cannot say enough good about
Janome - you won't regret it!
Merry Christmas,
Marcia

I have had myy 6600 since Feb 2010 and LOVE it. My thread came out of the takeup lever every now and then but not often but one of the girls that was in a class I was taking was having a lot of problems and the instructor (who is also the dealer) gave the same advice that Gale did, go the opposite direction and she has had no problems since. I thought about upgrading to the 7700 but it is double the money that my 6600 was so I'm thinking about getting the 350E so that I can learn embroidery unless I decide I want to go all out and get the 11000SE LOL

I've had my 6600 for 3 years now. Have totally loved it. Walking foot is awesome! While I've had my issues with the machine, it has always been operator error, unfortunately. The feet are a bit awkward to change but you get used to it. Love the auto threader and thread cutter. It's a real workhorse. I don't think you'll be disappointed with it. I bought the best available when I got mine because I wanted to be able to "grow" with my machine and not need to replace it in a couple years. I got exactly what I wanted.

I have the Janome 6500 and Love it.
Since is is a low shank with snap on feet you can buy universal feet and walking foot.
I bought mine one yr after they came out and never had any problems with it.
The 6600 is a high shank machine and the feet can not interchange with any low shank or snap on feet.
Both are workhorses.
Love the knee lift.

I also have the 350E, traded in a combo embroidery and sewing machine. I love the 350, it hums along doing a project, while I am humming along pieceing a quilt.

I would go for the 6600. Metal bushings not plastic and Accufeed.
I loved my first one so much I bought another one that was used two days and returned. The store sold it as a used machine for $900 and gave me the full warranty. Now I have one for home and one for cabin. You will love your Janome.
D in TX

I have a Janome 9000(new years ago) and a used 10000. I love them both. When it's time to buy a new machine it's going to be the 11000, or what ever the latest greatest is. I like having the embroidery machines. I've been doing more and more with them and really like it.

I have the 6600P and just love it.

I have searched the net and can't find a price nor a dealer for the 6600 - any ideas where I can look? Thanks, Lynn

I don't know anything about the higher-end machines, but I had a bare bones machine that gave me nothing but trouble. I kept it as a spare, but my new machine is a Bernina.

I"ve got the Janome Memory 4800 and I love it. Have had it 4 years and used it all the time.

I would sell you mine, complete with the table if you lived closer. I am wanting a longarm for quilting. I think you can google 'Janome' and they will show you all the dealter or go on ebay and look.

So glad this was posted for i have been wondering the major difference between the two as I am getting ready to purchase a new machine in the next few weeks. thank you I had it narrowed down to the Janome 6500 or 6600 and now I know the difference. Cant wait to go to the dealer and try one out.

I have 2 Janomes - the MC3000 (from 1997) and the 6600P. If you're considering the 6500, spend the extra and go for the 6600P. It has the built-in even feed system that the 6500 doesn't have. That feature right there is worth the extra $$$.

Merry Christmas!

I very recently bout the Memory Craft 9500 Embroidery-sewing machine and it is great so far. I bought it because the little Janome Gem machine worked so well. I think you will love it

I wish I had gotten a Janome instead of the Bernina I had. I would probably still have an embroidery machine.

Give us a hint where you live and one of us might be able to help you. I live in NJ (USA) and bought my Janome 6600 at American Sew and Vac in Princeton. I know that Quilting Possibilities in Forked River NJ also sells them (and undoubtedly others around here).

I paid about $1300 for my 6600 last January... you might get a better deal now, since the Horizon came out. Consider a used machine; many Janome lovers traded their 6500/6600s for the Horizon.

I have a Janome 8000 which I bought 20 years ago and it has been a work horse. I just bought a Horizon and I really love it. Since I use the walking foot a lot but had to change it on the 8000, I love the built in walking foot on my new one.

I have the 6600 and just love it. It does tend to "unthread" itself, which is my only complaint.

I have a second hand Pfaff (it's excellent) but lust after the Janome Horizon- never satisfied, that's me.

I have the Janome Horizon. I love it. It is quiet and sews beautiful. Also can change the plate from straight stitch to zigzag with a press of a button. No more unscrewing the plate to switch.

Merry Christmas all,

I live in Tennessee - we are having the first white Christmas here in almost 20 years.

I LOVE my Janome 6500P!!!!! I have been using it for 3 years now and I won't use anything else!!! It is the Rolls Royce of sewing machines. It's easy to use, it has easy instructions, a ton of feet and you"ll be so happy with it!!!!!

[quote=Shelbie]..... After my dealer insisting that it was operator error, I finally found out that there is an oil wick under the bobbin case (didn't tell you in the manual either) that on some machines dries out and then causes problems. /quote]

Merry Christmas!

I wonder if this is true with older Janomes. I have the Memory Craft 4000. I love the machine, but I would like to be able to update. I'd like a harp with more space.

I had a 6500 and loved it. I upgraded to a 6600 last year because of the walking foot feature. You should take a look at the 6600 before you purchase another machine.

Darlene-
One thing I did that I would recommend to net savvy people is to narrow your choice of machine down to 3-5 models/ brands and then join those Yahoo user groups. You'll get a good idea of what people do and don't like about their machines as well as advice on feet you might consider getting, tutorials--gosh, you name it.

I was gona get the 6600 but the last 2 days I have done alot of comparing and I may just go ahead and get the 11000 special edition cause I really like the embroidery to and this machine does it all !!

I hear a lot about yahoo group can you give me the site or info to join ? ty Darlene

Had to add my 2cents worth. My great husband bought me my Janome 6500 in September. LOVE IT>>> Has enough stiches to lasta life time. Is very smooth, it has a lot of features that makes sewing a lot easier. Like the "needle down position", the knee lift, the bobbin winder with the separate motor. Can't go wrong.

Go to yahoo, then groups, and then search for Janome6500. You'll have to submit a request to join.

Go for it. The 6500 and 6600 are the Queens of all machines I've ever used or bought. I now own 2 6600 and a Platinum Jem for traveling to retreat and class. Love them all. It is a sound and wise investment. Get the 6600 if $$$$$$ possible.

I have a very old Janome Memory Craft 5000.. It embroiderys and stitches perfectly. It has never missed a stitch or given me one seconds worth of problems. I also have a new Pfaff Creative Vision machine, which is a wonderful machine, but when I was in a big hurry to finish something for Christmas this year and didn't have the time to figure out the new machine, I got out my old MC5000 and got the job done! Love that old machine!

I had the 6600 and just traded it in for the Horizon (6700). If you can afford the price increase, I would definitely go with the Horizon. The additional features are great! - wider bed, 5 lights (I could sew without lights on in the room), more stitches, and one plate that converts from standard wide hole to single hole for those times when you want a single-hole plate (great feature - you don't have to change plates) - a tiny bit lighter than the 6600 - places on the machine to hold all your feet (and lots included - 3 feet for free-motion-quilting) - and the left side comes off so you can have a free arm for circular items like bags/slacks/etc. - those are just some of the highlights that impressed me and I am VERY happy with the machine!

You are sooo right girl ...I got me one on the 28th Dec... and I love this machine !!! It is great I'm so glad I got this one
:thumbup:

I hav a 6500 that I bought new probably 5 years ago? I know the 6600 was not out at that time, but just about ready. I love my machine. I bought it just to sew. Then I got interested in the quilting. Have used it on a Grace Pinnacle Frame for a year and did about 20 quilts-since then bought an APQS Ultimate II for that. So, the 6500 and I just quilt. I have started using the the monogramming to make labels and also to put names on the bindings with dates etc. People really like it. Go for it!

I would suggest the 6600. I am a member of a yahoo group for the 6500 & 6600. The built in walking foot for the 6600 is such a benefit for quilters. I adore my 6600. I do not find the screw to be unbearable as two really small screwdrivers came with my machine. I think Janome needs to improve the screw but I can live with it. The other things about the machine far out weigh that tiny little inconvenience. The Yahoo group is wonderful, I suggest you would want to join if you purchase either machine.

I discovered the thread comes out of the take up lever when I have the needle down engaged and have used the thread cutter. I have started leaving the needle up unless I really need it down and the thread almost never comes out of the take-up lever. Hope you see this.

If this happens on a 6500/6600 I have read to pause a moment after stitching prior to hitting the thread cut button. Then it will all work correctly even when using needle down. Maybe worth a try. I haven't experienced the issue.

On the 6600? If you thread the take up lever the opposite way (left to right instead of right to left) the thread shouldn't come out.