I wish sewing machines were like cars, and you could buy the basic model (That's what I have, a big industrial) and add options (I would love to have a needle up/down). But I only paid $450 for 12inches of harp space, so I guess I can turn the hand crank! I probably wouldn't spend extra on the scissor button. I just let the sewing machine stitch 3-4 extra stitches in one place and pull the "knot" up and snip it and it's really a teeny extra step that I don't even think about any more!

Everyone I know that has a Janome 6600 just loves them. If I were going to buy a newer machine that would be it. I have sewn on theirs and it is a dandy. I think I am the only one of my friends that don't have one. I am a vintage kind of gal, give me the old ones anytime! Although I do have two janomes and even more vintage machines.

I love my Janome TXL 607. I 'upgraded' to this for the auto lock and thread cutter features from my first machine.

In fact, apart from the the larger harp space, I actually prefer it to my recently purchased Pfaff QE4 for FMQ!

Ashley, just what do you have? I've often wondered about getting an industrial for the harp space. Laura

Laura, I got this machine from this company, but I got it from ebay. It was 20% off and free shipping. I ordered it the Saturday (night) before Thanksgiving and it arrived on my doorstep (3 boxes) 10 days later! There was a piece that was broken and the machine head had to be returned and that seemed to take much longer than we thought to get the replacement (almost a month by then!!) but all's well that ends well! http://www.amapparelsupply.com/servl...dler%2C/Detail
It is pretty much the same as a Juki 8700; and I got the idea (or the "ok") from Leah Day's site.. in the comments of one of her articles.
Down side is.. it's my puppy and my problem when something goes wrong. It weighs a gazillion pounds and my local guy was NO help at all when I was asking if he could get me one, so I assume he's NO help at all if I need repairs.