i just watched that video and the quilter looked wonderful, but as usual, the cost has not been mentioned. they always tell you what the options are for additional cost but they don't say what the basic price is. how can you compare prices?

Innova wants to sell through their developing dealer network. If you google "ABM Innova" you will pretty much get hits for all the dealers and their websites pretty much quote the prices for the setups. For example here is a link to my dealer.
http://www.athomequilting.com/Prices_and_Ordering.html

I found that most dealers for this product were quoting pretty much the same prices on their websites. Some of them did not have the "package" quoted. The package consists of machine, stitch regulator and rack. You get to pick what size rack.

that's the first time i've seen such info. thanks for the link. it costs $2,000 more than the lizzie and doesn't include the panto shelf and pantos, but is otherwise comparable. i like my wooden frame (made by hinterberg for lizzie) better because it's handsome, but that's a personal choice and has no effect on the quality of the quilting. other than that, all the options are available for lizzie.
i chose to have mine at 12' and will probably extend it to 14', just because i can and i have the space for it. it will give more space on the sides to slide the machine over for bobbin changing. still, the innova seems very nice and if i was buying today, i might consider it. what size do you have? i have the 18" and feel i don't need any larger. i can comfortably do a 14" block.

Here's the link to ABM International Innova Longarm.
http://maimin.com/Innova.aspx

They provide a basic cost for their machine which includes the panto shelf (at the rear of the machine).

The standard items included in the basic package are impressive and everything any quilter would need.

You also have the ability to choose the length of frame you desire - which is included in the basic price.

Add-ons are are personal choice and when added to your order for the basic machine and the Sales Rep at ABM was extremely generous in providing discounts off the regular selling prices.

One of the discounts I received when I purchased my machine was a US$700.00 discount which almost covered the shipping cost for my machine and frame to Canada.

He also added 20 "M" Bobbins and 20 #16 Needles to my order.

I originally had a Gracie Pinnacle Frame which I used with my Juke TL98Q however, due to the weight of the longarm machines and their high-speed quilting, I felt the frame would not be suitable to handle an 18" Longarm.

As far as using a wooden frame, I would think that the speed vibrations of a Longarm 18" and over, may not be condusive to wooden frames.

Go to a large quilt show and try all of them and talk to the people in the booths. Make sure they offer lessons with the machine. Talk to others in your own quilt groups about their longarms. Before you spend big bucks, check e-Bay, Craig's list and other selling websites. After I bought my Statler, I saw one on e-Bay for half what I paid. Love my longarm.

I just got a 17" Bailey and have fallen in love with it!

the others may be great, but i will say that the wooden frame does not move one inch. it's very, very sturdy and has locking wheels that absolutely lock.

The Bailey is not made out of the country.. It is basically a stretched Janome machine... Just for the record...

I am saving for the Bailey 17" so I am glad to hear you love this machine

My setup did include the shelf behind the rack for pantos and the laser light pointer for following. But I do have to buy pantos.

Yes the rack is very "industrial" looking. It is made out of aircraft grade aluminum. It does not vibrate at all and is solid as a rock. I only had room in my house for a 10' frame which can quilt up to 108" wide quilt.

I agree wholeheartedly. I've tried the metal frames and do not care for the vibration. The Hinterberg frames is rock solid and you can expand it, many other you keep at the size you buy. I moved and went from 120" down to 84" due to room size. But I can still go to any size I need. Not many allow for that, and using steel poles there is no give. Those with telescoping poles they give up to 3" and can make a difference in quilting when pulled tight.

I have a Baby Lock Pro Quilter and a PC Quilter, but I have no frame just a table. I have had it for 2 yrs. and never set it up because of lack of space. This is a long story. Good luck and do a lot of reserch. There are many out there for resale.

I have the Voyager 17 on the stretch frame. It does everything I need it to do. I just quilt for myself and my sister, and maybe a friend or two. It's very easy to move on the frame, yes it's heavy to take off, but I haven't done that since it was put on the first time. My husband put the frame together, and he said whoever made it, knew what they were doing. I added the stitch regulator six months later.

I bought a gently used Handi-Quilter 16 with stitch regulator, and then I added the ruler base to it. I love it...I have to roll more often than the bigger ones, but that's ok. It does all I need to do for my hobby. I'm not in the quilting business.

Good luck to all of you who own the machines. If I was to buy one I would go for the mid price one and graduate from there. Just my few cents worth.

I saw the Flynn quilt frame and thought it looked great.But don't you have to FMQ? I can't do that yet.

I love my Tin Lizzie, too. I almost bought the new Martelli longarm, and would have if I didn't already have the Tin Lizzie.

A good place to try the various longarms is at a large quilt show, like Houston or Los Angeles.

I bought a Baily and couldn't sell it fast enough. The reason for reselling it so fast was it was way to slow. It is an extended head singer and only did about 600 stitches a min.. Once you get to free motion quilting you will want to stitch a lot faster then 600 SPM. I now own an HQ16 which is all I could afford but let me tell you I love it.. It does 1500 SPM and it came with a nice frame w/stitch reg. included all for $5400. :thumbup:

I posted a question about the Flynn Quilt with no response from anyone.
If anyone knows if you have to FMQ with it please post any info you have about it. I watched the video and it appears to me you do have to FMQ but I am really new to quilting.Thanks bunches.

I have a Voyager/Stretch Hinterberg set-up with a stitch regulator. The machine weighs about 70 lbs, but is easy to move on the poles. I bought it several years ago when we got a good tax return and hubby said to "go for it"! I bought it from a dealer in Spring, TX near Houston. I bought it as a package and paid approx. $3500 for it. That included a three day retreat to learn how to use it. The Hinterberg people are really great with support. My DH and I put the frame together ourselves with the help of a CD that came with it. There are several CD's to help with the Voyager. I've had a minimum of problems, all easily solved.

That's because it's not a longarm and you've posted your question in a thread specifically geared towards long arms. I'd suggest you start a new topic or do a search using the search feature above. Many people have commented on this frame and not many like it...

So sorry

No, don't be sorry:> I just don't want you to think you're being overlooked;> I wrote my posting as I was doing a million things so I should have explained it better.

I understand.Thanks I am new here and to 2quilting so I will find my way around hopefully :thumbup:

Bailey is made in New York. I have a 13" on a grace II frame, I'm limited in space so being how this is the largest frame I can have the Bailey was perfect for me. It's a hard decision, take your time and get what is best for you, everyones priorities are not the same so consider yours, make a list of what you feel need from the machine options, frames and price and you can eliminate a few and give yourself an educated choice. Good luck, let us know what you pick, we all love to hear about eachothers new machines.

First, you have to decide what type of longer armed quilting you would like to do and have. For example, is a stretched machine OK? If so, then the Bailey, WoW, Voyager, etc. fit that bill and in a reasonable price range. All have good and bad points, people who like them and people who don't. generally <5,000

Would you like to go up to a little more machine with more of a commercial grade parts and smoother quilting and more features? If so, there are many differences here. Some come with a stitch regulator standard, others it's an add on. Do read the details to determine what is additional cost, and what comes with the machine. You'll need to decide what you need/want for your quilting, and how much quilting you'll really do. These are heavier duty cast commercial parts and are not stretched sewing machine parts. The needle speed is also faster. generally <10,000

Do you want to go into business or want more machine? If so, then consider even one of the more expensive machines, with the appropriate maintenance schedule, oiling, etc. and of course, the steeper price tags. These are commercial machines. >10,000-40,000

I think for most of these you could purchase some type of computer system if you desire that. It's additional :)

I did all my research online, looking at the cost and determining what features were most important to me. I read up on all of them to make sure I understood what they were used for, and who had them. Then I began seriously shopping, and that included contacting the companies for pamplets/DVD's, trials on existing machines in my area, a trip to Houston and I made a chart to compare features, including pricing and what came standard (this is important and can significantly raise your cost...and some machines don't even come with handles or lights!). This takes time, but it's how you can assure you won't be sorry for your purchase.

In the end, I determined a HQ fit my needs. It came with every option I desired already included. A 4-pole frame (wouldn't have a 3 pole system), stitch regulator, one stitch, 1/2 stitch, slow/fast speed controls on handles, needle up/down, 1,600 SPM, larger M bobbins, local dealer, wonderful tech support, low mtc., all controls on handles not elsewhere, ergonomically correct handles (very important to me),etc. It works beautifully for me and my needs. Just perfect! One thing that was very important to me was the maintenance schedule. During my reading I discovered some machines require daily, weekly, semi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and semi-annual maintenances of varying degrees. I wanted nothing to do with all that oiling, leaking of oil, wiring, soldering, etc. One drop every other bobbin change seamed reasonable.

And finally, you have to decide how much you're willing to spend. Would you consider a good used machine (many bargains out there right now!). In addition to the machine, you will have large thread costs, templates, ruler base (you will want this), and training classes, DVD's, and books. These add up. (My DH just shakes his head when he looks in my room! LOL!)

So...you just have to decide. What is important to you? Everyone loves their own brand. Very few will admist to any shortcomings. They all have them. Do do your research online, narrow down some things, and then follow your heart/budget. I love my machine, and I never thought anything would take the place of piecing...until I got into longarming. Now I'd rather longarm than anything else. I choose well for me. I do tons of charity work for our soldiers and then myself...and I keep a backlog :)

Good luck in your search. There's a lot of very good machines/frames out there. (OH! Didn't mention frames, but they are VERY important. A poor,wobbly frame can ruin your quilting experience and make it hard to quilt. Don't underestimate the need for a good one, and you'll be happiest with one that can change length if you are short on space. I know mine is awesome, and I'm so glad I decided I must have a 4-pole. (Research to find out the difference!)
Good luck!

I have the same machine you do-love it also.

I have a 17" Bailey on a Proflex frame and couldn't be happier

If you never got one, I would suggest the new Gammill Vision. Saw it on the last Quilt Show with Alex Anderson in April 2011. A professional quilter was using it. It runs around $17.000 + discounts. It has great reviews.

http://www.gammill.net/index.php?m=vision_30

I haven't committed to owning one just yet but if I do decide I'll be getting this one. The Martelli LaCresta long arm quilting machine. No question about it.

The Martelli LaCresta long arm quilting machine is built to never see the service technician once the machine is installed.

http://bestlongarm.com/Martelli_Quilting.html

Sorry, it isn't the most inexpensive one. I didn't read the subject right. But boy what a machine!

I don't think I would like quilting in a cave...that's what the frame reminds me of!

My Innova has only seen a tech one time since I got it and that was to have the new Lightning Stitch regulator put on. However, I do have telephone access to a tech, 24/7/365 (free too) who will even help me figure out the perfect tension! Any issue I have had has been because the Innova is my first LA and a call to the tech has always fixed my ignorance.

Not sure if you are still looking, but I think you need to find a local (my local dealer is 75 mile round trip) dealer...one as close as you can get.

Service is the first thing to find out about. You WILL need help...I don't care which machine you buy.

I am partial to my TL18LS (tinlizzie).
Why?
I'm a frugal quilter (ok Cheap)...my Lizzie was on sale, 1,000 off...that's the reason I got her.
I was going to get an Innova...but hubby insisted on one from a dealer we could drive to...so Lizzie it was.

If you can (I can't...don't have one anywhere close), go to a show and test different models, ask questions.

Buying used is always an option..but make sure the machine is still in working condition.

Don't expect to support yourself with a quilting business...too many of us have our own machines now. Not to discourage anyone, just saying....
Yes, you can maybe make some extra money, and even pay off the machine...but it's not the money maker some dealers will say it is.

All businesses have to have a business plan, and some research to see what competition is out there.

Once you find the machine you love, buy it...you will have so much fun using the machine & making beautiful gifts for others.

Don't let the brand or a dealer pushing a brand sway you...try them, and remember...they all quilt, and they almost all work the same...my Lizzie uses the same bobbins as a Gammill, and timing it is very much the same....price...1/2 or less than a basic Gammill.