bava

looking at Bernina 475qe have a Janome 6600p but having problems with it looking to buy a new one any suggestions would be welcome.

Murphy224

Welcome! I don't know anything about Berninas but I have had a Janome 6600 for 11 years and just replaced the thread cutter in January 2019. They are workhorse machines and you hardly ever hear of problems with them. You didn't say what kind of problems you are having with the 6600 but chances are it can be repaired.
Also a search of this forum will yield all kinds of discussions on machines.
Good luck with your choices.

luvstoquilt

I absolutely love my Bernita!

quilterpurpledog

I have had an loved Bernina machines for 50 years. They are easy to use and maintain. I cannot imagine buying anything else.

SusieQOH

I would buy a Bernina over any other brand. They are wonderful machines.

redmadder

I would be tempted to trade a couple of my vintage machines for a Bernina. But they work so well everything else is devolution.

Tartan

Welcome from Ontario, Canada. I love my Bernina 440 but I have have no experience with the 475. Look for a machine that has the most features you want. For me it was needle down for FMQ, the largest harp size to push a quilt through, a good buttonhole stitch, the BSR for FMQ stitch regulation etc. All the major brands are good , you have to find the best machine for you.

ekuw

I'll just preface this with the fact that I sew on a Janome 8900 QCP and love it. I hear lots of people rave about Bernina's as the best machine out there, and in their opinion it is. My MIL has a Bernina and it has given her lots of trouble; so much she is thinking about switching to another brand. I think Tartan is right. You have to find the best machine for you. Maybe it's a Bernina, maybe it's not...

Iceblossom

I've mostly used vintage machines older than I am for the last 30 years or so. This past fall my friend gave me her replaced modern Bernina 820. She simply did not click with the machine and bought herself a different Bernina, because it is her favorite brand. She loves that machine.

So I have nothing to go on in comparisons with other modern machines but I just love Bernie! It has an extra large bobbin, huge throat space, a self threader, and a knee foot lift (which my friend never used but I do it all the time). At first I had to struggle with myself to use the modern features but I've quickly gotten used to them.

The 820 had a lot of negative reaction and they stopped making them fairly quickly. My friend's machine had no real problems and while not right for her, has been excellent for me.

Jordan

I have a couple of friends that own Berninas and love them. The only issue they have is that the extra foot attachments have to be bought separately. I own a Janome 6600 and absolutely love it. I bought it used 10 years ago and have not had any problems with it at all. Just my personal opinion.