GingerK

I really want a longarm of my own but there is no way that I can swing my personal favourite--an APQS Lenni. APQS owners seem very loyal to their machines and Lenni's rarely come up for sale second hand.

But I have been seeing ads for the Baby Lock Coronet and Gallant and the prices are closer to what I can realistically spend. I cannot find any customer reviews of either machine and the nearest store that I could maybe try out a machine is more than 2 hours away. I really would like more information--pros and cons--before gassing up for a possibly futile road trip.

Any information would be vastly appreciated!

QuiltE

Yeeehawwwww!!!!

I'm excited for you, GingerK ... but can't give you any advice on LAs.

Gather info so you can be more knowledgeable. Then head off on that road trip!

Go with the mindset that you are still gathering info and NOT making a purchase right there and then, that day. Surely, that would be of no surprise to the store. I'm sure most LA purchasers make more than one visit before a decision is made.
They'll know you are serious by the interest you show and questions you ask!!

Good Luck GingerK ... and ENJOY your LA shopping experience as you move closer to the big decision!

sloscotty

We have a BL Gallant. It wouldn't have been our first choice, but a dealer in our area wanted to move out a floor model and offered a REALLY good price. (They threw in a lot of extras for the price of the plain machine.) He added in a laser for pantographs, rear handlebars, pantograph table, 10 foot overhead light, and casters (and a few other goodies). It has been worth it. We have since added a 2foot extension for the table so we can do queen/king-size quiltsl

If you can get a good deal on a lightly used Gallant or HQ Moxie with some extras I'd say you'll be happy "for awhiile". For us, the pantograph ability was essential, the extension to a 10 foot frame made it much more usable (for $420). Many people bought these machines and are "moving up", so check your area on FB marketplace and see what deals you can find - the add ons are expensive. Good luck!

mkc

The Coronet is a rebadged HQ Simply Sixteen. The Gallant is a rebadged HQ Moxie. The Gallant would be a current production machine while the Coronet is discontinued.

Having driven the HQ version of both as well as all of the APQS machines and owning a HQ Amara only because the Lenni's table wouldn't fit in my space, I'd encourage you to either attend an APQS roadshow to get roadshow pricing (or watch for demo Lenni units on the APQS website) OR purchase the HQ version of the machines in question IF you have a decent Handi Quilter dealer in your area.

If the new APQS table allows a Lenni to fit in my space, I'm planning on switching. APQS machines are the smoothest, easiest, silkiest I've tried, especially the Lenni.

GingerK

Thanks so much for the information. I have two friends who own Lenni's and are quite willing to share, which I greatly appreciate. But it can be frustrating and inconvenient when I have to work around their timetables, go to their houses (1/2 hour away--in different directions!) and feel like I really can't experiment for fear of screwing something up.

I will keep looking and saving my pennies.

mkc

Also note that if you're used to a Lenni, with its 22 inch throat space, the Coronet or Moxie only have 16 inches. You might not even be able to do a full 12" block design as you get close to the end of the quilting due to the bulk on the take-up bar.