Melco EMT16

Melco's are good machines for the money. In my opinion Melco is a real good company and has one of the best customer support and parts departments for any brand.

Melco focuses on linking the machines together instead of having a multi head machine. Their belief is 3 linked single heads can output more work then a 4 or 6 head machine. I can't say that is accurate or inaccurate. Melco's do seem to run really well on flats and can run at very high speeds. I have never been real impressed with the quality they do on hats.

The tension is self adjusting which could be a pro or a con and most everything is done through the PC/Laptop/Computer which I haven't found very user friendly. Melco is owned by Bernina so the Bernina model is pretty much the same machine and the Melco Bravo as well but the Bravo is cheaper and doesn't run as fast and has a limit as to how many can be linked together. Parts are readily available for Melco's and don't break the bank as some of the other brands parts. All in all they are good little machines for the money with top notch support.

At one point Melco was assembled in Plano Texas and now the machines ae being made in Thailand. Three of my friends work for Melco and that was what they told me.

If I was in the market for a new machine I would highly consider a Barudan if you can afford to go up a little higher but if the Melco appeals to you then I would find a owner or go to a show where you could see it run. There are things I like about the Melco and a few things I don't but everybody is different.

You'll love it. I had never embroidered anything when I got mine. The learning curve is very small!