The counterbalanced vs standard Smith machine debate comes down to one mechanical difference: whether the bar's own weight is offset by a counterbalance system, or whether you're lifting the actual, un-assisted weight of the bar itself. That difference changes how a Smith machine feels for beginners, for warmups, and for anyone loading light weight. Body-Solid's SCB1000B and GS348BP4 are a clear real-world example of each approach.
What "Counter-Balanced" Actually Means on a Smith Machine
On a standard Smith machine, the bar itself has real weight, and that weight is exactly what you feel and have to lift before adding any plates. A counter-balanced Smith machine uses a cable-and-counterweight system to offset the bar's own weight, so the resistance you feel starts closer to zero and increases predictably as you add plates — rather than starting with the bar's raw weight as a fixed floor.
SCB1000B Counter Balanced Smith Machine
Price: $3,260 | Handles up to 1,000 lbs., Counterbalanced Resistance | Dimensions: 50"L x 86"W x 84"H | Product Weight: 543 lbs. | Warranty: Body-Solid Full Commercial/Lifetime Warranty
The SCB1000B Counter Balanced Smith Machine is built specifically around counterbalanced resistance, rated to handle up to 1,000 lbs. total. Because the counterbalance system offsets the bar's own weight, lighter loads feel more accurate and predictable — useful for beginners, rehab work, or anyone doing lighter warmup sets where a heavy, unassisted bar would otherwise dominate the total resistance.
Best for: Beginners, rehab or light-weight training, or anyone who wants the loaded weight on the bar to closely match the resistance they actually feel.
GS348BP4 Series 7 Smith Gym Package
Price: $3,720 | Smith Bar with 25 lb. Starting Weight | Includes GPA3B Pec Attachment, Uses 210 lb. Weight Stack | Product Weight: 724 lbs. | Warranty: Body-Solid Commercial/Lifetime Warranty
The GS348BP4 Series 7 Smith Gym Package is a standard, non-counterbalanced Smith machine, with a bar that carries a fixed 25 lb. starting weight before you add plates. Unlike the SCB1000B, this package also bundles in a GPA3B pec attachment and uses a 210 lb. weight stack, making it more of a multi-exercise gym package built around a Smith bar rather than a Smith machine alone. At 724 lbs. product weight, it's also considerably heavier and larger than the SCB1000B.
Best for: Lifters who want a heavier compound Smith bar package with an included pec attachment, and don't need counterbalanced assistance for light loads.
Counter-Balanced vs Standard: Which Matters More for Beginners?
For someone new to lifting, or anyone doing bodyweight-plus-light-plate warmup sets, the SCB1000B's counterbalanced system means the bar doesn't start with a real, fixed weight you have to fight before you've even loaded a plate. On the GS348BP4's standard Smith bar, the 25 lb. starting weight is there from the first rep, which is a smaller factor once you're lifting real working weight but a more noticeable one at the lightest end of the load range.
What Else Is Different Beyond the Bar Itself
These two machines aren't just a counterbalanced-vs-standard comparison of the same product — the GS348BP4 is a bundled package that includes a GPA3B pec attachment and a 210 lb. weight stack, giving it broader exercise coverage out of the box. The SCB1000B is more focused on the Smith bar experience itself, rated to a 1,000 lb. total handling capacity. If you want a single machine that also covers pec/chest work with a weight stack, the GS348BP4's bundle is worth the higher price; if counterbalanced bar feel is the priority, the SCB1000B is purpose-built for that.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Model | Price | Key Spec | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCB1000B | $3,260 | Counterbalanced, up to 1,000 lbs., 543 lbs. | Beginners, light-load precision |
| GS348BP4 | $3,720 | Standard bar (25 lb. starting weight), includes GPA3B pec attachment + 210 lb. stack, 724 lbs. | Multi-exercise Smith gym package |
Why Buy From Everything Gyms?
Everything Gyms is an authorized Body-Solid dealer, shipping both Smith machines free nationwide directly from Body-Solid's warehouse near Chicago, with a price match guarantee and the full manufacturer warranty on every purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of a counter balanced Smith machine?
A counterbalanced Smith machine, like the SCB1000B, offsets the bar's own weight so lighter loads feel more accurate and predictable, which is particularly useful for beginners or light warmup work.
Is a Smith machine good for beginners?
A counterbalanced Smith machine like the SCB1000B can be a good starting point for beginners since the resistance felt more closely matches the weight actually loaded, without a heavy, unassisted bar dominating light sets.
What does "light starting weight" mean on a Smith machine?
It refers to how much the bar itself weighs before you add plates. The GS348BP4's Smith bar has a 25 lb. starting weight, meaning that's the baseline resistance before any plates are loaded.
What's included with the SCB1000B counter balanced Smith machine?
The SCB1000B is a counterbalanced Smith machine rated to handle up to 1,000 lbs., with Body-Solid's full commercial/lifetime warranty.
What's the difference between the SCB1000B and GS348BP4?
The SCB1000B is a counterbalanced Smith machine focused on bar feel and rated to 1,000 lbs. The GS348BP4 is a standard, non-counterbalanced Smith gym package that bundles in a GPA3B pec attachment and a 210 lb. weight stack for broader exercise coverage.
Choose Your Smith Machine
Whether you want the counterbalanced feel of the SCB1000B Counter Balanced Smith Machine or the bundled multi-exercise GS348BP4 Series 7 Smith Gym Package, Everything Gyms has both ready to ship.