Another awesome review. Thanks for the honesty in the cost you actually paid vs. msrp. That’s a great tip for anyone getting into the home gym lifestyle, and that’s do as much research as you can before purchasing new and used equipment.
Great review as usual. I like your honesty. I have this same model in white and paid $100 for it off of FB marketplace and like you I couldn’t find a lot of info on it before I bought it but I figured $100 was a fair price. I use 3, 75# plates with no issues. Never thought about adding a band. Great suggestion.
When you mentioned getting an ab machine, I was thinking you struck gold and found the old school Nautilus ab machine. At home, I do 1 or 2 giant sets with reverse trunk curls, trunk curls (as Darden calls them) for isolation, 2 traditional ab movements, and then the ab wheel. Those first 2 are good, and together mimic the N machine, but can't challenge with resistance like a machine can.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews When you build a Jujimufu-like pole barn in the backyard in a year or 2, it'd be a good time to upgrade to the old Nautilus ab. I never tried this one, but I like the dual action.
@@briand5047 I would be pretty pleased with a $500 price tag. However, I once saw the Total abCORE for $200 on Marketplace (but that is a unicorn) and I’ve also seen one for $450.
They say buy once cry once but I think I would be crying a few times after your research. I like the motion on it and I too have puchased a AB machine to review lol . Your going to be amazed at the MRSP compared to what I got it for 😜. I did enjoy the background and story on this machine for you it showed me these items we purchase lives matter too and I shouldn't just be like Caesar with a thumbs up or thrown to the lions mindset lol
Great channel. So maybe this will make you feel better. First, as I’m sure you know, you are not the only one who, while smart and experienced, makes those common mistakes. Some years back I wanted a commercial ab bench I used in a gym. I live in Ny. I called the company down south, paid $800 with debit card over the phone (mistake No. 1) and was told it would be about 8 weeks before their truck made it back to NY. I patiently waited. Long story short, they went bankrupt during that time. Further Investigation showed they emerged from a prior bankruptcy in 2008. So my $800 was gone. Ok. It gets better. (Worse.). I find the ab bench on eBay and I win the auction for $500. I then had to arrange shipping. I then look more closely at the pics and realize it’s a lower model, residential, not commercial and I didn’t want it. So, I never arranged shipping and now was out $1300. Sh*t happens. Thankfully it didn’t take food off my table and if I have to lose money I’d rather it that way than with a gun to my head.
Greatly appreciate your kind words. Very sorry to hear you lost out on a substantial amount of money. Exactly, some times we win…sometimes not so much…I will say I won on the Nautilus Torso Arm when I found that on Craigslist for $200.
man..sorry you had issues and didnt get exactly what you thought you were going to get. That is a bummer. BUT im glad you find it useful and enjoy it. You could probably get a custom weight horn made easily if you know someone OR could do it yourself. And yeah..the cost too..Way over what it should have been..
Thanks for the shout-out. Sorry about the model confusion, I never used the Junior model, so I can't speak to its quality or functionality, but I can tell you that I've seen the light commercial model for sale on craigslist for $200. I'm glad you like it, and I hope the RU-vid income helps offset the cost of the unit.
Thanks so much, Chris! It’s definitely a great machine and likely performs similar to the Total abCORE. I once saw the Total AC on marketplace for 200 too, which makes this purchase even more unsettling, but money aside, I am very happy with the machine.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews Excellent. I'm very glad you're happy with your purchase and am flattered that you remembered me and my comments 💪 P.S. I dig that ab exercise on the Smith machine 👍
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews Absolutely. SuperSlow Systems once built a "linear" ab machine which kinda functioned the same way, and so did/does Cybex; although I haven't seen a new piece of Cybex in about 20 years, but I understand they're still in business, albeit as a unit of the omnipresent Life Fitness.
First time I am not jealous about your new toy :P Picked up a Nautilus selectorized stack Ab Machine on Saturday for 250 €/$ 😍 Your's is still great. Sorry for the brag, still jealous about your Fettle stuff. 😅
that machine looks good but I would like something that can be loaded easier. Looks like you could max this out pretty quickly and have to do a lot of reps. Ill just stick to hanging leg raises and rope cable crunches. There is no need for an Ab machine in a home gym IMO.
As soon as I added the band on the back, it completely transformed the machine for me. It improved the resistance profile and made 25 pounds on the post extremely challenging. I agree, this is a bonus machine and definitely not a necessity.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews ah ok guess band could help but if im spending that much money on a machine I would want to be able to load it a bit easier than this. Seems kind of hard to ever progress on. Maybe go to a bigger band someday but even still. Not hating but there is better ab machines out there or better pieces of equipment for a home gym.
Man I don’t know if this would work or not but I have a smith machine bar Olympic sleeve that used to be on a Yukon Caribou III It is solid steel and the rod that it attached to was a one inch bar. I need to check it to see where it tightened onto the shaft but if it has a screw in the collar you are welcome to have it. It is probably something like 14 inches of loadable space.
Very cool of you! Thank you. Truthfully, the black band and 25 pounds is all in the world I need for now. I’ll add a couple of 5 pound plates and maybe a more difficult band at some point down the road, but it won’t be anytime soon. Thanks again so much.
So let me get this straight Owner of fitness empire sold a machine to U, (a reviewer) for $1,100.00 and had it listed for $1,250.00 and it is actually worth $700-$800. Sounds just like fitness empire, I tried doing business with fitness empire and I ran into the same thing. Their prices are said to be discounted but instead are inflated. Not many people as nice as U, I'm a nice guy but man U are a Saint. Fitness empire in my experience raises up all prices of old equipment and then tells the public they are giving everyone a deal. Only reason I can see to buy from them is if they had a specific piece of equipment that no one else had to sell and still then I would just do without the piece if I had to pay fitness empires inflated prices. This comment is not 1% against U as I am faithful sub of yours and love your channel but instead I dont like seeing them trying to take advantage of U. Personally, I think mainstream reviewers such as yourself deserves free equipment or at least highly discounted equipment. Hope it works out for U, not so much for fitness empire
I really appreciate your comment. I blame myself, as I mentioned in the video. If I would have been more informed, I wouldn’t have paid more than 500 for this machine and maybe 1k for the Total Abcore. The machine isn’t worth even $700-$800…that was the price brand new from the manufacturer. I have been told I am too nice doing these reviews and I try to see everything from as many different perspectives as possible. I understand FEE has to make money, but the mark up on this was either astronomical or the company thought they were selling the Total Abcore when it was actually the Abcore Jr.
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews Oh Gracious, that price was brand new. Yeah, FEE are price gougers, I'm not being a jerk, there is just no other way to describe them. I hope U find what U want from other companies. I see now FEE is worst than I thought. U know U are getting taking advantage of if U buy from FEE, Especially U who has a lot of money and they know U want what they have. All the Best, I dont comment much but I watch every video U make and I enjoy them all and U seem too Nice for those thieves to gouge. Take Care
@@bobbyhunt3009 I was very happy with my Nautilus Pulllover from FEE because those can be hard to find and I think the price was pretty fair on that. I really appreciate you watching the videos and your kind words. Little things like that are greatly appreciated and make up for when things like this don’t go all that well.
Hey, i also just ordered the GAB400. I saw what you where looking war is the SAB1300 But the differences seem very minimal to me. It's more buff, yes but thats not needed if you use it private, anyway right? The additional Wheighthorns on the Sides are great for storage but no must if you are in your Homegym anyway (imho) I thought about it, it should be possible to just change the Wheightplatepin on the rear with a 50mm one, you could just bolt it, right? Like a Rack-Attachment Weightplatepin. Otherwise the Sleeve would work. Also on the Bottom where the Counterweight would be for the SAB1300, its the same piece, it just has no hole in it. Couldn't you just Drill a hole in it, and then add another Weightplate Pin there with a Bolt and put the Counterweight on it? Just don't exceed the 35pounds they mention for the SAB1300 I don't see a difference in structure for the Seat. Also the fully unlocked swivel on the Seat can be done by just adding a distance-piece with a cord around the Pin, so you can "engage" it and the seat can freely swivel without ever locking if it is really needed. The Headcushion on the SAB1300, is just a Flatiron with a cushion at the exact same mount as used for the GAB400, that can be just DIY'd, too. Beside the beefier build and the small difference for the handles, the GAB 400 can be hacked into the SAB1300 without the additional cost i would say. I should recieve mine in 8-10 Weeks afaik, paid 799€ incl. Shipping and Tax (Germany) With todays conversion that would be around 870USD total. Condition is new and sealed. If i can get mine and hack mine, i'll maybe post a video on it and get back to you, so you may can (if not already done) hack the GAB400 into the SAB1300. Greetings from Germany, Leaves
Nice! It’s a pretty decent ab machine and you are getting a much better price than I did. You are correct, the sab1300 (which I guess is an identical knock-off of the AbCore) is just more robust with fewer plastic pieces. I don’t really need the counter-weight post and I’m just using my Ironmaster plates and a band for resistance. So, I’ve come to terms with the machine and I like using it. The guy who sold it to me said it was a “light commercial” machine, which it isn’t, but yes, for home use, it will hold up for years. Also, you are correct, you can retract the knob so the seat can swivel freely. Thanks so much!
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews hey - a quick update - today i recieved my abcore Junior and its amazing! The outer frame is silver/shiny with thic clear coat, the rest is powdercoated includig all struts. The handletips are all black and the finish is amazing. Its super smooth quiet and small footprint for what it does. Imho its the best abtrainer i tried beating all studio-machines i used so far. It says i can load it with 65Kg of weight on the horn, thats 143.3Lb total, and there is still toleranz, so i guess an average user would neve be able to "outgrow" it, right?😂 Also the part where the counterweight would sit says you can loqd it up to 30kg - that would be 66Lb. So it's definetly the same Part as it's biggrr brother. Maybe i'm drilling a hole and adding a small Weighthorn, i first need to try and see. The tip with resistance Bands is great so i can alao try how the Counterweight would feel in comparison before i permqne tly modify the machine. I paid 799€ incl shipping door2door (currently around 880USD). It was amazingly well packed. It came in 2 boxes, everything sleeved and fixed with zip ties. They even included touch-up paint in black and silver just in case, but everything went flawless. I hooe you still enjoy your abcore still! The only issue i have for now is - i'm not a tall guy - i have issues finding a comfortable position for my legs - but i guess it's trial and error until it fits best. Thank you again for your amazing rewview and exprience you had. I enjoy watching your videos since. Greetings and best regarts from Germany!
@@everyoneisgosu great to hear! I am so happy you like the machine. I like mine, but I do kick myself for paying as much as I did. Knowing what I know now, I would have purchased a brand new Hoist Roc-It for just a little more. Live and learn. My dad recently worked out at my gym, and out of all the equipment I have, he likes the AbCore the best (I made a video of our training session including the AbCore if you want to check it out). Congratulations on a successful purchase!
@@HomeGymHacksandReviews thanks - i'll check it for sure. What about the Hoist? Can you give a little insight why? Or maybe a followup? Primarily because you paid that much? Thanks again for your great content, keep going ! 👍👍
@@everyoneisgosu thanks so much. I explain the mix up in this video, but I was told this machine was light commercial quality when I asked how it compared to the Hammer Strength Ab machine. Obviously, it is not light commercial it is residential. Either I was accidentally charged for the light commercial or the price for the residential model was way too high. For the price I paid, I should have just gotten a brand new piece of equipment and the Hoist looks good.
I could have picked up a brand new Hoist Roc It Ab Machine for just a couple hundred more. You’re exactly right, live and learn. I also do these videos to help others so hopefully viewers can learn from my mistakes and make more informed decisions.
Definitely worth me looking into since my Titan Olympic Sleeve Adapter’s bolt doesn’t line up with the post. But, it’s going to be a while before I need more weight than 50 pounds plus the band.
I’m really surprised to hear this machine hurts your lower back. My lower back gets tweaked pretty easily, but this machine has never come close to causing an issue for me. The only thing I can think is adjust the ankle pad setting and/or use bands like I show here and less plates.
Yeah. I learned my lesson. This should have been priced around $500…I think he thought he was selling the real AbCore as did I. I’ll never do business with that company again and I left out a lot of details that I should have included in this review…like when he emailed me and said- I know enough about this stuff that I should have known better. He’s right. I should have known better. I do now.
