Bass Player Reviews Mitchell Basses

[Dr. Cheese]

This was a classic Bass Player review because the overall tone was positive while mentioning the instruments' shortcomings. Between the two of them, the FB700, an active four with two MM style pickups, got the best review since it's one real shortcoming was a scratchy volume pot. The five string P/J TB500 was seen as having a few real design flaws like a too skinny nut that placed the B and E strings too close together in the first position, a badly designed jack location that made it difficult to use a strap, and really damning was a trussrod that hard to reach because it probably should have been a bit longer.

Overall, the review confirms my opinion of Mitchell as good looking basses with a series of small flaws that add up to make them unattractive purchases.

 

[BusyFingers]

I went to GC not long ago and thought I'd handle some fivers to see if they are something I would be comfortable playing and none of them, but the Mitchell TB500, felt comfortable to my hands (primarily because of that narrow spacing and for my smaller than average hands).

The jack input was pretty much placed in the worst position you could imagine, very awkward placement. The pickguard looked really cheap, but I could imagine the black version would do well with three ply slice of brown tortloaf.

I liked the pickups. They seemed a bit louder than your average passive J type pickups, and they had decent clarity. Their range of EQ, though perhaps a bit bright, but could be tamed with the tone knob.

I can see how people who are dedicated fivers may not like the bass because of its narrow string spacing, but I'm a short scale player and it felt great in my hands compared to the other fives. Price wasn't bad for what it was, either ($350).

 

[Rib 13]

Overall, the review confirms my opinion of Mitchell as good looking basses with a series of small flaws that add up to make them unattractive purchases.

That was my take on them, too..........they weren't bad but, similar in price range, Id opt for a Sire

 

[jd56hawk]

I tried out four. Only thing I'll say is that there are so many better options I wouldn't recommend one to my mother-in-law.

 

[bigtone23]

They are derivative of basses with better track records. Not a fan of the Mitchells. I see them floundering for a bit, perhaps addressing the issues for the 2nd generation only to have them fail since they are not a bang for the buck line of basses.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

The last time I checked, the overall price of the Mitchells had dropped by $200 across the board. I got the impression that they all need a little TLC and then they're great basses after that. There are so many little things to fix, like the sharp fret edges that I found on each one.

 

[Gorn]

The same herd of Mitchells has been at my GC since they first showed up.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

That veneer on some of them is quite hideous, imo. It makes the bass look really, really, cheap

 

[RED J]

They are derivative of basses with better track records. Not a fan of the Mitchells. I see them floundering for a bit, perhaps addressing the issues for the 2nd generation only to have them fail since they are not a bang for the buck line of basses.

Though I haven't seen them first hand, my impression from the advertising was "The wheel reinvented...again.

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

When I saw a Mitchell at GC a few months ago, I mistook it for a recent model Silvertone (based on the headstock shape.) When I realized it was something different and took a closer look, I found that my first impression was right on the mark, the bass appeared very similar in terms of quality to the current offerings from Silvertone.

 

[BusyFingers]

When I saw a Mitchell at GC a few months ago, I mistook it for a recent model Silvertone (based on the headstock shape.) When I realized it was something different and took a closer look, I found that my first impression was right on the mark, the bass appeared very similar in terms of quality to the current offerings from Silvertone.

Yeah, they're pretty much lower-mid budget basses priced too ambitiously.

That being said, if I ever go for a fiver I would likely start with the TB500 and swap the pickguard and drill a proper input jack hole into the front.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Yeah, they're pretty much lower-mid budget basses priced too ambitiously.

Not just that. It's worth mentioning that Mitchell is Guitar Center's "home brand" of instruments…much like Best Buy and "Insignia" or Target and "Archer Farms/Market Pantry".

EDIT: I forgot to mention it, but when they were being put up for display in the stores late last year (just in time for the holiday shopping season…shocky! ) I asked one of their straight-shooter employees if they were a Guitar Center imprint. He just got this sour, pinched face and discreetly nodded.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I played the 5-string passive PJ with MM-style pickup pole-pieces, and although the bass sounded absolutely fantastic, there was much more to desire with regard to cubstruction quality for the $500 price tag. In my opinion (which I posted in the original Mitchell thread from last year) was that the price should be reduced by no less than $200 for what you get.

 

[mp40smg]

This was a classic Bass Player review because the overall tone was positive while mentioning the instruments' shortcomings. Between the two of them, the FB700, an active four with two MM style pickups, got the best review since it's one real shortcoming was a scratchy volume pot. The five string P/J TB500 was seen as having a few real design flaws like a too skinny nut that placed the B and E strings too close together in the first position, a badly designed jack location that made it difficult to use a strap, and really damning was a trussrod that hard to reach because it probably should have been a bit longer.

Overall, the review confirms my opinion of Mitchell as good looking basses with a series of small flaws that add up to make them unattractive purchases.

The problem with these reviews is how much $$$ does BP take in from (fill in the blank maker)? And how much pressure are the reviewers under to give this the best possible review, regardless?

It is unfortunately inevitable that Advertiser/ manufacturer/ sponsor X is expecting the review of their product to be positive to enable them to sell more units, to in turn, buy more/ bigger advertisements from publisher.

Not a lot of reason for that maker to commit to spending 100ks on the ad campaign in the magazine that trashed their product to promote that same product.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

They seemed to be built in a very similar fashion to Schecters, possibly made by Cort? I agree with the majority opinion regarding these basses, kinda meh.

 

[Spidey2112]

I tried out four. Only thing I'll say is that there are so many better options I wouldn't recommend one to my mother-in-law.

I'd recommend one to mine, and not necessarily to play it...

 

[Spidey2112]

Yeah, they're pretty much lower-mid budget basses priced too ambitiously

Remove 'priced' and insert 'marketed'...

 

[SirMjac28]

I thought I would add a few pics.

 

[Spidey2112]

If I was still in my teens, and someone handed me this, I'd take it...

... then again, if it was handed to me tomorrow, I'd probably take it then, too.

 

[Les Ismoor]

I thought I would add a few pics.

What, there was no room on the back for the jack? Seriously, why would anyone put the jack where they did on this? I guess they didn't want to mess up that boutique wood top.