I was in the market for an inexpensive short scale. Saw this and thought I’d roll the dice; figured I could fix anything small and return if issues were major. They’re listed for $180 but MF had them on sale for $140. I believe Mitchell is a GC house brand.
Mitchell MB100 Short-Scale Solid-Body Electric Bass Guitar
Setup:
Out of the box action was very high. Like 4mm or more. Neck screws were loose so I had to straighten the neck and screw those down. I thought I’d have to shim (and still might) but after adjusting the truss rod, I can get just-under Fender specs. Bridge saddles are low now, but not bottomed out. Nut is cut surprisingly well. Only a few tweaks to intonation. Definitely playable!
Neck:
Back of neck finish is fantastic, high point of this instrument. Better than many Squiers in the sub-$300 range, smooth and satiny. You can see that the neck is two piece. Fretboard wood not listed, darker than Laurel and I really like it. It’s dry, but I’ll oil it later. Some scuffs on the fretboard from the factory, probably the largest error on this instrument. Abalone (?) inlays are classy!
Frets all seated properly, no sprout but they did need a little more rounding on the ends. I don’t have a level, but I can play up to the 17th easily with no buzz.
Listed as a 42mm nut, I measured 41.3mm. 23mm thickness at the first (my Fender Jazz is 19.8 mm.) I can see why people say “chunky,” but I find it very comfortable and playable.
Hardware:
Tuner string posts measure at 8.5mm. Might take a 3/8” drop in… might not. Bridge is a little wide at 85mm. Looks like screw spacing is correct; might take a Fender spec drop in, but you might see a little of the old holes peeking out. Overall very useable, good in fact (bridge especially) so I have no plans to swap anything. Strap buttons are seated firmly. Says D’addario strings (whoa!) and I’ll keep ‘em on for a while.
Electronics:
Pickups measure about fender specs (P is a hair longer, J is bridge-sized) so should have no issues with a replacement. (I think I read someone put DiMarzios in.) Can’t see pot values without removing (and I don’t feel like it!) Cap is 0.022. Knobs are not seated perfectly level but not enough to bother me; pots are smooth, knobs are substantial and overall feels good. Jack plate is solid and jack itself seems fine.
I like the PJ sound, still deciding on the P. Not as bright as my Yamaha but still brighter (in the high mid) than most Fender/Squier/Aftermarket pickups. But that could be the strings, or the stock harness. I’ll let the strings mellow before I change anything. I’ll also see how it sounds at rehearsal next week.
Body:
Paint job is great, small ding on front but doesn’t really bother me. Control cavity is pretty sloppy though. Little cut-out for high fret access is a nice touch. Balance on a strap is perfect! Weight is 7.5lbs. Neck pocket just a hair under 2.5”.
Headstock:
Getting a PRS vibe. I like it better in person than in photos. There’s a little slice of pick guard plastic covering the truss access; which is pretty ugly inside. Guess I’ll keep the plastic!
Overall I really like it! With the price and amount of time I had to put into it, I’d give it a 9/10. Super fun to play, exactly what I was looking for. Hope this write up helps someone decide if this wild-card bass is right for you!
Mitchell MB100 Short-Scale Solid-Body Electric Bass Guitar
Setup:
Out of the box action was very high. Like 4mm or more. Neck screws were loose so I had to straighten the neck and screw those down. I thought I’d have to shim (and still might) but after adjusting the truss rod, I can get just-under Fender specs. Bridge saddles are low now, but not bottomed out. Nut is cut surprisingly well. Only a few tweaks to intonation. Definitely playable!
Neck:
Back of neck finish is fantastic, high point of this instrument. Better than many Squiers in the sub-$300 range, smooth and satiny. You can see that the neck is two piece. Fretboard wood not listed, darker than Laurel and I really like it. It’s dry, but I’ll oil it later. Some scuffs on the fretboard from the factory, probably the largest error on this instrument. Abalone (?) inlays are classy!
Frets all seated properly, no sprout but they did need a little more rounding on the ends. I don’t have a level, but I can play up to the 17th easily with no buzz.
Listed as a 42mm nut, I measured 41.3mm. 23mm thickness at the first (my Fender Jazz is 19.8 mm.) I can see why people say “chunky,” but I find it very comfortable and playable.
Hardware:
Tuner string posts measure at 8.5mm. Might take a 3/8” drop in… might not. Bridge is a little wide at 85mm. Looks like screw spacing is correct; might take a Fender spec drop in, but you might see a little of the old holes peeking out. Overall very useable, good in fact (bridge especially) so I have no plans to swap anything. Strap buttons are seated firmly. Says D’addario strings (whoa!) and I’ll keep ‘em on for a while.
Electronics:
Pickups measure about fender specs (P is a hair longer, J is bridge-sized) so should have no issues with a replacement. (I think I read someone put DiMarzios in.) Can’t see pot values without removing (and I don’t feel like it!) Cap is 0.022. Knobs are not seated perfectly level but not enough to bother me; pots are smooth, knobs are substantial and overall feels good. Jack plate is solid and jack itself seems fine.
I like the PJ sound, still deciding on the P. Not as bright as my Yamaha but still brighter (in the high mid) than most Fender/Squier/Aftermarket pickups. But that could be the strings, or the stock harness. I’ll let the strings mellow before I change anything. I’ll also see how it sounds at rehearsal next week.
Body:
Paint job is great, small ding on front but doesn’t really bother me. Control cavity is pretty sloppy though. Little cut-out for high fret access is a nice touch. Balance on a strap is perfect! Weight is 7.5lbs. Neck pocket just a hair under 2.5”.
Headstock:
Getting a PRS vibe. I like it better in person than in photos. There’s a little slice of pick guard plastic covering the truss access; which is pretty ugly inside. Guess I’ll keep the plastic!
Overall I really like it! With the price and amount of time I had to put into it, I’d give it a 9/10. Super fun to play, exactly what I was looking for. Hope this write up helps someone decide if this wild-card bass is right for you!
