Is this CHEAP Mitchell MD200 guitar worth it? [review & demo]

Read the accompanying Mitchell MD200 guitar review: artofshred.com...
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This cheap electric guitar is the Mitchell MD200 that I bought from Guitar Center for $99.99 +tax. It's the Guitar Center / Musician's Friend store brand and you might already know but the Mitchell MS450 is my favorite cheap guitar under $300. (And I think the best guitar under $300.)
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How does the MD200 compare to the MS450?
Is the MD200 a good budget guitar?
Easy answers. No, it's not better than the MS450, but for under $150 it is an excellent beginners budget guitar. More thoughts below ...
LINKS! (some affiliate links)
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🤘 Mitchell MS450 "1 year later" guitar review • STILL the BEST $200 el...
🪛 FretGuru Ultimate Fret End File - amzn.to/3W4E4V8 (I also own their sanding beam, fret crowning file, and string gauge)
🏖️ Micromesh fret sanding pads - amzn.to/3jbbkfb
💂 Fret guards - amzn.to/3uX9m4q (lots of different options here, any will be suitable; I personally use painter's tape)
🔪 How to fix sharp frets • How To Fix Sharp Frets...
🎸 How to intonate your guitar • How to INTONATE your g...
Other thoughts on the MD200:
The neck is really nice and smooth and fast and thin: • $100 guitar with a PHE...
I honestly am not sure why so many people hate on Mitchells. I know it's easy to get annoyed with Guitar Center, but my experiences with their store brand so far have been good. I still haven't given one of the Mitchell acoustc guitars a shot, so maybe that's where the fun ends. 😆
Have you played an MD200? What do you think?
Mitchell MD200 specs:
25.5” scale length, basswood body, maple neck, Indian laurel fretboard, 24 narrow tall medium jumbo frets, 2 humbuckers with a coil tap, tune-o-matic bridge, string thru body, 3 way pickup switch, two individual volume controls, one master tone control, made in China, and weighs 7 pounds
Signal chain for the semi-produced intro track:
Right channel: Mitchell MD200 ➤ Behringer Super Fuzz ➤ Behringer EQ700 ➤ ‪@FocusriteTV‬ Scarlett 2i2 ➤ GarageBand
Left channel: Mitchell MD200 ➤ ‪@empresseffects‬ Heavy Menace distortion ➤ Behringer EQ700 ➤ Scarlett 2i2 ➤ GarageBand
Centered: Mitchell MD200 ➤ Heavy Menace ➤ Keeley Caverns reverb ➤ Behringer EQ700 ➤ Scarlett 2i2 ➤ GarageBand

[@michaelthomas9991]

Really great review of a budget guitar! I like your honesty and the lack of unnecessary criticism. I also enjoy your playing!

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Thanks so much! 🤘

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Much as I am the Epiphone channel, you are the Mitchell channel! lol. I like seeing these, though. People always kinda crap on these, but truthfully almost everyone I have ever picked up has been incredible for the money. Obviously, this one seems to be no exception!

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Ha! I do need to step up my Epiphone game. On the plus side Mitchell only makes like 3 electric guitars and I'm not buying the short scale. Although I guess I do need to review the MS470 since the MS450 is discontinued. 🤣

[@ricoamordavila7496]

Been playing for over 20 years and I bought this guitar for 112 bucks online. Played it at guitar centre and knew id buy it one day. Modded it by sanding down the frets, adjusted the trust rod and lock8ng tuners with better pickups and man is this thing sweet. Spent 200 bucks overall on the guitar and gear setup. Saved hundreds overall by buying this than getting a new "higher end guitar". It shreds now 😂

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Sweet, thanks for sharing! 🤘 What locking tuners and pickups did you buy?

[@allthingsmusic-]

I have the Arctic White one. It's fantastic! I didn't have the issues you had. Buckers are quiet, no "overtones"... Just a good guitar for the $$

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Heck yeah! Thanks for sharing your experience. Glad I'm not the only one who digs this guitar

[@Emrys345_Guitar]

Thoughts on this one for heavy blues/blues rock, and country?

[@ArtOfShredYT]

It's not twangy if that's the sound you're going for, but otherwise it should be okay with the right effects/EQ/amp.

[@Emrys345_Guitar]

@@ArtOfShredYT gotcha, I appreciate the feedback!

[@SoundAloneband]

I have the md300 which is the more premium version of this and also a ms450. Best guitars under $300 all day. Both record very well and I downtune the md300 all the way to Drop A and C standard using different gauge strings no problem. Had to file nut but these guitars are sleepers man. Kill a squire or epiphone all day.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yup! I've been saying Mitchell is a sleeper brand for years. Incredible value 🤘

[@SoundAloneband]

@@ArtOfShredYT absolutely. Glad you agree. The quality control is sometimes hit or miss but it's little things. Also that Michael Kelly stuff is quite good. Amazing how good "cheap" gear has got. Even with drums and all. It's amazing the amount of choices now. Great channel btw. Very thorough reviews!

[@ArtOfShredYT]

@@SoundAloneband yeah, QC can often be an issue with budget guitars, but still worth it for me ... haven't had issues with my Mitchell electrics but did have some with the acoustic. Thanks for watching!

[@FretboardDiaries]

For a beginner guitar, one could play it right out of the box, mod it as they grow, and it’s only $99… Hard to argue with that… Then they could buy a nicer guitar, and learn to mod with this one… Win win… Hope all is well 🤘🎸

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah man I agree with that. Saw you posted a Solar video. Watching it tomorrow. I'm guessing I'm going to have to buy one after 🤣

[@FretboardDiaries]

@@ArtOfShredYT Haha yeah it’s the S by Solar, so a budget instrument… Spoiler alert: Worth it 😂

[@unplannedbirthofanidea4340]

I guess it goes to show it more skill than the guitar. I got my Guild Polara and now I have to work on the skills to match.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Ha! I appreciate that, but my technical skills are pretty average. As long as you're having fun, nothing else matters

[@johnlcyborg]

These cheap Mitchell guitars are driving me crazy! I can't stop buying them (200, 300, 450). Especially when they're on sale. I do feel guilty about the obvious "Chinese slave labor" factor in the incredibly low price, though. I see them as a pseudo "Mighty Mite" guitar kit that I take straight to the custom shop. They clean up / replace the wiring and pots, sand the frets, set the intonation and wow - I have a guitar that sounds as good as any $800 one (to me). I also prefer .010 gauge EB strings instead of D'Addario .009s. Gives the MD200 a much richer tone in IMHO. Next I am going to try the $100 Indio brand telecaster copy. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yeah they are tough to beat! 🤘Even without upgrades they are decent cheap guitars. As for the Indio tele I did a review on that one too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIGWqKqKiM1gjNE (Spoiler: I liked it!)

[@bombercountyblues]

Its the c.b.g behind you thats got my attention bud... youre own build??

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Yup it's my own build. Here's a video about my DIY instruments kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5m0ap1sZZqGpaM

[@philsequeira3180]

Hello Karl, hope you are well!

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Doing well, Phil! Thank you!

[@JeanL-Mtl63]

hi

[@ArtOfShredYT]

Hello!