Novel semi-active vibration controllers are developed in this study for magnetorheological (MR) fluid-based vibration control systems, including: (1) a band-pass frequency shaped semi-active control algorithm, (2) a narrow-band frequency shaped semi-active control algorithm. These semi-active vibration control algorithms designed without resorting to the implementation of an active vibration control algorithms upon which is superposed the energy dissipation constraint. These new Frequency Shaped Semi-active Control (FSSC) algorithms require neither an accurate damper (or actuator) model, nor system identification of damper model parameters for determining control current input. In the design procedure for the FSSC algorithms, the semi-active MR damper is not treated as an active force producing actuator, but rather is treated in the design process as a semi-active dissipative device. The control signal from the FSSC algorithms is a control current, and not a control force as is typically done for active controllers. In this study, two FSSC algorithms are formulated and performance of each is assessed via simulation. Performance of the FSSC vibration controllers is evaluated using a single-degree-of-freedom (DOF) MR fluid-based engine mount system. To better understand the control characteristics and advantages of the two FSSC algorithms, the vibration mitigation performance of a semi-active skyhook control algorithm, which is the classical semi-active controller used in base excitation problems, is compared to the two FSSC algorithms.