Andreas history:
Andreas Pichler is the Austrian genius behind these instruments. He was formally trained in luthiery since he was 14 years old. He and a crew of about three others produced about 400 Andreas Shark instruments from about 2001-2003. String manufacturer Thomastik-Infeld bought Andreas out in 2003 and fizzled out production all together.
Earlier Shark basses all came with Alembic AE-3 soapbars and Alembic 2-band active preamps, aluminum fingerboards, extended scale, and transparent finishes. The guitars had options of HSS or HH configurations from EMG, Schaller, Seymour Duncan, or Andreas own custom made p/ups. They also featured unique transparent burst fishes, aluminum boards, aluminum headstocks, and hard tail roller bridges or strat style tremolos. Later versions of the guitars and basses had rubberized opaque finishes, wood fingerboards, cheaper electronics, and overall cheaper components. There are some instruments made during transition period; for example, someone here on TB has a rare version of the Shark 5 bass with Alembics and aluminum coupled with the rubberized finish.
All of these Andreas instruments are the top-of-the-line versions.
References:
http://www.ariaguitars.com/jp/02prod...s/blineup.html http://www.guitar-list.com/brands/andreas-guitars http://www.musicianshotline.com/arch...as_guitars.htm http://www.musicianshotline.com/arch...reas_shark.htm BASKING SHARK 5:
Neck: select uniformly dried Maple
Fingerboard: ALUMINUM! (special treated to prevent oxidation/corrosion)
Scale: 35.8” (913mm)
Width at nut: 45.48mm (1.78") (my measurements)
Width at bridge (center B to center G): 69mm (2.72") (my measurements)
Weight: 3.5kg (It comes in at 9.5 lbs. on my bathroom scale)
Neck: Maple
Body: select uniformly dried 2-pc Ash
Frets: Jumbo, 24
Finish: Natural Black Burst
Tuners: Schaller M6 Light, Chrome matte
Nut: Graphite
Bridge: Schaller 3D, Chrome matte
Pickups: Alembic AE-3 soapbars
Electronics: Alembic 2-band
Finish: transparent natural to blue/black./purple-ish burst, satin
Condition: Near mint.
Case: Andreas heavy duty flight case (excellent condition)
Photos:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...g%20Shark%205/ 
I sent this bass to Andreas himself to set it up and go over it. I have $350 in labor and shipping. It is set up with medium action and it just a blast to play. HOWEVER, I’ve only put about 2 hours of play in my house (and even less on the rest of these instruments) as I bought them as investments/collectors’ pieces.
BULL SHARK 4:
Neck: select uniformly dried Maple
Fingerboard: ALUMINUM! (special treated to prevent oxidation/corrosion)
Scale: 35.8” (913mm)
Width at nut: 39.77mm (1.57") (my measurements)
Width at bridge (center E to center G): 59.71mm (2.35") (my measurements)
Weight: 3.5kg (It comes in at 9.5 lbs. on my bathroom scale)
Neck: Maple
Body: select uniformly dried 2-pc Ash
Frets: Jumbo, 24
Tuners: Schaller M6 Light, Chrome matte
Nut: Graphite
Bridge: Schaller 3D, Chrome matte
Pickups: Alembic AE-3 soapbars
Electronics: Alembic 2-band
Finish: transparent red to black burst, satin
Condition: Near mint.
Case: Andreas gigbag (excellent condition)
Photos:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...l%20Shark%204/ 
GRAY SHARK GUITAR:
Neck: select Maple
Fingerboard: Aluminum
Headstock: Aluminum
Pickguard: Aluminum
Scale: 25.59” (650mm)
Width at nut: 1.64” (41.88mm)
Width at bridge: 2.08” (53mm)
Weight: 3.2kg
Frets: Jumbo, 22
Body: select Maple
Finish: transparent natural to black/blue/purple-ish burst
Tuners: Schaller M6 matte chrome
Nut: Schaller graphite
Bridge: Schaller 2000 Tremolo
Pickups: EMG HSS. Humbucker is ???
Case: heavy duty flight case, excellent condition
Photos:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...hark%20Guitar/ 
FIERCE SHARK GUITAR:
Neck: select Maple
Fingerboard: Aluminum
Headstock: Aluminum
Pickguard: none
Scale: 25.59” (650mm)
Width at nut: 1.64” (41.88mm)
Width at bridge: 2.08” (53mm)
Weight: 3kg
Frets: Jumbo, 22
Body: 1-pc Burnt Western Larch
Finish: satin/matte (textured burnt treatment!)
Tuners: Schaller M6 matte chrome
Nut: Schaller graphite
Bridge: hardtail Schaller Roller
Pickups: Schaller HSS w/ satin chrome covers
Case: beat up tweed gigbag
Photos:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...hark%20Guitar/ 
Family photos:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...reas%20Sharks/ 
There is one thing on these instruments that is very disappointing to me. Andreas claims to have used select uniformly-dried woods. But the Gray Shark has a knot in the wood (on the back of the arm rest), the Basking Shark has a birdseye inclusion (seen in close-up of pickups, to the right), and the Bull Shark (by bridge) and Fierce Shark (by bridge p/up, bridge, & upper horn) have naturally occurring cracks in the wood. These are NOT structural; they are simply cosmetic flaws. They are from the factory. Also note, these were NOT factory 2nds! I may just be being picky, but because of these characteristics, I don’t consider these perfect, even when they came from the factory.
Please look carefully at all photos. I took a lot of pics! The pics and my descriptions should show you everything you need to know.
I do not want to separate the matched pair of the Basking Shark 5 bass and Gray Shark guitar. It was an act of God that I got a matching pair together, and I don’t want to be the one to split them up. They go together as a pair.
- Basking Shark 5, Gray Shark guitar, and both flight cases:
$4100 $4000 $3950 $3900 (If they must be sold separately, the prices will be higher.)
- Bull Shark 4 bass w/ Andreas gigbag:
$2400 $2350 $2300 $2250
- Fierce Shark w/ generic tweed gigbag:
$1600 $1550 $1500 $1450
If you are a collector and wish to purchase the whole lot of 4 instruments, I’ll cut you a deal and do
$7650 $7550 $7500 $7400.
No Paypal. Prices do not include S&H. I will gladly ship internationally.
EDIT: Also note, there was recently a Fierce Shark on eBay for $2000 obo, and a Blue Shark (trans blue over solid maple) for $1750 on eBay. There was also a Blue Shark for $700, but it is the cheaper model w/ wood fretboard and 'soft-coat' rubbery opaque finish. And... the seller is in Norway with zero feedback. You can take your chances on that one if you want to save some money!
NEW EDIT: MOONDOGGY SPECIAL!!! This means I will drop the price little by little each week until they sell. I may take a hit. You may get a steal. Either way, I gotta sell these instruments before I change my mind again! So if you're considering these, keep your peak price in mind, but also keep in mind someone else may have a higher price! Fun game!
