Originally a music teacher and instrumentalist, Jerry O’Hagan started out importing Japanese-made guitars, before turning to his own instrument designs around 1978–1979 under the O'Hagan name. Based in the Minneapolis area, O’Hagan guitars and basses were entirely U.S. made with quality woods, distinctive body shapes, and elaborate neck-through construction uncommon for such a small builder. O’Hagan instruments were made in very limited numbers from approximately 1979 until the early 1980s, and total production probably only hit the low thousands before economic factors and competitive pressures led the company to close around 1983.
Part of O'Hagan's introductory model lineup, the Shark is essentially a narrower, more playable take on the Explorer form, and it's better optimized for seated play. The Shark bass is fairly rare, and it is subtly modified from the six-string Shark version to address balanced issues. This Shark Bass dates to approximately 1979, and it has a 34" scale length with a P-style pickup and simple volume and tone controls. Typical of the Shark design, it features neck-through construction, and the unique body has a nice one-step carpentry edge running around the top.
This 1979 O'Hagan Shark bass has been played and enjoyed, so while it shows some wear, it has no signs of damage, repairs, or issues. The worst of the cosmetic wear is on the bass-side edge of the body, and the back shows some worming from buttons and zippers. The back of headstock is signed by Jerry O'Hagan, and there is some wear to the edges of the headstock from some kind of hanging stand. It appears to have all of its original parts and components including genuine Schaller tuners and a sleek intonatable Badass-style bridge.
This 1979 O'Hagan Shark produces a powerful, fundamental bass tone that is ready to rattle windows and shake doors. It plays nicely with a comfortable C-shaped neck, and the nut width measures 1-5/8". It includes a period rectangular case, which has some vibey stickers and stencils to let you know this bass has been around the block. One of the case latches is broken, but it still protects the bass as it should.