The Typhoon Basses

Typhoon 1

Typhoon

Williwaw

Typhoon 3

Fretless

Typhoon 4

Fretless

Typhoon 5

Pickups

Single Chrome Plated.

DeArmond

Dual Chrome Plated

DeArmond

Patented adjustable trimount

Electrics

Passive

Controls

1 Volume

1 Tone

1 Volume

2 Tone

2 Volume

2 Tone

Switching

None

Three way selector switch

Out-of phase

In-phase

Standby

Pickup 1

Pickup 2

Both

Output

Mono

Body

Archtop Sitka spruce

Maple back and sides

Scale length

30”

Neck

Hardrock Maple

Nylon nut 1 3/4”

Machine heads

Standard Chrome Schaller

Frets

Although Fretless the frets were still present but flush to the fingerboard

MOP dots

Bridge/Tailpiece

Chrome adjustable bridge.

Removable Chrome cover.

Length

45 1/4”

The Ovation line of semi-hollow body electrics guitars included several models of 4 string bass.  The original model was called the "Williwaw" and had 2 pickups.  Shortly after, a single pickup version was introduced as the "Typhoon".  After the first catalogue was printed in 1967, the single pickup model was renamed Typhoon I, and the 2 pickup version was renamed Typhoon II.  The 2 pickups are controlled by a master volume control and two individual tone controls.  The usual 3-way selector switch (neck, both, bridge) is located on the lower horn.  The body of the Typhoon II is smaller and thinner than the 6- and 12-string electric storm guitars.  The top is spruce and the back/sides are maple.  It had multiply top binding and the nicely bound f-holes are all very nicely done. 

The Ovation Typhoon III semi-hollowbody electric bass, first introduced in 1968, is identical to the Typhoon II with the exception of the fretboard and inlays.  The Typhoon III is fretless.  Most fretless basses have a naked fingerboard with perhaps some side dots.  The Typhoon III is unique in that it has inlays at the fret positions.  At first glance it looks just like a normal fretted bass.  But on closer inspection you can see that the "frets" are actually inlays flush with the rosewood fingerboard.  The result is a smooth fretless bass fingerboard.    The Typhoon III was not manufactured in very large numbers and stands out as one of Ovations more unique members of the Electric Storm series. 

The Typhoon 4, also a fretless model, had a revised body shape similar to the other Storm models.  It also had separate volume controls for each pickup and a standard three-way switch replaced the unusual configuration of the earlier models.   Typhoon 5  is the fretted version of the Typhoon 4.

Thanks for the above to The Ovation Galley