I don`t claim it`s "the best", and it`s
not the cheapest, but is low-mid-priced,
and is very versatile, ergonomic, fairly
light, and comes in conservative or wild
colors. Ibanez`s EDA905 has both piezo
and magnetic PUs, serious controls, and
I like it so much I have 3 of them, all
configured *very* differently from each
other [and in VERY different colors so I
never grab the wrong one by mistake].

The way mine are configured, one sounds
like a classical guitar dropped down an
octave, one sounds like an upright, and
one sounds like rock-&-roll. The bright
stainless strings have been removed from
all of them shortly after purchase, but
I can tell you that with stainless they
sound anywhere from gringo blues to deep
metal. The piezo PUs can actually pump
out deeper lows than most magnetic PUs.

Anyway, I`m suggesting it because it`s a
chameleon. It can be whatever you want,
and if you get into a new bag, you won`t
need a new bass.

the standerd tuning on the 6 string giutar is tuned e,a,d,g,b,e and 7 string adds a low b. on bass the 4 sting is tunded e,a,d,g and a 5 string adds a low b. however a 6 sting adds a high c. (you can drop the c to a b in oder to play bar or open chords more easy).

5 String basses commonly use a low B (.115)(BEADG), Strings can be changed to allow for a high C (.015) (EADGC). I could tune the C down to a B, but as a bass player, I can just keep everything tuned in fourths and patterns translate directly without moving up a fret. For a guitar player turned bassist, it might be different. Whatever works.
I prefer the second because it was an easier transition. I mentally map the fretboard from the low E string on a 4 String bass and this allow for an easier tranition. I like the 5 string because it gives me 2 octaves in two positions and a lot of flexibility in where I play a song.
I got my Spector five years ago and haven`t looked at another bass since. I play many styles Jazz, Blues, Oldies and Surf and others and it works for everything.

Hey Ben...I have a Cort Action 4 string myself...along with a Fender Jazz Bass V string....My Cort does the same thing....Pickups are decent for the Cort being Mighty Mights by Bartolini....but YES the electronics suck...either on or off is accurate with the tone and volume controls...I need to improve that as well on mine. That can be fixed with better resistors/ pots etc. The Cort Action Bass does have a great slap tone to it and is a great bass for the money....My 5 string by Fender has a low B string that doesnt sound too good...is that normal????

Well, I grabbed up a JB Player (JBB115) 5 string.

It needed a little tweaking (like the J-style pickup needed to be levelled - it was toe down by the G string - making for a really thin sound). Now that it`s nicely setup, it`s a fine bass. The low B (and low D) add some real punch, and really ground some tunes where the guitars and keys `float`.

Good bass, great tone, great price. A little heavy, though.

I just got a Schecter Custom-5 5-string and have been loving it. I play in an alternative band and it works great for us. My guitartist plays in drop-c tuning so i tune my b-string to a low-G and it sounds really good.

I have just started experimenting with an idea I picked up from a long time bassist. He took a 4 string bass, bought a 5 string set, and tossed the G string. the result is a four string tuned d-a-e-b. He liked the low c and d, and said he rarely used the g string except for the g, and of course the 5th fret on the d string will give you the same g. I hope I like it, cause I also dig the low c and d.

Now THAT is a good idea - one I should have thought of!

You can try FuscoStrings Stainless Steel FGS40120SS or FGS45125SS. They are very high quality and the price is much better than most well-known brands.

They are sold by www.thestringstore.com