As far as basses go...... I'm a die hard Fender man! However, my current gig requires the use of a 5 string bass and Fender 5 string basses, for the most part, suck! Sad to say but it's true. That low B string just doesn't get tight enough on that 34" scale neck, resulting in a weak, flabby tone. For my gigs, I use Ibanez SR series basses (SR505, 605 & 705). They are lightweight, tone versatile and that 35" scale neck makes a world of difference. The extra tension on the low B string creates monstrous low end frequency which can dialed in precisely to give you that smooth R&B/pop tone or that growly rock/blues tone.
For both bass and guitar I honestly think Ibanez is the most underrated brand available. Some of their stuff is just exceptional.