Hi, and welcome to the forum.
I would not worry too much about the technicalities of what makes a good bass. Granted, pickups, wood (not forgetting the strings), passive or active, weight, etc, can make a difference, but the bass that sounds, looks and feels amazing to one person might be less appealing to another.
The best thing is to try out as many basses as you can. The one that sounds and feels good in your hands, is "your" bass.
When you are trying out basses, you might like to check out the G&L L2500, (L2000 is the four string version)Tribute or USA, depending on your budget. They are among the most versatile sounding basses.
Hope this helps a little.