$45 on a full 5 string bass set up?

[electracoyote]

apply dressing to the fretboard

Kinda like one of these?

 

[strappa]

Since I'm not sure the OP knows and in the interest of not wanting anyone to leave the thread confused - the strings aren't supposed to be at an even height with each other. Perhaps you meant that different than I perceived it though.

agreed, the strings should not be the exact same height
but the action should be fairly consistent across the strings