any suggestion I will give you will be completely subjective, and most likely biased to mo me, but it really does depend on what style/s you play, the way you play and what tone you are setting out to achieve.
One of my best friends is a guitard who plays classic 60's and 70's rock stuff, he loves his fenders, gibsons and gretsch guitars and regularly suggests I venture to these makes of bass. However I play metal in my main gig with Ilcontent (Link Removed) and fenders just don't suit the sort of sound that i like. not that they aren't a great instrument, it's just horses for courses.
I currently play a Warwick $$ corvette and a Musicman Sterling as my main basses with Ilcontent. these suit me as I like a smaller bodied bass, not nescessarily short scale, but light and easy to play for me. because this band tunes to drop c, rather than use a five string, I string these basses like a 5 without the g string, so strings b, e, a, d. but tuned to c, g, c, f. again this works for me as our music has never required to go to a higher string (yet.)
Outside of that project I regular play covers sets with some friends at parties for fun. I use a B.C Rich Beast four string for this, as most of our covers are 60's, 70's ,80's , 90's rock this bass is a good all rounder for that sort of stuff.
again your taste will greatly differ depending on wether you play with your fingers or a pick. I always play with my fingers, but alot of rock and metal bassists like to use a pick, and thats a different tone again. it's all personal preference. as long as it sounds good. it is good.
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