Check out Carvin stuff. I ordered mine for 750 a few years ago and I've still never played a bass that I like more, and I've played everything short of a lot of boutique basses. It has an active/passive switch on it so I can switch between active eq, and passive eq.

I think they've upped the prices, though.

If you cant find a 5 string you are interested in, you could always get a 4 string and set it up for BEAD tuning.

yeah, but i want beadg

i don't wanna retune every time i play :]

Then keep it in drop d! =P But as for a new bass, I would most definitely thing about getting an Ibanez. I currently have one (Ibanez SR500). Comes stock with Bartolini pickups and I believe a mahogany body. Active pickups. Great action, and it's neck is a precision neck (meaning it's slightly thinner, which allows for easier mobility). The 5-string version of the bass I have would be the Ibanez SR505. Runs around $500-$550 depending on who you buy from.