well, i dont know much on the subject.

but just like guitar, bass has different types of pups. theyve got singlecoils and humbuckers too. so its another matter of personal taste. i'd say try out a ton of basses at the local guitar shop and figure out which type you like the sound of the most. my bassist has a bass with J and P stype pups. thats like theres the two offset rectangulars for the neck pup(s) and a long skinny one for the bridge.

it sounds pretty sweet.

and i wouldnt get a 5 string for a first bass. its just more complicated. i know a bassist with one, and he would rather play his four string just cuz he never uses his very last string on the 5. its just for a dropped tuning most the time.