Re: Best bass for 500-1000$
I honestly believe a Jazz Bass based instrument to be the best.
I totally love my G&L L-2000. It's retired both my '79 Thunderbird and my '65 Jazz. It's versatile, solid as anything, and they're generally inexpensive used.
Seriously, a mahogany bodied bass won't ever brighten up. You can turn the treble down on Fender style basses, but you'll never get a snappy sound out of a Thunderbird.