M29, I can't speak for the bass that you linked to, but I am quite happy with the jazz-style fretless SX that I got from Rondo. It needed a little work, but then I knew that going in. The pots were a hip-hop DJ's dream, and the bridge wasn't what I would call top shelf, but CTS, SwitchCraft, and Leo Quan fixed that up really quick. A pearl white pickguard and matching knobs to spruce up the looks, and I have a bass that I am not ashamed to play anywhere.
As for the 4 vs. 5 string debate, I personally believe that 4's are better to learn on. There is a much greater variety of instructional material, and a newcomer to the bass has enough to do in trying to stretch out their fingers to span four frets at the top of the neck on the "E" string, let alone making them deal with the added width of a 5 string neck.
Once someone has been playing bass for six months or more, it may be time to move up to the five.
Rob Smith
I AM the bass player!
GUITARS: '93 ZON Sonus 4, '85 G&L L-2000 (Mahogany), '05 Schecter Stiletto Custom 4, '06 SX SJB-62MG (Fretless), '07 Squier Bronco (project), '06 Ibanez AEB10E-BK acoustic bass, '70s Epiphone OO-sized acoustic, '94 Peavey Reactor (extreme makeover edition)
AMPS: '03 Ampeg BA115 bass combo, '86 Peavey MkIV Series 400 bass head, SWR Workingman's cabs, 2x10" & 1x15", '00 Peavey Micro Bass