As your playing gets better your tastes will change.. in what you want in feel and in sound....
I started playing bass in January 2005. My primary playing role is as a church musician at a traditional Baptist church.
Jan. 2005 - Feb. 2007: Silvertone 4-string (my bass teacher helped me pick it out, someone had installed EMG's pups in it)
Dec. 2005 - Oct. 2008: SX 5-string Jazz (after playing for nearly a year, I realized that I needed that low B for some Gospel songs)
May 2007 - present: Fender fretless 4-string Jazz (I play with a Jazz ensemble, and there's nothing better for that)
Sept. 2008 - present: Fender 5-string Jazz (decided to upgrade to a better 5-string)
July 2009 - present: Schecter Studio-5 (I started playing with a Contemporary Gospel group, and I wanted a bass with active electronics to compliment the more advanced keyboards being used)
I will leave out my history on buying amps.