Welcome @jhchason81
I concur with the idea of a graduation present to yourself as well as finding variety in your sounds.
I went a different route for variety in my own graduation present, a Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Fretless Jazz Bass. I’ll redo the B2B course on my new Fretless. (My first bass is a Fretted Fender Player Jazz Bass.)
I don’t have a recommendation for your graduation present other than to try different basses and go with what feels and sounds right for you.
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I would buy that octaver in a heartbeat. Gregor has the Hamstead Subspace on his board too which was on my GAS 
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Sounds like Ibanez territory to me!! And even the cheap ones play great generally. Staying 4 string or venturing to the dark side? (Meaning 5 or more strings)
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WHat’s need got to do with GAS? 
Actives can be cool, but you can still get plenty of sound without one. Ibanez or Yamaha? I think Fender makes some active ones too.
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Probably sticking with 4, all though if I feel like I can tame that B string beast I may venture out. I’m into heavy rock and metal a bit and there are a lot of bands I like that require 5 strings to play most of their tunes. I’ve always liked Ibanez basses, as well as Cort and Yamaha.
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I like some of the exotic looking woods and finishes that Ibanez has. Sometimes Yamaha feels to modern looking to me.
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Yeah, this has Ibanez written all over it. Skip the entry level GSR series, and go straight to the SR models. Plenty of choices in the SR Standard series, so no need to break the bank:
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Looks and feels matter, more than most people will admit.
Ibanez definitely bring value and variety to the market.
G&L brings incredible value too!
Amps and cabinets bring a host of sound variety too, and I sometimes think that doesn’t get enough consideration.
Never miss an opportunity to swing by the music store and demo the equipment,
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Wife has an ES300 and loves it!
Notwithstanding, I think if @jhchason81 plucked one of those more upper end models, he’d have an instrument he’d cherish for a lifetime. Darn considerate and wise for this thread to be in the GAS section. Those upper end models are gorgeous!
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I am having trouble reconciling these two sentences - I love both brands but if anything Ibanez are the more nontraditional looking 
Yeah, I really love the SR Premiums. Outstanding instruments.
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The GAS Faerie wants you to get the most out of being bassless, the little stinker
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This is where a nice bass synth would come in handy…
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My strategy was to look at the basses my favorite bands played. I landed on the p-bass. The only problem is I keep finding new bass players I like and bam Lemmy speaks to me from the afterlife trying to convince me to get a Ricky. I also tried the graduation present idea - I’m on the waiting list for a stingray special. I figure by the time I’m done with B2B it will show up. However, as I wait I lose more and more interest in getting it. Good luck!
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Don’t give up on the Stingray! I’ve spied on several of my favorite bass player’s gear and a lot of them play stingrays. Dude if money was no option I’d get a Tim Commerford Stingray. Love his playing and the natural wood with black hardware is choice.
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Yeah dude - I want the Tim bass. I just can’t find it.
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If a Stingray is on your maybe list, don’t be afraid to build one! This started out as one of the cheapest ones you can get and with a touch of hardware a new pick up and preamp and a really good set up it will slay. The only thing you might get out of the higher end one would be a more decorative wood or a slightly lighter weight. But even the high-end ones don’t have a reputation for being the lightest thing you can buy. You have no shortage of pick up and preamp options on the market or you can scoop up someone’s stock take offs from a higher end model.
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Love the pick guard!
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Simulated and real carbon fiber pickguards are available options.
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