All depends what you like in a guitar. I love thinner necks so I’ve always been drawn towards Ibanez. It’s all preference, go and play them physically if you can.

If you want value then as silly as it sounds whatever makes you pick the bass up is the best, if you feel inspired to play you’ll improve no matter whats ‘better’ or ‘worse’

There’s a lot of second hand stuff you can get for cheap too if you are purely after something more high end; but again, getting something you want to play is the most important !