This could be an old question and yet allready discussed, but i risk to refresh it. What do You think of Your (mainly fretless) bass fretboard. Ebonol vs ebony and why ?
If i had the situation with no bass on board. I would wright down the necrolog of all my basses before and tried to invent the best custom shop bass, so at that situation i would buy it, but it is 1 % that it will happen.
No need to be teached exactly bass is schools/colleges - music theory though. Just need an interest and and Your papa will do it, after that it's on Your side - learn and practice Yourself. This way You can become a good bass player.
Music is getting very electronic - very fast. Today a productive band can be made with one studio room with a good pianist/singer and good brains. No need for guitars and drums.
I think, allready for now, a lot of years past, there is a lot more interest in young musicians into electric/solo/acoustic guitar, than bass. Not even meantion - upright or fretless bass.