I have decided that I want to start learning the bass guitar and I'm looking at buying one over the weekend. 

I was wondering if the 11W community had any tips for buying a bass? Which brand? 4, 5, or 6 strings? What should I look for when picking a bass? Ect.

Also, I'm planning on using Rocksmith to learn the basics. My musical experiences are limited to Trombone and Euphonium in high school so I've never picked up a string instrument before but I can read bass clef. Has anyone tried using this program to learn? If so what did you think?

I know it's not a substitute for private lessons, but I figure if I like playing it on Rocksmith, I'll move forward and try private lessons to further my learning.