I borrowed a 5 string version of that bass when I flew to some gigs. It was the only 5 they could provide and I didn't like it or the sound at all. I think I'd have preferred if it had disappeared in the mix!
We all want different things out of our gear but IMO there are compatibilities. Many amps and cabs work together out of the box, but then some players seem to need to fiddle with the EQ more than others. Maybe they think they are making a better sound if they make more changes. IME the more fiddeling I do the worse the sound gets. I buy an amp that gets the sound I want with all the controls at noon.Then I might move 1 click left or right because of the room, but not often. Any more adjustment than this and I know I've bought he wrong amp.
IMO when you reach a certain level of gear it's harder to get a bad sound. My Barefaced and Berg cabs never get a bad sound with any amp. I've tried basses I hated, the Fender Dimension was one, but I can get a good sound out of almost any P and J style bass without much effort so those are the ones I'll choose to play. Why make things more difficult than they already are.
It doesn't surprise me that the P worked. That's their strength. . . they just work.