In general that Squier looks like a good way to start. It's a pretty standard shape and configuration. If you like the look.
The Musicman copy (looks like Wilkinson brand?) isn't going to really sound like Stingray because it's passive. It might be good, but there's no way to judge fit and finish over the internet.
For a first bass, there's a bunch that would be good, a bunch that would be just fine. In your price range you won't find anything that's too strange to start on, and you're in the range where decent playable instruments sell.
As far as amps go, I feel like all "starter" amps sound the same, and are equally poopy. Get one with a headphone out and a CD/mp3 input. Moving up from the basic 15W 6" speaker would be a huge difference in sound, but prob'ly not what you need as a person starting out. There's almost no resale value to starter amps, so if you can find one used, you could save some dough. The idea of the starter amps is just to give you something to make sound, not to be particularly musical.
The Musicman copy (looks like Wilkinson brand?) isn't going to really sound like Stingray because it's passive. It might be good, but there's no way to judge fit and finish over the internet.
For a first bass, there's a bunch that would be good, a bunch that would be just fine. In your price range you won't find anything that's too strange to start on, and you're in the range where decent playable instruments sell.
As far as amps go, I feel like all "starter" amps sound the same, and are equally poopy. Get one with a headphone out and a CD/mp3 input. Moving up from the basic 15W 6" speaker would be a huge difference in sound, but prob'ly not what you need as a person starting out. There's almost no resale value to starter amps, so if you can find one used, you could save some dough. The idea of the starter amps is just to give you something to make sound, not to be particularly musical.
