First Bass purchase advice?

[mmmmmmmmm]

I've tried so many P basses in the past few years, more than I can count, and I've learned one thing: there are some Squiers as good if not better than MIMs, and some MIMs as good if not better than USA-made ones.
Never limit yourself to a bass from this or that country.
Never limit yourself to the name on the headstock.
Only one thing matters...bonding with a bass.
It will happen if you listen to the bass and not the bassist.

Agree! Country of origin doesn't matter. My Mexican Jazz is one of the best playing and sounding instruments I've ever played. I had to set it up to my personal (very niche) specs, of course, but after that, it's hard to go to anything else...