Buy a cheap Jackson... Never played a better entry Level bass. It definetely beats Dean and squier, just hold one and you can feel the difference. Going from Dean to a neck heavy unbalanced bass like Squier is a mistake for a guitar player who plays bass part time.
He has said hundreds of times in the 10+ years I've known him that he actually wants my Squier (MB-4) for its sound and feel. It has way better balance than any other Squier OR Fender which I'm pretty sure is due to the 2+2 headstock.
This is the bass of mine that he says he wants most: Invalid Link Removed