I'd say go for a slightly higher level bass. Nothing deathly expensive, but not a cheapo like those either. I think that if you start on a crappy bass, you'll never find the good tone you want out of it, therefore you'll get frustrated with it, and be less dedicated to play. You wont be having fun because no matter how you try, you sound like sh!#. So I say look on ebay, and in your local shops for some used basses. You can find some used, higher level Ibanezs out there for 300-500, when even used they sound like 800-1,000$ basses. There's Jay Turser, which makes decent level basses for 150-400$ (
www.musiclandcentral.com)
There's even SX that go for around 150$ or less, that are just as good as MIM Fenders, and for that, you can afford to upgrade them.
And whatever you do, do NOT go for the Ibanez, unless you have really small hands and weak fingers. It is, I think, a 30" scale neck, which makes it aboust as short as a guitar, and the frets are rediculusly uncomfortable. They are almost unplayable.
And as far as amps go, there are plenty of choices. You could just get like a crate 50 watt, or a cheaper fender, both between the ranges of 150-300. This would raise the cost more, but again, you want to sound better. So think, 200 bucks for an amp, around 150 for the bass if you go the SX or Jay Turser route, that adds up to about a hundred more than what you were gonna pay, and a HELL of a better sound.
