My friend has one like it, from the same series. It just has the precision pickup, and 2 knobs. I am not a bass player, however a lot of people have recommended for a good bass in your price range the Epiphone EB-0.
Whatever anyone suggests in this thread, try it out.
For a bass amp,
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass...ase_pid/482037/
that should do.
By the way, why not just find another bass player? They are tricky to find, at least in Toronto, but if you look hard, you'll find one, and it saves you money.