hello lads .. & lasses .. newbie to forum & bass pla

cascadehiker

first day & first post w/ 1st group of questions

looking for advice on which bass to start with / tuning device / et all

music123 & musicians friend & *Fartknocker* & all the rest have packaged bass guitar/tuner/teaching dvd/gig bag/... bubble gum .. everything

I'm thinking I want a hard case which means the gear bag is a throw away & the tuner is a $9.95 tuner which means it will probable be replaced & the amp is a $39 amp that has little usefulness .. & so on.

my favorite bass players include tommy shannnon, jon paris, john mcvei .. blues rockers all..
i enjoy blues & listen to outlaw country on sirrus a lot..
I enjoy occasional jazz but actually not much active interest.

is a jazz bass for jazz?
is the smaller jazz bass neck really an issue?
precision bass for blues & rockabilly?

humbucker pickup certainly sounds kool!

recommended $299 beginner's brand?
for $299 will I get a musical beginners instrument with decent pickups & hardware? or would I better off buying a low end fender?
is the fender squier really a fender? or just a marketing trick?

if it does not workout & I go to sell the guitar will a low end fender be easier to move? .. to get most of my investment back?

recommended $30. tuner? .. I should wear my glasses, but often don't so a large 'easy to read screen' is desirable

recommended teaching dvd? or dvds? or web sites?

thanks in advance

nervous nelly purchaser .. nervous nelly might should have been my screen name!