and you get a good range of tones including dialing out fret noise (if that's what a beginning player wants - I did)

Amazing tone, very close to that of famous J-Bass users such as Geddy Lee, and an extremely versatile range of uses, from practicing to even full time performing

Over time I realized their are other great choices which: a) aren't nearly as heavy, b) have more frets and thus greater range, c) have more accessible frets because the point at which the body and neck meet isn't as wide, and d) have faster fretboards because of finish and shape even though we're talking J-basses and not

No grounding issues, no buzz, a nice, round tone with plenty of thump, and an impressive range of sounds available.

and the E string buzzes up and down the frets when depressed