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rplace

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Posts posted by rplace

    Solar Panel Discussion...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    15 hours ago, Schu said:

    I'm not getting it... it DOES NOT make sense to me.

     

    It's really not that difficult to understand. Especially for someone whom, IMO, on the forum tries to project the persona of a financial brain trust, knower of markets, crypto expert, etc. I would also guess that your short, terse replies are more trolling than really not getting it. I'd wager you've got time on your hands and are looking for a fun back and forth argument or just trying to bait people. Which is cool, everyone likes to stir the pot from time to time... myself include. Let's just assume I'm wrong about all that.

     

    I'd also bet you already had your mind made up about solar possibly, you didn't even listen to somebody's "spiel" (but I'll take you at your word on that). BTW, a guy on the internet like me or a person whose neighbor has panels and the owner explained it to your neighbor and your neighbor explained to you doesn't count. 

     

    It's no more difficult to grasp than refinancing your house. In the simple house example it's going to cost you $3,000 to refinance and it's going to take you x-months of savings to recoup that $3,000. If I plan to stay in the house more than x months I really have no financial choice but to refinance. I might have other emotional reasons not to but, the numbers say refinance. Conversely if I plan on selling before I break even there's no reason to pay money just to have a smaller house payment because in the long run it will cost me more. I think even a middle school kid could grasp that.

     

    There are never any absolutes but with a little homework I think you can make some reasonably safe assumptions to start the cocktail napkin calculations. First and foremost the cost of electricity is probably (not absolutely) going to stay the same or go up. I can't really think of many things we consume on a regular basis that don't go up. For the sake of argument let's take the best case it stays the same.

     

    The system costs you roughly 20 grand. How much are you going to save every month/year? Will that annual or monthly savings be more than the time you plan to stay in the current house? If the answer to that last question is no there's no reason to worry about any other esoteric what if scenarios. You should not consider it.

     

    If on the surface it looks like the time spent with the solar panels would save you money in the long run, it's time to dig a Little deeper. Can you pay for it all up front or do you have to finance it or do you have to sell your $100 KHorns for $11K horns to help pay for some of the 20K? If you're financing it, the time you spend in the house and or the monthly savings have to be greater. Could you take the 20K for panels and do something else with it that makes you more $$$ than your electricity over that same period costs? Could you do something with that 20K that makes you more happy like a world-class vacation and a lifetime of memories? Where are they going to be located on my house and if I find them ugly will I regret it every time I drive down my street? If utilizing the money in a different manner than solar panels makes you happier screw the panels and do what you want.

     

    Things like roof replacement, panel disposal and future buyers turning up their nose are all red herrings. Those issues are already been addressed long ago and are baked into the price of a high quality system. In my experience, these arguments are typically thrown out by people who already have a bias towards solar panels or have spent zero time talking to a high quality solar installation company. You need to get actual references from installations they've done years prior and talk to the homeowners to find out both their experience with the company and the expected versus realized gains. The technology changes quickly and the panels only get more efficient so if you compare numbers today to somebody from 5 years ago you can only do better. 

     

    So what's not to get?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 2

    Solar Panel Discussion...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Schu said:

    At this point I don't think this is for me... I am not that 'energy conscience'.

     

    I feel my panels are one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm on year 11 or 12. Broke even about year 6 or 7 IIRC

     

     

    • Like 2

    Guitars and more...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Subway said:

    J Mascis?

     

    Yes, good eye. It is way better than I expected given the price and where built. A fantastic guitar at any price. I played a 40th anniversary squier a week ago. Very nice, I like the neck on this one a bit better.

     

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    • Like 2
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    Guitars and more...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Subway said:

    What's the cover on bridge? Partial ash tray looking thing?

    Just how the newer American Pro I/II are. No more covering entire bridge, pickup, etc. Personally I think it looks better off and naked like a removed ashtray. Look close extra screws left/right corners closest to the neck too.

    • Thanks 1

    Guitars and more...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    I like the bridge option of top or string through. However if you have a '59 top loader only it makes a good excuse to buy another guitar. The latest telecaster pro II Has a hybrid bridge for both options, just like yours. Everything old is New again.

    Why should I have a separate 2 channel amp?

    in 2-Channel Home Audio

    Posted

    The goal is to waste er, spend all your money. Seriously if you are happy that is all that matters. Lots of rabbit holes out there. For some even an AVR won't do. They "need" separate pre/processor and dedicated amps for each channel. A lot might depend on your room; is it a dedicated theater or multi-use? AVRs typically don't have near the power they state. If  you don't find anything lacking for movie-ish playback you are probably good. If you want more, more more you just have to find the point of diminishing returns that fits your desires and budget.

     

    Putting together a dedicated room with projector, 90+ inch screen and stacks of equipment was my goal back in the late 90s into the early 2000s. If I had it to do all over again, I'd drop $3K or less on a Sonos 5.1 system and call it a day. I'm much more into music these days. I've not made it through a comic book, super hero or disaster move in the last 10 years I'd bet. I wish I could buy 2 or 3 movies a month for home viewing like I used to...they just don't make 'em like they used to </old man shaking fist> 

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 2

    Guitars and more...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    14 hours ago, Subway said:

    Speaking of Teles and Prices:  7 Pound Tele, MIM, Paid $1,100

     

    Cool, now you need the Mirrored version. IIRC it is American made so you can give us the skinny on MIM v AM. Same guitar with different finishes in real life...but different altogether in the replicas.

     

    I'm really wanting two current Telecasters from the Artist series. Both MiM. Joe Strummer '66 and J Mascis top loader '59....can't get enough of the blue sparkle. 

     

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    Guitars and more...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    16 hours ago, CWelsh said:

    Totally agree! What you can buy today for under $1K...and sometimes WAY under...is excellent quality.

     

    Looking on Reverb this morning there are a couple of MiM FSR telecasters for $599 WITH a hard-shell case. MSRP for the case is about $200 alone. Part of a collection so almost no use, they look brand new. Crazy.

     

     

    • Like 2

    Guitars and more...

    in Lounge

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Marvel said:

    Seriously, I've seen some nice ones made in Mexico, and the prices are great

     

    I can't say anything with certainty because I don't have a pre CBS tele, a CBS era telecaster, one since it left CBS be it Mexican, American, Korean or Indonesian.

     

    I do however have an opinion based on all the reading I've done. That in itself is dangerous.

     

    Seems to me there are two camps. One, the Mexican telecasters are not only great value but great guitars at any price. Two, Mexican ones are okay for what they are but you should save your money for an American made one.

     

    I also get the feeling the pro Mexican camp is being a bit more objective. While the pro-American camp is more sentimental or have preformed opinions from the past.... Probably not picked up a Mexican telecaster in this century.

     

    I've been a serious Reverb addict lately. With over 150 telecasters on my watch list. By now I'm pretty good at picking out the ones that will sell in a day or less and the ones that will still be sticking around a couple of months from now.

     

    I could be happy either way. Will find out for myself on at least one front, later this week when UPS visits my driveway.

    • Like 1

    What I Got Today!

    in Lounge

    Posted

    17 hours ago, michaelwjones said:

     

    Did you ever repair your 2d LL?

     

    Several years ago, two of us spent at least four hours repairing a 27" LL, distilled water and epsom salts drop by drop, waiting for the reaction. We got it functional: the water is clear, but the wax is not quite the same. It still "lavas" today and no one is going to trash a 27" LL.

     

    Still on my :ToDo list. Every time I fire it up I say oh yea, I got to get on that.

    • Like 1
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