Personal stories and notes on drums, technology, whisky, and car detailing.https://www.ianpiggott.com/en-auhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/morris-rutherglen-australian-single-malt-first-pour/https://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/morris-rutherglen-australian-single-malt-first-pour/Morris of Rutherglen Australian Single Malt — unique dark-fruit body from Victoria. I first tried their whiskies at a distillery tasting; this is the bottle open at home.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMTWhiskyMorrisMorris RutherglenAustralian whiskysingle maltRutherglenhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/batch-editing-photos-for-the-web-in-grok-build/https://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/batch-editing-photos-for-the-web-in-grok-build/How Grok Build batch-edited phone photos for a website lightbox gallery — resize, mild polish, web JPEG — without generative AI inventing detail. Side-by-side before/afters from Kindee Bridge near Long Flat, NSW.Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:00:00 GMTTechnologybatch editingweb imagesphotographySharpNode.jshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/rebuilding-ianpiggott-com-with-grok-cursor-wordpress-migration/https://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/rebuilding-ianpiggott-com-with-grok-cursor-wordpress-migration/How I rebuilt ianpiggott.com from WordPress into a static Astro site with Grok and Cursor — migration, redirects, games, AdSense, and a chat-driven workflow that replaced wp-admin.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMTTechnologyWordPressAstromigrationGrokxAIhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/building-slice-balloon-with-ai-in-10-minutes/https://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/building-slice-balloon-with-ai-in-10-minutes/How Grok (xAI) pair-programmed a playable Canvas arcade game into an Astro static site in under ten minutes — architecture, bugs, and what AI-assisted dev actually looks like.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMTTechnologyAIGrokxAIAstroCanvashttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/unboxing-a-vintage-boss-db-66-dr-beat-metronome-1995-classic/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/unboxing-a-vintage-boss-db-66-dr-beat-metronome-1995-classic/Unboxing a Vintage Boss DB-66 Dr. Beat Metronome (1995 Classic)Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:06 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoBossDB66DrBeatMetronomehttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/scored-rare-1985-paiste-formula-602-blue-label-hi-hats-for-149-before-after-clea/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/scored-rare-1985-paiste-formula-602-blue-label-hi-hats-for-149-before-after-clea/I Scored a Legendary Pair of Paiste Formula 602 14" Heavy Hi-Hats (Blue Label)! Let's see if I can save them. Before & After CleaningSat, 13 Jun 2026 04:35:27 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoPaistepaiste2002Formula602https://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/the-whistler-bodega-cask-first-pour/https://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/the-whistler-bodega-cask-first-pour/The Whistler Bodega Cask Irish Malt — triple distilled, non chill filtered, and my first pour.Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:46:41 GMTWhiskyThe WhistlerIrish whiskeyBodega CaskIrish maltfirst pourhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/craigellachie-13-first-pour/https://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/craigellachie-13-first-pour/Craigellachie 13 Year Old Speyside single malt — profile and first impressions from the opening pour.Tue, 26 May 2026 08:16:35 GMTWhiskyCraigellachieSpeysidesingle maltScotch whisky13 year oldhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/unboxing-my-new-custom-pacific-ears-pacs-pro26-earplugs-as-a-drummer/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/unboxing-my-new-custom-pacific-ears-pacs-pro26-earplugs-as-a-drummer/🎵 Unboxing my new custom Pacific Ears PACS Pro26 Earplugs as a drummer! Thu, 21 May 2026 21:18:55 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoDrummerEarplugsPacificEarshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/robert-burns-single-malt-first-pour/https://www.ianpiggott.com/whisky/robert-burns-single-malt-first-pour/Opening Robert Burns Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Isle of Arran — a brief profile and my first pour.Thu, 14 May 2026 10:49:21 GMTWhiskyRobert BurnsArransingle maltScotch whiskyfirst pourhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/unboxing-my-brand-new-roland-td-316-v-drums-full-unboxing-complete-setup/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/unboxing-my-brand-new-roland-td-316-v-drums-full-unboxing-complete-setup/🎉 UNBOXING My Brand New Roland TD-316 V-Drums! 🎉Thu, 07 May 2026 22:18:58 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoRolandVDrumsTD316DrumUnboxinghttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/roland-vh-10-hi-hat-controller-setup-configuration-on-roland-v31-sound-module-td/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/roland-vh-10-hi-hat-controller-setup-configuration-on-roland-v31-sound-module-td/Roland VH-10 Hi-Hat Controller Setup & Configuration on Roland V31 Sound Module (TD-316 V-Drums)Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:00:55 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoRolandVDrumsV31VH10https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-stage-custom-13-head-hoop-swap-sound-demo-all-toms/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-stage-custom-13-head-hoop-swap-sound-demo-all-toms/Upgrading My Brand New Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 13x9 Tom – Full Install & Sound Demo!Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:13:07 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoYamahaStageCustomDrumUpgradeEvansDrumheadshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-stage-custom-equal-head-tom-tuning/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-stage-custom-equal-head-tom-tuning/🎵 Finding the sweet spot with my Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kit using Evans G2 Clear batter heads over G1 Clear resonant heads — all tuned with equal settings oFri, 10 Apr 2026 22:49:59 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoDrumTuningTuneBotEvansG2https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-stage-custom-13-x9-sbt1309-tom-tom-unboxing-and-more/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-stage-custom-13-x9-sbt1309-tom-tom-unboxing-and-more/🎵 Unboxing + Full On-the-Bench Demo of the Yamaha SBT1309 Stage Custom Birch 13"×9" Tom Tom!Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:10:06 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoYamahaSBT1309StageCustomBirch13x9Tomhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-csat924a-straight-multi-clamp-unboxing-and-more/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-csat924a-straight-multi-clamp-unboxing-and-more/🎵 Unboxing + Full On-the-Bench Demo of the Yamaha CSAT924A Straight Multi-Clamp!Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:31:47 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoYamahaCSAT924AMultiClampStraightMultiClamphttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-cwh940-cowbell-holder-unboxing-and-more/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-cwh940-cowbell-holder-unboxing-and-more/🎵 Unboxing + Full On-the-Bench Demo of the Yamaha CWH-940 Boom Cowbell Holder!Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:13:05 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoYamahaCWH940CowbellHolderDrumHardwarehttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-ch750-short-boom-cymbal-holder-unboxing-and-more/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-ch750-short-boom-cymbal-holder-unboxing-and-more/🎥 **Unboxing & Demo: Yamaha CH750 Short Boom Cymbal Holder – Perfect for Splash Cymbals & Cowbells!** 🥁Tue, 30 Dec 2025 21:35:07 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoDrumHardwareYamahaDrumsYamahahttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-dt50s-dual-sensor-drum-trigger-unboxing/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-dt50s-dual-sensor-drum-trigger-unboxing/🎉 Unboxing the Yamaha DT50S Dual-Zone Drum Trigger! 🥁Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:21:35 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoYamahaDT50SDrumTriggerUnboxinghttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/upgrading-my-yamaha-stage-custom-birch-hoop-swap-evans-head-refresh-for-epic-ton/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/upgrading-my-yamaha-stage-custom-birch-hoop-swap-evans-head-refresh-for-epic-ton/Upgrading My Yamaha Stage Custom Birch: Hoop Swap & Evans Head Refresh for Epic Tone! 🥁Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:14:04 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoYamahaDrumsStageCustomBirchDrumHoopUpgradehttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-ead10-electronic-acoustic-drum-module-unboxing/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-ead10-electronic-acoustic-drum-module-unboxing/Yamaha EAD10 Electronic Acoustic Drum Module unboxing.Sun, 26 Oct 2025 19:27:39 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoyamahaead10HybridDrumsElectronicAcoustichttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-hw780-single-braced-700-series-hardware-set-unboxing/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/yamaha-hw780-single-braced-700-series-hardware-set-unboxing/Yamaha HW780 5-Piece Drum Hardware Pack Unboxing 🥁Sun, 26 Oct 2025 01:08:26 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoYamahaHW780DrumHardwareCymbalStandshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/paiste-formula-602-modern-essentials-20-ride-sounds-like/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/paiste-formula-602-modern-essentials-20-ride-sounds-like/Dive into the Paiste Formula 602 Modern Essentials 20" Ride Cymbal – A Timeless Classic Reimagined! 🎹🥁Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:31:58 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoPaisteFormula602ModernEssentialshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/red-cymbals-money-jingle-ring/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/red-cymbals-money-jingle-ring/Unleash the Shimmer: Red Cymbals Money Jingle Ring Demo & Unboxing – Add That Cash-Flow Sizzle to Your Kit! 💰🥁✨Fri, 01 Aug 2025 22:14:38 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoRedCymbalsMoneyJingleRingJingleRinghttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/vic-firth-vic-gloves-my-2-cents-worth-of-opinion-un-boxing/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/vic-firth-vic-gloves-my-2-cents-worth-of-opinion-un-boxing/Grip Like a Pro: Vic Firth VicGloves Unboxing & Demo – Revolutionize Your Stick Control! 🥁✋🔥Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:18:21 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoVicFirthVicGlovesDrummingGloveshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/paiste-2002-black-big-beat-18-cymbal-sounds-like/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/paiste-2002-black-big-beat-18-cymbal-sounds-like/Crush the Beat: Paiste 2002 Black Big Beat 18" Crash/Ride Unboxing & Demo – Dark, Dry Power for Your Kit! 🥁⚫🔥Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:12:30 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoPaiste2002BlackBigBeatCrashRidehttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-h-1030s-eliminator-solo-single-braced-hi-hat-stand/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-h-1030s-eliminator-solo-single-braced-hi-hat-stand/Lock In That Chick: Pearl H-1030S Eliminator Solo Single Braced Hi-Hat Stand Unboxing & Demo – Lightweight Power for Gigging Pros! 🥁👟⚡Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:49:32 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoPearlEliminatorSoloHiHatStandhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-s-930s-snare-stand-single-braced/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-s-930s-snare-stand-single-braced/Steady as She Goes: Pearl S-930S Single-Braced Snare Stand Unboxing – Portable Power for Gigging Drummers! 🥁🪑💨Wed, 02 Apr 2025 01:42:13 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoPearlS930SSnareStandhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-th-1030-tom-holder/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-th-1030-tom-holder/Mount It Right: Pearl TH-1030 Tom Holder Unboxing & Demo – Boom Arm Brilliance for Killer Tom Angles! 🥁🪘🔧Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:43:42 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoPearlTH1030TomHolderhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/how-to-remove-swirls-and-light-scratches-on-drum-wrap-restore-and-protect/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/how-to-remove-swirls-and-light-scratches-on-drum-wrap-restore-and-protect/Note: This video is for plastic drum wraps ONLY, not Lacquer finishes.Mon, 23 Dec 2024 02:02:10 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoTamaDrumsDrumRestorationRemoveScratcheshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/1983-tama-swingstar-5-year-maintenance-service/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/1983-tama-swingstar-5-year-maintenance-service/Taking advantage of the holiday season, I decided to pull my 1983 TAMA Swingstar out of the rehearsal room for a 5 year service.Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:05:23 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideohttps://www.ianpiggott.com/detailing/tyre-dressing-comparison-four-products/https://www.ianpiggott.com/detailing/tyre-dressing-comparison-four-products/Four tyre dressings tested on one Green-Max HP010 sidewall — clock-face zones, a bare control patch, and first impressions.Sun, 01 Dec 2024 04:44:00 GMTDetailingtyre dressingtyre shinecar detailingcomparisonBowden's Ownhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-custom-deluxe-1972-1976-b4514-cob-brass-shell-snare-drum/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/pearl-custom-deluxe-1972-1976-b4514-cob-brass-shell-snare-drum/PEARL CUSTOM (DELUXE) Sat, 30 Nov 2024 03:22:10 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoPearlPearlSnareDrumPearlCustomhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/kikutani-quick-lock-hi-hat-clutch-remo/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/kikutani-quick-lock-hi-hat-clutch-remo/Is the KIKUTANI Quick Lock Hi-Hat Clutch the same as Remo's Quick Lock Hi-Hat Clutch? Today we have a look.Mon, 25 Nov 2024 13:30:59 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideoKikutaniRemohihatclutchhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/applying-a-vinyl-logo-on-a-new-bass-drum-head/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/applying-a-vinyl-logo-on-a-new-bass-drum-head/Showing how I replaced my Pearl World Series (1988) original Pearl Bass Drum reso Head with a new Evans EMAD Reso black.Sat, 09 Nov 2024 19:51:05 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideohttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/how-to-clear-coat-and-protect-a-cymbal/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/how-to-clear-coat-and-protect-a-cymbal/How to Clear Coat and Protect a CymbalSun, 17 Sep 2023 01:01:37 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideohttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/ufip-solid-ride-86-green-label-crash-ride-20-polished/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/ufip-solid-ride-86-green-label-crash-ride-20-polished/I wasn't to keen on the HEAVY patina on the top surface of this cymbal.Wed, 29 Mar 2023 20:48:03 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideohttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/ufip-solid-ride-86-green-label-crash-ride-20-spizzichino-era/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/ufip-solid-ride-86-green-label-crash-ride-20-spizzichino-era/This UFiP is patina'ed to heck. Tue, 28 Mar 2023 20:13:27 GMTDrumsYouTubeVideohttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/chad-smiths-drum-and-cymbals-on-bssm/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/chad-smiths-drum-and-cymbals-on-bssm/What drum kit and cymbals Chad Smith used on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik — with photos from the recording era.Tue, 05 Apr 2022 02:00:15 GMTDrumsBlood Sugar Sex MagikChad SmithDW 5000GretschGretsch Drumshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/identifying-your-modern-tama-superstars/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/identifying-your-modern-tama-superstars/A year-by-year reference for identifying modern TAMA Superstar drum kits from 2005 onwards — shells, hardware, sizes, and finishes.Fri, 07 Feb 2020 10:50:56 GMTDrumsDrumsIdentify your Tama SuperstarSuperstar DrumsSuperstarsTAMAhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/photography/coolangatta-sunset/https://www.ianpiggott.com/photography/coolangatta-sunset/A sunset photo from Coolangatta on the Gold Coast — clouds, colour, and the end of the day over the coast.Wed, 03 Aug 2016 09:57:12 GMTPhotographycloudsCoolangattaphotophotographysunsethttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/roland-v-drums-td-1kv-foot-pedals-revealed/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/roland-v-drums-td-1kv-foot-pedals-revealed/A look inside the Roland TD-1KV hi-hat and bass drum foot pedals — what changed from earlier V-Drums models.Wed, 09 Sep 2015 11:33:31 GMTDrumsFoot PedalsRoland Hi-Hat PedalRoland Kick PedalRoland V-Drums TD-1KVRoland V-Drums TD-1KV Foot Pedalshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/roland-v-drums-td-1kv-unboxing/https://www.ianpiggott.com/drums/roland-v-drums-td-1kv-unboxing/A brief unboxing of Roland's entry-level TD-1KV V-Drums kit.Wed, 09 Sep 2015 10:40:37 GMTDrumsRolandRoland V-DrumsTD-1KTD-1KVV-Drumshttps://www.ianpiggott.com/fun/lamington-national-park-ships-stern-circuit/https://www.ianpiggott.com/fun/lamington-national-park-ships-stern-circuit/A full-day Class 4 walk of the Ship's Stern Circuit in Lamington National Park from Binna Burra — falls, lookouts, and a photo gallery from the trail.Sun, 16 Aug 2015 10:47:26 GMTFunBinna BurrabushbushwalkingCharraboomba RockCharraboombah Rockhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/photography/ships-stern-circuit-lamington-valley/https://www.ianpiggott.com/photography/ships-stern-circuit-lamington-valley/A wide valley panorama from the Ship's Stern Circuit rim in Lamington National Park — rainforest ridges, the Gold Coast hinterland, and a clear winter sky.Sun, 16 Aug 2015 04:30:00 GMTPhotographyBinna BurraGold Coast hinterlandLamington National Parklandscapelookouthttps://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/how-to-find-imei-number-on-smartphone/https://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/how-to-find-imei-number-on-smartphone/Quick steps to find your smartphone IMEI number on Android and iPhone.Mon, 01 Jun 2015 09:21:24 GMTTechnologyAndroidIMEIIMEI Numbersmartphonehttps://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/winshot-3-1/https://www.ianpiggott.com/technology/winshot-3-1/WinShot 3.1 — a lightweight Windows screenshot tool for capturing windows, cropping, and optimising images for the web.Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:44:09 GMTTechnologywinshothttps://www.ianpiggott.com/music/timmy-trumpet-and-savage-freaks-lyrics/https://www.ianpiggott.com/music/timmy-trumpet-and-savage-freaks-lyrics/My own transcription of the lyrics to Timmy Trumpet and Savage — Freaks.Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:11:54 GMTMusicFreaksFreaks songSavageSAVAGE - FREAKSTIMMY TRUMPEThttps://www.ianpiggott.com/success/id-rather-die-than-come-to-a-bni-meeting-empty-handed/https://www.ianpiggott.com/success/id-rather-die-than-come-to-a-bni-meeting-empty-handed/When the referral isn't there and the guilt weighs heavy — a candid look at the BNI struggle, and how to get back on track.Fri, 23 May 2014 01:42:24 GMTSuccessBNIBNI AustraliaBNI ChapterBNI Close of BusinessBNI Educationhttps://www.ianpiggott.com/fun/expand-your-knowledge-via-technology/https://www.ianpiggott.com/fun/expand-your-knowledge-via-technology/How Memrise and modern devices can make learning languages and new skills more fun — and a little addictive.Mon, 12 May 2014 15:44:20 GMTFunaddictive learningKnowledge via Technologylanguagelearn a languagelearn a new language