Keough Drums Have Arrived: Handmade British Snare Drums at Graham Russell Drums!
- Posted on
- By Alex
- Posted in Snare Drums
- 0
Discover five one-of-one, handmade British Keough snare drums, now available at Graham Russell Drums.
New at Graham Russell Drums / Product Feature
Five one-of-one snare drums, individually handmade in England. We’re delighted to welcome Keough Drum Co. to Graham Russell Drums with an exceptional first collection of British-made instruments.
Three ValaTone brass snares and two Plymatic wooden-shell models bring together hand-finished patinas, richly figured veneers and intricate timber inlays. Each drum carries its own serial number and a visual identity that cannot be replicated exactly.
Keith Keough: A Legacy of British Drum Making
Behind Keough Drum Co. is Keith Davidson Keough, a respected British drum designer and craftsman with nearly three decades of experience in the industry.
Keith founded KD Custom Drums before becoming Head of R&D and Manufacturing at Premier and later co-founding the British Drum Company in 2015. His career has brought together traditional drum-making techniques and original thinking in shell construction, hardware and design.
Keough Drum Co. marks the next chapter. Building under his own name, Keith has returned to a highly personal style of instrument making, allowing the materials, construction and finish of each piece to take centre stage.
The Keough ValaTone
The ValaTone is Keough’s interpretation of the classic brass snare drum, offered with smooth or hand-hammered shells and individually applied patina finishes.
Each drum features Keough Sentinel tube lugs and the Classic 3-Pin Strainer, with independent adjustment at both ends for precise snare-wire positioning. Individual serial numbering and a signed maker’s plaque inside the shell complete the instrument.
Our first collection includes three contrasting ValaTones: two hand-hammered examples and one smooth-shell model, across two depths and two patina finishes.
ValaTone #011 – 14" x 5.5" Hand-Hammered Brass, Oil Slick Patina
Serial No. 011 pairs a 14" x 5.5" hand-hammered brass shell with Keough’s extraordinary Oil Slick Patina. Layers of colour move across the surface, with the hand-applied treatment creating markings unique to this drum.
The shallowest of our three ValaTones, #011 brings together the tactile character of hammered brass and the vivid, shifting appearance of the Oil Slick finish.
ValaTone #014 – 14" x 6.5" Hand-Hammered Brass, Brushed Patina
Serial No. 014 takes the hand-hammered ValaTone in a different direction. Its deeper 14" x 6.5" brass shell is paired with a restrained Brushed Patina, creating an aged appearance that brings the hand-worked shell to the forefront.
Against the vivid Oil Slick finish of #011, this instrument is deliberately understated. Its deeper proportions and muted finish give #014 a timeless character.
ValaTone #022 – 14" x 6.5" Smooth Brass, Oil Slick Patina
Serial No. 022 completes the ValaTone trio with a 14" x 6.5" smooth brass shell and an individually applied Oil Slick Patina.
Without a hammered surface, the uninterrupted brass offers a different canvas for the finish. Bronze and gold tones travel across the shell, creating a striking contrast with its hand-hammered counterparts.
The Keough Plymatic
Where the ValaTone explores brass, the Plymatic celebrates the possibilities of traditional wooden ply-shell construction.
Each shell is individually made, pressed and finished in Keough’s English workshop, with careful consideration given to timber selection, ply orientation and construction. Exotic veneers and contrasting inlays give each build its own identity.
Our two Plymatics demonstrate just how different the results can be.
Plymatic #024 – 14" x 5.5" Birdseye Maple with Decorative Inlays
Plymatic Serial No. 024 is among the most intricately detailed drums in the collection. A birch core is complemented by a figured Birdseye Maple outer veneer and vertical Makore and Fumed Sapele Pommele inlays.
The contrast between the Birdseye figuring and darker inlaid timbers is especially striking up close. Keough’s Classic 3-Pin Strainer, Dynamic 20-strand snare wires and 2.3mm triple-flanged hoops complete the instrument.
Plymatic #026 – 14" x 5.5" Zebrawood Birch, Satin Lacquer
Serial No. 026 combines a 14" x 5.5" birch ply shell with a richly figured Zebrawood outer veneer and Satin Lacquer finish.
The satin treatment emphasises Zebrawood’s contrasting grain. Alongside the intricately inlaid #024, this drum shows how two Plymatics can share a construction philosophy while looking entirely different.
Keough Accessories at Graham Russell Drums
The arrival of Keough at GRD extends beyond these five snares. We’ve also welcomed the Strike Felt Bass Drum Beater, Pulse Studio Shaker, Dual Chain Cymbal Sizzler, Drum Key Bottle Opener, Strike Bass Drum Beater Patch, Snare Wire Straps and Bass Drum Hoop Protector.
From practical hardware accessories to creative percussion tools, the range offers another introduction to Keough’s thoughtful approach to design.
Five drums. Five one-of-one instruments.
Experience Keough at GRD
Each serial number belongs to a particular instrument, with its own materials, finish and details. Once one leaves our collection, there won’t be another exactly like it. Explore the range online or visit our Fareham showroom to see these British-made drums in person.
Written by – Alex Neave
I've been part of the Graham Russell Drums team since October 2025, but my connection with the shop goes back much further as a customer since 2012. Over the years I've advised drummers of all ages and experience levels, refurbished countless second-hand kits and spent a lot of time helping customers navigate the often overwhelming world of drum gear. Alongside over 13 years of playing experience, that hands-on exposure to thousands of products allows me to write buying guides based on real-world knowledge and practical experience rather than simply repeating manufacturer specifications.
Comments
Be the first to comment...