I would guess there's probably a slight difference between a shell mount and a RIM mount. I don't think the difference could be easily distinguished if heard within a music mix, so it's a non-issue to me.

Well, I'm going PRO on the subject.

My experience has shown me that a shell not drilled for mount, suspended with a RIMS or similar type device is way more resonant than a Drum drilled and mounted directly with a Tom mount.

Whether the difference can be picked up in a studio environment is another question.

As a general theme to me, it is my goal to get my drums to the best possible sound. Head choice, tuning, shell configuration, and yes, mounting, all are contributors to the end result. Some might add single flanged vs. die cast hoops to that list.

:2Cents:

This subject is interesting. I have two very resonant early Rockstar toms. Hold them by the rim- nice long tone. Mount them to the BD-forget it-dead. Mount 2 on a stand-pretty dead, not as bad as the BD mounting. Now get this-mount one on the stand. Just like holding it by the rim. Maybe tom stands need those isolator feet like FT's. As far as rims mounts, I don't like them only because you need bags or cases 2 sizes bigger to carry them around. But I use them. I like a long tone-you can always use moongels or something to shorten it up. Dead is dead...

Now when you say dead though, do you mean you hit the drum and get a " thud " with no ring. That's what comes to my mind when I hear a drum is " dead " sounding. I've never personally experienced this, even on my lower end drums I had years past. I'm just trying to gather exactly what " dead " means.

I agree with Schmegeggie, and that's based on experience.

For example: a 13" Big R racktom: I took off the bracket, "virginized" the shell and have since then placed it on big free floating rubbers in a snare stand and I also had it in rims. In both cases it sounds a considerable lot better, an easily distinguishable difference, more volume, tone and resonance. Same for the 24 inch bass drum of that drumset. I re-installed the bassdrumspur-brackets with a big sheet of rubber between bracket/shell/screws. I also removed the iron tube that runs through the drum (i did not need a tom mount any way) and virginized the drum. It sounds a whole lot better, you won't believe your ears.

I dont like the looks of rimms on vintage drums though, so it's snare stands for me.

bartw - I can certainly see where it would help improve Rogers Big R drums. I have some myself, and those mounts are big and bulky. I guess what I'm also trying to deduce is if shell material, age of wood, etc.. also play into it. So say one tom of the same series sounds so much better on a rim, but another doesn't change much from normal mount to rim. Could this be due to plies? glue used? wrap?

Again I'm not saying they don't do something. And on some drums I'm sure they really have made a big difference in sound. But I have never had a truly black to white experience with them. And like most things, I can't see this as being cut and dry.

But I do seriously appreciate your opinions and basis for such. And Schmegeggie you raise another aspect that didn't occur which is hoops. I'm gonna say any hoop that is even slightly out of round will greatly affect the overall drum sound. Like reso heads, I'm sure a lot of guys don't take the time to examine their hoops and make sure they are true, Same with the actual drum shell.

I have drums both with, and without RIMS mounts, and they both sing. When there is a problem, it seems to be the angle or height of the drum where it is mounted to the L-arm.

I agree with the angle angleYes Sir the steeper the angle the less resonant. Now I had an early 70's Pearl stencil 13/16/22 with the hex-rod mount. NO difference in resonance, even mounted on the BD. 7/8 pipe mounts-very "mutie".

reading all this brings this hypothesis: mounting systems that require big holes cut in the drum "eat" up a lot of resonance. Drums with these systems profit from using rimms.

And: Maybe the gain in using rimms is bigger n thin shelled drums? Would make sense.

Still my experience is there's allways a gainin using rimms.

Allso in my experience there was allways a gain in using free floating floortom feet. The gain is bigger with straight leggs though, and this fact may have some relation to what was mentioned about angle of the L-arm and location of mounting on the L-arm. Large angle mount=more pressure=more stiffness=more transfer of energy in the complete stand and also ground. Location low on the L-arm=more stifness=etc. Straight floortom leg=more stifness, etc.

interesting matter.....