Mounting a rack tom on a snare stand gives added flexibility in positioning the tom, and in my opinion looks cool, but the downside for me was a choked sound. Fitting a Gauger Percussion Flex Frame has cured that and now I have a loud and resonant tom again! Highly recommended.
Although I use a top of the range (and expensive) DW 9399 Tom/Snare stand for mounting my 12″ rack tom, in preference to hanging the tom off a cymbal stand, this type of mounting arrangement can really choke the sound of the tom. I was always careful to not clamp the tom in the stand’s basket, the tom just sitting there held in place by gravity, and even though the DW 9399 is fitted with additional isolation pads on the basket arms, the tom never sounded full and resonant.
The Gauger Percussion Flex Frame (no affiliation) comprises a metal ring (the Frame), nicely finished in a hardwearing powder coating, and 6 plastic clips for mounting the frame to the drum. I have the 12″ version, which comes with 6 clips (other sizes come with additional clips as needed), and also bought a spare set of 6 clips just in case they don’t stand up to wear and tear when changing heads, tuning, etc. The whole lot cost me under $50, which I thought was reasonable.
Mounting the Flex Frame took only a few minutes (including re-tuning the resonant head), and is a simple matter of loosening off the tension rods, sliding in the mounting clips, tightening up the rods and re-tuning the head, then finally clipping the Frame itself into the clips. Really, a 5 to 10 minute job max.
The diameter of the Frame is a little larger than the drum hoop, but in my case doesn’t extend beyond the lugs, so shouldn’t be problem for those needing to pack their tom in a case – the drum will fit in its case with the Frame fitted.
Does it work? Yes it does. I noticed an immediate improvement in sound, with all choking gone, and the tom now sounds how it should – full and resonant. Probably the best $50 I’ve spent on drum gear.
Ade Drums 
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