What it is and What it isn't! There have been numerous articles, ads and product descriptions in many recent percussion publications refering to suspension of both tom-toms and bass drums. While it is interesting to see many of the drum companies emphasizing the importance of the sound their instruments produce instead of new colors and heavier hardware, it is equally important that the new terminology suspension be used in its proper context. Since I have been involved with suspension and suspension systems since 1974, I feel it is of great importance to all drummers to understand the difference between what suspension is and what it isn't. Technically speaking, no matter how a drum is held or what hardware is anchored to the shell holding it, if it is in the air it is suspended. At this point we need to make a distinction between physical suspension and sound enhancing suspension. With physical suspension now being the obvious I would like to point out some guidelines for sound suspension. I have found through many experiments that to produce a better sound and prevent resonance from being lost in a drum, certain principles must be followed. These could also be closely matched with laws of physics and vibration, but I feel for the practicality of the subject I will describe only what I have discovered from my experiments with drums. First of all there are various degrees or levels of suspension that can produce improvements in sound. There are many different ways to improve the resonance of a drum, but there are also some big trade offs that can result in damage to the drum if suspension is not fully understood. Suspension Rule #1 Any type of attachment to the shell of the drum is not sound suspension, no matter how small the attachment point. In fact, the smaller the attachment surface, the greater the possibility of shell damage or distortion. This is due to the higher amount of stress concentrated on less area of the shell supporting the total weight of the drum. Suspension Rule #2 Spanning a bracket between two adjacent lugs, to hold the drum, creates less pressure at one center point on the shell. However, you are still attaching your holder to the shell that is vibrating. You will lose some frequencies but it may be an improvement. Suspension Rule #3 Anchoring anything firmly to one section of the counter hoop will result in the possibility of a deformed hoop and probably the loss of vibration in the drum head itself. However, your shell won't be damaged. Any bracket or device that does not distribute the weight of the drum evenly (don't forget the weight or force added when the drum is struck) is not really suspension. There may be an improved sound, but it will not be total. Any of these systems may be tested with the standard test of tuning the drum off its mount, holding it in mid-air and striking it several times. Then replace the drum on its holder and listen for the difference. For true suspension (sound suspension) there should be no difference in sound either on or off the holder and at any tuning range, especially the lower frequencies. To truly allow the total freedom of the drum to resonate at any frequency, the shell should not be anchored in any way to that which holds it. I have seen many questions and discussions on the Internet among drummers looking for answers concerning suspension and suspension systems. Since there seem to be more and more different systems on the market it is important to understand exactly what they add (or subtract) from the drums quality of sound.
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