If the badge says made in U.S.A on it,it is an X-P 8 model,top of the line,eight ply maple,so even if you used a different tube it should strong enough to hold two toms no problem,some people have actually cut the long tube down.

It might change the sound for the better....might not.

For a bass drum, since it's muffled (usually) anyway (especially in that size) I wouldn't worry about the tube....because the muffling will affect the sound more than the tube. Plus, that's the design of the drum. If you want a different sounding bass drum, then it would be better to get a different size/style bass drum.

I've got the exact same bass drum as you and it really doesn't sound that different from the other bass drums in my collection. Bass drums in that size are going to (generally) sound the same...more or less...once they are set up to play.

2 cents

The tube is splined onto the holder. If you decide to take it off. Put the tube horizontally in soft vice jaws and gently (or not so gently) knock the casting off the end of the tube. Oh, and keep it for the next owner.

I took mine off but I don't put stuff on my bass drum.

The mount without the tube would not support the toms without additional support of the mount. The axis of the mount is narrow with only 2 small bolts to hold it in place. If you want to remove the tube, I recommend you put some large fender style washers on the bolts to give more surface area for the mount. Thinking that otherwise you might torque the bolts sideways, and maybe pull out of or even split the shell.

Or take a piece of donor shell and make a backing plate for the mount with longer bolts for support.

Stuff the mounting post with cotton balls, if you are getting sympathetic resonance from the pipes. But I would leave that support alone.

If you're concerned about the tube inside the drum, seems to me that mounting toms on there in any way is still going to negatively affect the sound. If it were me, I would take the mount off entirely and mount the toms on a stand or stands. Actually, I do have an XP8 with the same deal, but I do have my tom mounted on there; the bass sounds awesome, according to everyone who hears it, even with the tom mounted stock fashion. The tom however, I haven't gotten keyed in to it's ideal; maybe the tube going through it has an effect, but I think if I find the right head combo I'll be happy.