Most versatile tom sizes, 4 tom setup.

Versatile might be the wrong word but accept it in the spirit of the question!
Thanks to all for your replies, especially ref. head thickness and tone.
I'm using 10x8, 12x9, 14x11, 16x14 and recently changed the batters to EC2 frosted from G2s ---- 'not sure they're an improvement. (Tama Starclassic birch).
Does anyone have opinions about Evans hydraulic heads?
 
Re: Hydraulic heads. Are used by people who want a processed or dead sounding drum with all fundamental and no overtones. No sound is bad or good, it just is. It's all what you like. Concert toms may benefit from a hydraulic head. If you've never heard them before it's the most controlled, deep sounding head you can get. At the expense of all liveliness. I consider them a one trick pony and not near responsive or crisp enough, but it's your ears not mine that matter if you are considering them.

It's good to know what kind of sound you are going for, but that takes a lot of experimentation with a lot of different heads and combinations of heads and tuning approaches. I found that regular 10 mil clear or coated heads deliver the most total frequencies. If you must muffle, all premuffled tom heads are muffled too much IMO. Better to start with an unmuffled 10 mil and go from there...if you must muffle.
 
I like the 122" small tom, a 176 inch mid tom, a 230" small floor tom and a 367" large floor tom.

To me they are my most versatile sizes.

I'm glad my drums are versatile. They can play any style of music...even without me! *sarcasm*

People, drums aren't versatile, it's the drummer that is versatile.

I'll keep saying it until it sticks.

It stuck with me Larry, so that's one up your sleeve.

I play rock with a 20x14, 12x8 and 14x14 with a dunnett 2n brass 14x6.5, hats, crash and ride.

Beatles, Elvis, Mumford, Rage against the machine and Foo fighters, Muse, whatever we decide and I try to make it work.

No one ever complains. If we need louder, I play louder and/or mic the kit up.

I do sometimes get the urge for additional toms, but then I remember every additionnal piece brings additionnal handling.

One of my main concerns nowadays when unloading gear or eventual acquisitions is weight.

The lighter the better, the rest is out the door or is not invited in.

The Dunnett is the exception, damn it's heavy. But puuuuur-fect. Very versatile might I add ;-)
 
Of course the most "versatile" is an electric drum-no matter size you can produce any pitch, any tone or any sound. I win what's my prize? So it's not size that counts but technology wins sorta like drum viagra.
 
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