The first thing is: Whatever you can get away with is 100% fine.
How I do it: I'm always thinking of contrast but not conflict. A pretty standard jazz setup for me would be:
- 22" Main ride on the right. This one will be in the Medium/Medium Light range (say, 2550 to 2800g). This one has the clarity and insistence for driving the band. Must still be crashable, but the crash can be short.
- 20" Crash/Ride or lighter ride on the left. This one will be under 1800g, most likely. If the main ride is about holding tension, the left is about releasing tension. Should be crashable, should have a less pronounced (but still very clear) stick sound, and should ideally have some separation between the stick and wash sound. That cymbal will probably get the rivets or a Stack Ring Sizzle Stick, which in my opinion is far and away the best rivet simulator on the market.
- Far right can be any of the following: a swish, a small-is crash, a third contrasting ride, or a flat. Whatever third sound will work for the musicians and the room.
- 14" hats that match the vibe of the rest of the cymbals.
So, these days I do
- 22" Paiste Masters Dark Ride (or, depending on the gig, 21" Masters Dark Dry or 21" Dark Energy Mark 1)
- 20" Paiste Masters Dark Crash Ride
- 22" Paiste Masters Swish, 16" Dark Crash, or 20" 602 Medium Flatride
- 14" Paiste Masters Hi Hats
In the past I've used Zildjian K Cons (22" Overhammered Bounce, 19" Crash/Ride, 14" Hats OR 22" Medium, 20" Medium Thin Low, 14" hats OR EVEN 23" A Sweet, 20" A Thin Crash, 15" New Beat hats) or Bosphorus (22" Traditional Light, 19" Traditional Crash/Ride, 14" Traditional hats). You get the idea.