Reducing the variables to just the basics, there is a wonderful step in pitch and such between these. Make sure you stay in control of that step and you will love it.

Totally agree. Great sound, great feel, and it even looks better than the 10 & 12 configuration.

I,ve always played 1 tom up and its been the 12x8.Ocassionally the 13,but the 12 is what im happiest with.I love those standard depths though.

Tuning can change it to have a wide or narrow range. I usually play one up too. But my set has a 12,13,and 14 (although the 14 is needing some bearing edge work) up. Was using the 12 but just changed to the 13. But you can definitely tune them to be much different or closer if you want. I like the projection of teh 13 tuned up higher. But what bass drum and floor tom you've got can make a difference as can the style of music you're playing.

I totally agree with all. The 12 incher I had (a 1980 Gretsch) was awesome-sounding and more lively (to me) than the 13 incher. Together, along with a 14 incher, was great, melodically. Enjoy!!

I try to keep as few drums in my setup as possible, just because I find it easier to play with fewer drums scattered around -- so I've always felt that 12" and 13" drums were too close in sound to be worth the trouble of having both in my kit at the same time. If I'm going to have two toms up top, I prefer having a 10" and a 12". To my ears, there's a much bigger difference between a 10" and a 12" than there is between a 12" and a 13", so the 10" and 12" setup provides more sonic possibilities.

But it's a matter of taste. You'll definitely hear a difference between your 12" and your 13" if you tune them right. Having both the 12" and 13" drums up top was the standard configuration for a long time, with good reason.