+1, Bats.

The same kit can sound very different under another drummer's sticks.  It may be in the way one attacks the snare, plays those grace notes within the groove, or nails the cymbals.  Some drummers, you want to get in really tight on each drum head, taped down heads to minimize ring, in a dead environment.  With others, open up the room, use close mics for kick and snare, and overheads for toms and cymbals, and go for that "garage" sound. 

Tuning is critical.  I've seen kits that sounded dull and lifeless sound amazing when tuned up and played right.  I once had a snare drum pulled from a garbage can that sounded incredible once I put new heads on it and tuned it.

For tom tuning, through the 70's and 80's, I used in the majority of times the old Mickey Mouse tune "Here He Comes To Save The Day" relative notes on the toms.  "Here" for Tom 1, "He" for Tom 2, etc. 

Also, as a drummer, I many times used a tuning method for top and bottom head where they were about a fourth apart (Bridal Song "Da Da Da Da..."  is in forths.
The bottom head was usually the higher pitch of the two. 
I then used a taped on piece of tissue paper about 2x2" on the top head close to the rim to kill some overtones for the toms and snare. 

These practices worked very well for me in many studios in L.A. They of course are not the only way to do this but I thought this was a good opportunity to share.

Rim

old Mickey Mouse tune "Here He Comes To Save The Day" 

uh, i think that was Mighty Mouse.

Thanks bat, I got my mouses confused!  Sorry Mighty...

Cool tips and insights, All are extreamly appreiciated guys!

batsbrew

  and you're halfway there.

And a couple of years :)

A little update on my progress....

beyer kick mic <--- Absolutely hate this mic.... Need something else/better 
a Shure pg56 on the snare <---- blows as a snare mic, works better as a kick mic than the above though... went back to a 57 here.
Sennhieser e904's on the toms <-- they work really well & I like em'!
a 57 on the hats (which I thought was wierd to start with.... but I tried it anyway) <-- Actually works ok, though I want to get some pencil condensors for this and maybe for the overheads in the near future.
and beyerdynamics tgx 5 clip on type mics under each crash/ride <--- Useless as they don't capture the highs very well.   My LD condensors are much better for this.

I could make a good recording with these as set up here with exception of the kick mic.... I gotta find something better here without breaking the bank.  Any ideas for that fellas?   I have tried multiple different mics and every position I can think of, I either get click click click, or THOOOOM THOOOM THOOOM  I can't get that happy medium balance I want.

Is the kick head on or off? Have you tried the usual paint can on a foam mat, and stuffing it with various things and all those types of standard adjustments?

The kick has got a front head on it with a sound hole for micing/port.  One pillow inside to muffle and sounds pretty good to the ear.  It's just recording like crap.  Last night I finally got one of my band members to come over and play the kit while I moved mic'sand played with levels (I had been trying to do this all by myself) and I was able to get it sounding better but it's still not great.

+1 on making sure the kit is tuned. I recently did my 1st drum recording. Because I record in a low ceiling basement room, I used the simple 2 mic technique known as "Recorderman". (Google it and you will find a lot of information.)I was happy with the results and it's a relatively simple to set up.