There is some good advice in this article. Hope it helps you as it did me. Proper Pipe Tobacco Humidification | Smokingpipes - https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/proper-pipe-tobacco-humidification
Yep, it took me a while to realize my fast smoking was causing the ashy taste in some of the tobaccos. Frequent relights are okay but I didn't know that in the beginning.
When I first started I made the decision to try one of each basic category. English blend, Burley blend, Virginia/Perique, Oriental blend, and an Aromatic. Have fun exploring, that's what it's about for me anyway.
You are right about the old standard blends. My elderly neighbor puttsing around in his yard unknowingly lassoed me into the hobby with his Dr. Grabow wafting Prince Albert into the neighborhood. I still haven't tried PA.