Tube rolling newbie- how to choose NOS tubes

Talking the push from above comment i can add that most tube rollers forget, that current manufacturers create their gear with modern tubes for sound and characteristics in mind. Also they do not assume or expect that everybody will do tube rolling. They go with what is available at the time of production. On the other hand we are not certain that a NOS tube would bring vast improvement, many times it can be the opposite. This means proceed with caution, money spent elsewhere in the system can sometimes yield better results.

But you would not know if not trying and that is a part of the game.

But you would not know if not trying and that is a part of the game.

... of fleecing the uneducated.

Thanks all for your advice, I'm learning a lot.  This is my first experience with tubes so I'm in experimental mode to understand the sonic differences between tubes. I'll also be using my DAP as a SS desktop dac/amp to sonically compare. 

@kennyc 

Read the descriptions at the top of Brent Jessee's page.

As a tube newbie myself, I’m more than happy to pay up a bit for a reputable tube expert with a reasonable return policy to point me in the right direction and who will likely save me considerable time and $$$ from buying either the wrong or bad tubes.  I’d just make sure to have a price point in mind going in and communicate that upfront because this can get silly expensive, especially if you don’t know yet what your doing or what tubes are really worth.  Great advice here that I’ll definitely use myself.