Gray stain question

[sharkster]

I am trying to get a nice "deep" gray stain on a cue. I am looking for any tips you may have. I am either getting way too dark, or too much contrast. meaning the grain is about right, but the closed pores are still tan.
I am using trans tint, but open to anything that works.
I have tried sanding to finer/coarser. Tried tinting the sealer coat over stain. I'm still not happy. Time to ask the experts.

 

[greyghost]

Explain your process from start to finish on applying the stain..........that would be easier to troubleshoot whats going wrong for ya.

Applying stains correctly can be as hard as finishing or even more difficult.

-Grey Ghost-

 

[Russell Cues]

It sounds like the same problem I have had staning some woods like pine railings. Try useing a wood conditioner first and then stain the wood. I had a problem staining some pine stair rails at my dads house and we used a wood conditioner first; now it looks just like mahagony, can't tell it is pine at all.

It sounds like this might solve your problem with uneven staining.