I would try a dye stain if the gel isn’t getting you the results you’d like. General Finishes Espresso will get you the results, but you’ll likely need to use a bit of the extender if you’re not spraying the finish. If you opt to hand apply and not use the extender, be prepared to almost immediately start wiping off the stain since it will dry rapidly on the wood. Also, ship the conditioner. While helping prevent blotch, it stops some of the stain from absorbing into the pores.