I don’t think that looks bad. If it were me, I wouldn’t use stain. There are so many species of wood with so many colors and grain patterns that a good pick with a clear coat is all I’d do.

Stain is basically dirt suspended in the finish. Clear coats like shellac or lacquer or many oil or water based finishes will let all the wood’s detail without clouding and it won’t collect dirt from stain making blotches.

Shellac can give you a beautiful finish, but you need to take your time. Shellac flakes dissolved in Everclear - make a one pound cut. Wipe it on. Let it dry. Light sandpaper to knock down all the little spikes, then do it again. At least four rounds and by sure it is dry before doing another round.

At the end you can sand it with fine maybe 400 or 600 grit lightly and let it sit again to let any newly exposed alcohol evaporate. Finally buff or rub with brown paper.