Yesterday, I got my first tattoo of a narcissus flower on my wrist. It would be 5 star, but there were a couple little bumps. My appointment was for 4 although I specifically said 4:30 since I have a class that doesn't get out until 4, which isn't the worst that could happen. Also, I didn't get my sketch until the day of, but I can forgive that since it was absolutely beautiful!
I went to Daniel. He was extremely nice and definitely did his homework on the flower. The sketch he showed me wasn't what I had in mind when I first went in, but I think it works a lot better. It has a lot more dimension and life than I could have hoped for. With that all set, we started the tattoo. He started with very mild lines, which allowed me to get used to the feel without starting at full blast. He was very fun to talk to and made the whole experience a lot less stressful than I expected (to be fair, I expected it to be unbearably painful). He really listened to everything I told him and added his own twist to thing. For example, I told him I wanted the middle of the flower pink, but he added some very light orange highlights that made it gorgeous.
Daniel mentioned to us about some tattoo seminars he's going to/been to for Japanese art and portraits. It's nice to have an artist who is constantly trying to learn more. He seems very passionate about his craft, which makes getting a permanent body marking from him very comforting.
I am very happy with the quality of the tattoo and the service that I received. Everyone at the shop was very nice and accommodating and I will be going back for my next tattoo.
What a great turn around for the previous Integrity- Golden Rose!
The new staff has definitely change the shop around with a warm inviting feel each time you walk in! The receptionist is great too, Shea is always attentive and always makes you feel at home . The best part of the shop, besides the people, is that they are super clean and you know you are in good hands.
I get all my tattoos by Adrian and he is absolutely amazing! I would definitely recommend him if you are looking into getting a tattoo here.
Overall, every artist there has such great work and very talented. If your looking for work that is done with great detail and artist who are passionate about what they do come check them out!
I had an awesome experience. Â My artist was Dane, and he did a FANTASTIC job. Â He was super chill, very patient with me as I figured out exactly how I wanted my ink, and then he executed it beautifully. Â I am so insanely pleased with the work, it's literally exactly how I wanted it. Â This was my first tattoo experience, and it definitely made me want to go back for more. Â Can't recommend this place enough.
Review Source:It was my first time getting any tattoo. I got 2 the first time. (arm and foot). DANE is awesome. He made me feel comfortable and didn't mind me screaming the whole time. It looks better than I had ever imagined. I highly recomment this place. My roomate and another friend went to this place and also loved theirs. I'm definitely going back and I cannot wait! Thank you Dane and Guru Tattoo.
Review Source:Loving the newer location! A lot different then your typical tattoo parlor look. This was my second tattoo at Guru's. My first one was done by an artist that no longer works there (bummer!), so I had to do some soul searching through the portfolios to see who I wanted. It was between Daniel and Cory, but Daniel won this one! Both had amazing work, but Daniel's schedule seemed to fit my eagerness for getting my third tattoo (cemetery, pumpkins, haunted house). Cory is very booked and I am an impatient girl! Sorry bud.
Daniel was very professional, funny, honest, and humble! He kept me and my boyfriend entertained. It took two sessions, which was a little disappointing, but was well worth the three week break in between! I asked him to combine the tattoo I had previously (moon and rose) with the new tattoo so they didn't look like two different elements! He incorporated those nicely!
I will be coming back! :)
Just finished my piece but I have a feeling I'll be back. Â My work was done by Cory. Â He's a great artist and is just a really good guy to hang out with too. Â I've been there for 3 hours a month for about 6 months and I look forward to every visit. It's like I pay to hang out with a bunch of fun guys and get a free tattoo! Â
The place is spotless, the staff are great and the artistry is stunning. Â These guys are the first genuine people I've come across since moving to the area.
I wouldn't go anywhere else.
I already had two tattoo's from different shops, but recently got my two new tattoo's here at Guru Tattoo from Dane and it was an awesome experience!
Dane (apprentice) is an amazing tattoo artist! Him and the rest of the crew were very welcoming, chill and made a great first impression! Definitely coming back for the rest of my tattoo adventures, also they are tackling a cover up for my boyfriend. Won't go any where else!
---wanted to add to my TIP:
Shop is clean, love its personality, and great atmosphere!
First off everyone at the shop are friendly! I first went there for a spur of the moment tattoo done by Daniel. I was lucky enough to get there when they first opened and got it done within an hour or so.The tattoo came out awesome!
I went back there a few months later to start my half sleeve. This time I had Adrian as my artist. I wanted a Native American tattoo and I showed Adrian something I had in mind. He said he had some great ideas for the piece and I couldn't wait to see what he would draw out. When I went in for my first session and saw the outline he had done I was amazed, it was way better than the picture I had showed him. It turned out great!!! Next, I went in for my second session to get it shaded in. The colors Adrian picked out were beautiful and when it was all done I loved it!!! It turned out amazing!!!
I've only been tattooed by Adrian and Daniel and they are both incredible, but any person you get at this shop is great and extremely talented. Not only that but they all have amazing personlities! I've been into shops where it's just an awkwar atmosphere but this was definately not the case here. I would reccommend this place they are the best!
I have been meaning to write this review for a long time (Tat was done 12/20/12), so here it goes. I am SO HAPPY with how my tattoo turned out. Dave did both mine and my sister's tattoo in the same day (We got matching-w/some changes). He was VERY professional and his sense of humor and demeanor made the whole experience just a breeze. This was my sister's first tattoo and now she cannot wait for her next one. The tattoo's came out amazing, and they healed really well.
The shop is clean and the vibe is totally chill and professional. I watched a lot of the art that came in and out of the door while I was waiting to get mine and each customer looked amazing and happy.
I would HIGHLY recommend this shop to anyone who wants a tattoo of any type. I have found my tattoo shop for life!
By far the BEST place I've gone to for a tattoo!
I just finished my second and last session here today by Daniel. When I first went there for a consultation, I was greeted right away by one of the guys (whose name I can't remember, I'm really sorry!). He seemed cool and really helpful. I came to choose Daniel based on what I saw in his portfolio, but don't get me wrong, all of the artists in this shop are very talented. I really liked Daniel's tattoo styles and a lot of his pieces were of flowers. The tattoo I had in mind was of floral design (some orchids and a bird with both my parent's names) so I decided that Daniel would be best for this. I then spoke to him, and showed him an idea of what I wanted. He put something together in time for my appointment the following week and it turned out better than I had ever imagined.
Daniel was really cool throughout both sessions. He made sure I was comfortable and relaxed throughout my sitting. During my first session, I asked him if I could split my tattoo into multiple sessions depending on how well I would be able to tolerate the pain. He was really understandable about that. 2 sessions and a total of 5 & 1/2 hours later, he was completely finished and the tattoo turned out beautifully! I have pictures posted on here if you want to see Daniel's work on me. I am very happy with my tattoo, and that is why I would recommend going to this shop. I'll definitely be coming back here for any future tattoos :)
Great experience and ended up with a great tattoo that I've been getting compliments on constantly!
Daniel was a fantastic artist to work with. Â I gave him my basic ideas and he came up with a better tattoo than I had in my own mind. Â He was gentle and very calming the whole time. Â The entire shop was great - clean and a fun atmosphere to hang out in.
I'd definitely go back...now I just need to decide what my next tattoo will be...
Wish I could give more than 5 stars!!!
I yelped this place because I was really wanting a 3rd tattoo. The yelpers don't lie about this place!!!
I got a simple tattoo on my wrist. I was tattooed by Dane Mitchell who is only an apprentice but did an awesome (and quick!) job!!!
The place is located in a really cool cabin like place with a loft. There are gorgeous paintings EVERYWHERE that were painted by the staff! As an artist, I really dug that!
Everyone was really friendly.
Dane was really nice, really professional, and really funny. He made me feel comfortable and really seemed to care about the art of tattooing. He's clearly a natural talent. He was very precise and very clean. Probably my quickest tattoo yet! I was very impressed!
There was a guy there working on someone (I think he is the owner) who was really cool and funny. He and Dane were cracking jokes at each other and it really was an uplifting atmosphere. He was very nice to me.
The prices are incredibly reasonable too! I've been to a few tattoo parlor's and this one seems really involved in the art side of tattooing as opposed to the business side.
I love their laid back and chill feel.
I am definitely coming back here!!!!!!!!!
I had one tattoo prior to getting inked up by the gang at Guru; just a little crest on my shoulder blade. I came into Guru looking for something grandiose.
My father passed away six years ago, and for the longest time, I'd been looking for something to honor him. It stumped me forever until I came up with a crazy idea.
My mother's best friend made a quilt for each remaining member of the family out my dad's old clothes. I wanted a section of the quilt, in all it's brilliant color, on my forearm. Very detailed. Very intricate. Probably would be a challenge.
After coming across Guru off Yelp, I checked out each of the portfolios on their site. All of them are ah-mazing. However, it was Daniel's beautiful touch of color that I thought would capture the aesthetic I was going for best.
Currently, we're about mid way through the piece and I'm already completely in love with it. Everyone there is super cool, very friendly, and consumate professionals. I cannot recommend Guru highly enough, ESPECIALLY Daniel. His collaboration and interpretation of what I want is phenomenal. He is a true artist. Â Definitely stop on by and bounce some ideas off him!
I came in with some various prints off the internet for a couple of tattoos I wanted (with a mix of features from each image) for a pair of ravens on the backs of my calves - Daniel drew up almost exactly what I wanted in the first pass, and after very minor changes I came in to get the ink done. In between the drawing and the date of my actual appointment I ran into some money issues, but Daniel let me split the tattoo into multiple appointments. Best tattoo I've had done, and I've gotten LOTS of compliments on them from coworkers and even random strangers.
Plus, the whole atmosphere in Guru is awesome: all the artists chat with you and make jokes, and I saw them take time to explain everything to other customers who were getting their first tattoo while I was lying down get mine done. I will definitely return to Guru for all my future tats.
4.5 out of 5 (Yelp should really let me do halves.)
My boyfriend and I went to get tattoos here. I got mine done by Adrian and he got his done by Justin. All the artists had portfolios, so you could choose who you want to work with by looking at examples of their art. All the artists were very good.
They were super patient with us (since I had to reschedule very last minute.)
Before getting the tattoo, both artists were patient and friendly. They made us feel comfortable and right at home. Most importantly, they worked with what we wanted, which was sometimes very difficult to achieve, since both our designs were kind of complicated and had a lot going on. Both artists did their best to make the art their own and include all the parts that we originally wanted. They accepted our original sketches and turned them into pieces that would go on the skin.
During the tattooing itself, Adrian was super nice, letting me take a break whenever I needed. It was my first big tattoo, so I was a little surprised at how much it took out of me to sit under the needle for two and a half hours. In the end both my boyfriend and I were satisfied with our tattoos. It was a great experience, I really recommend them.
They are, however, quite busy, and it took both artists awhile before they could get to our tattoos. That was expected, though, since Guru Tattoo is a pretty hot spot for tattoos in the San Jose area. If you're planning on getting a tattoo, make sure to come in advance and book an appointment, because you'll have to wait a few weeks before you get a chance to have some ink on you!
Overall, terrific experience. Go get a tattoo done by them! Both artists were great. :)
4th visit under my belt and almost a whole 24 hours spent in the shop. Still same positive experience and ambiance. This will be the last shop I ever need to go to. Here's hoping the next tattoo I dream up wont take another 10 years.
Thanks for the good times and killer art work Daniel!
This review is specifically for Cory, but also for the shop as a whole.
I think all I can say is -amazing-. I've come to Cory for several tattoos now, including a half sleeve, and a coverup starting a full sleeve. His coverup is absolutely brilliant. There is no hint there was a tattoo under what he did for me. He used  a style that was compatible with the work I already had done, and listened to me about exactly what I wanted.
The shop is somewhere you want to be prepared to go to. They have strong opinions, but they are ALWAYS out for the best tattoo possible for your body and your idea. They will refuse to tattoo something that doesn't suit, or someone who is unsure, which, for me, is a huge measure of quality. Being willing to refuse means they aren't in it just for easy money.
I loved my experiences here, and even though I've moved out of the area, i will continue to come back.
I have been thinking of getting another tatt for quite awhile.
First of all, you have to know what you want, and it's gotta be something tasteful - OK, dogs peeing.
Second of all, it's gotta be something tasteful and in the right place -
UM, the back?
Third of all, you gotta have an artist that you connect well with - well, I had spoken with a few people in Austin, and though the artists and parlors do seem edgier there, I wasn't necessarily feelin' the love...so I decided on YELP to help me out here for a place closer to home in San Jose.
The last one I got was from Marks of Art (in1997), and to be honest with you, I heard from more than one source, including Yelp, that they are just really different than they used to be.
OK so I get to Guru on the list, and when you see five stars from everyone, you know that it's GOTTA BE GOOD, though in the back of your head, you might still kind of wonder, "how good is it, really?!?!"
I went online to the artist portfolios, and surely, I just liked Dave's art the best - hands down. Note that he also charges the most, and I kinda think that there is usually a co-relation! (i.e. the better you are, the more you charge).
Next thing I did was meet with Dave in person to make sure that I "connected" with him. Turns out that he doesn't look at all like the pretend-guy-photo on their website, so any kind of anxiety went out the door...he is totally lax, chill, etc.
Not to mention that they are in a really cool space that I swear used to be some kind of pool store decades ago. The way it's laid out, with a loft space, and its airiness, totally fits the personaility of what they do here.
I went over with Dave what I was looking for, felt good about it his feedback, and was to come back and review his prelim sketch. Note that he is usually booked well in advance, and they also will ask you for a deposit.
I must say that Dave is a real pro, and all around good guy - well seasoned. He has a lot of love and integrity for who he is, other people, and what he does. It shows in his beautiful art.
We had to split it up into two different sessions, and note that they only accept cash, so make sure you got the funds!
The only piece of feedback here is that if they take any kind of partial payment ahead of time, you might want to ask for a receipt. With me, the question came up as to how much I paid previously, and though Dave trusted me whole-heartedly, I personally would have preferred that the question not come up. This is NOT a criticism against Dave by all means; it's just a fault of the circumstance ;-)
My mother and I decided to get matching tattoos of our favorite mother/baby duo: Dumbo and Mrs. Jumbo. Â My mother had gotten a tattoo before, but we couldnt get a hold of the artist she preferred, so she left me to decide where to get it done. I was referred to Guru by a friend and stopped in one day to check out portfolios
After perusing a few portfolios, I saw one that contained a couple of elephant tattoos--perfect! I also really liked the style of the other pieces. I asked for an appointment with DANIEL.
We went and got our tattoos today, and we could not have been more pleased! Daniel was the perfect tattoo artist--he kept us nervous ladies calmed down with jokes, and stories; Â he was as gentle as you could be with the tattoo needle, plus, his stencil work of both pieces was fantastic. Â Unfortunately, the picture I had wasn't a very high resolution--but luckily, Daniel did a fantastic job getting a nice clean line.
The tattoos both came out so fantastically, we were very, very happy! If I ever go back for another piece, I will definitely set up another appointment with Daniel, but for now I will just recommend him to everyone. He is a wonderful artist, a great person, and will really make your tattoo stand out.
First time getting a tattoo, and was referred here by a friend who went to see Daniel. After looking around the place and looking through the portfolios, I was extremely impressed with Cory's work and spoke to him about doing a pretty intense piece on both forearms. I made an appointment and about a month later checked in with Cory to see the design that he had come up with for me. I loved it immediately, and only had one concern, but Cory was extremely accommodating and altered the design to fit what I had in mind.
A week later I came in and got my first forearm done. The piece took about four hours, and Cory was awesome all the way through. It definitely helps when your tattoo artist is not only talented, but also a really chill guy to talk to. It makes the whole process a lot easier and way more fun. The pain definitely wasn't as bad as I expected, and it was fun to see Cory at work.
He did an AWESOME job on my arm and I couldn't be happier. I get compliments on it pretty much wherever I go. It's a bold piece for a first tattoo, but I'm beyond glad that I took the job, and even more glad that it was Cory who did the work. I cannot wait to go back and get my other arm done.
Cory is fantastic, and so is everyone else at Guru. All of the artists are extremely personable, and it feels like you're sitting around, hanging out with your friends while someone just happens to be drawing on your body. It's an extremely fun process that I can't wait to do again.
Thanks, Cory!
I am so glad that I came to GURU for my first tattoo! Â I had a general idea of what I wanted, but was hoping that I could get some good artistic direction, after all, this is PERMANENT! Â Justin did just that. He drew up some beautiful wings for my ankles and I could not be more pleased. Â The whole process was great. Â Justin is friendly and personable, and it feels like just a cool place to hang out. Â Everything was super clean and sterilized too. Â I was warned that this can get addicting, and I hate to say that I have already thought about another one....if I do, it will be back at GURU.
THANKS JUSTIN!!
- just a reminder to bring CASH-
Tattoo virgin: before coming here, I did a lot of research before someone could permanently decorate me. I researched different styles, visited tattoo places, and stalked different artists before trusting Adrian to execute it beautifully.
I came in really intimidated and scared, expecting to just look at a few portfolios, but I ended up getting my first tattoo done, and I'm so glad I did. The place was clean, the people were really understanding, sweet, and patient. Most importantly, their own tattoos were tasteful.
I got a small sparrow on my forearm with color, and I really appreciated their suggestions as to where to place it, and what colors worked best.
The pain wasn't as bad as I expected, although I did have a friend hold my hand the entire way. Haha. I suggest for any newbies to really know what you want, don't let the fear of pain deter you away fr getting it, and definitely get it done at Guru Tattoo!
This second review of mine is for Cory. I was looking for another tattoo and when I came across his portfolio online and saw what an amazing job he had done with another Audrey Kawasaki piece I thought "this is the guy for me". I sent him the picture, got the appointment figured out and came in.
It's always fun being in this shop. Everyone is really helpful and light hearted, so lots of jokes being thrown around, just know not to ever take anything too personal, they don't mean to offend you, at least I don't think so :) HA
But Cory did such an awesome job on my tattoo, I LOVE IT. Thanks Cory. He was able to capture the painting exactly how I wanted it. (I've seen other tattoos of the same painting, "My Dishonest Heart", and some artists can't capture the eyes correctly, etc. but Cory was pretty on point) Let it heal for a bit and then came back for a touch up at no charge. I've gotten a lot of compliments for it and I always make sure I refer people back to Cory.
**advice for all you first timers, don't forget to tip your artist, especially if you love the work they did :)
DANIEL. DANIELDANIELDANIEL.
If that seems a little weird, forgive me. I'm just very excited, and Daniel is absolutely amazing. Before going to see him I was a tattoo virgin, and obviously a little bit nervous about the entire process. After talking with Daniel for a few minutes about the piece that I wanted, I set up an appointment and walked in a week and a half later. The second that he showed me the stencil he had worked on, I was in love and immediately put at ease. I knew that I was in good hands.
While the work is definitely what is important, and Daniel did an exceptional job on my tattoo (I've only had it for about a day and I've been getting compliments on it pretty much wherever I go), what truly endears me to him is his personality. Daniel seems like pretty much the nicest guy that you'll ever meet, and it's blatantly obvious that he's in love with his job. Watching him work and being a canvas for someone who loves and is fantastic at what they do is one of the best feelings, and it really calmed me down and allowed me to enjoy the process.
Daniel is very conscious of how you're feeling while he's working. Since this was my first tattoo, he did a few short lines to allow me to get used to the feeling of the needles before really getting to work. My tattoo is on the inner side of my forearm, so there were a few places that were particularly teeth clenching, and Daniel made sure not too linger in that area too long in order to give me a little break. While I didn't really have any issue handling the pain, it was nice to see that Daniel was aware and cared about my comfort while he was working on me.
One of the things that I MUST point out is another factor in the quality of his work that I didn't realize until today. Many other tattoo'd folks have asked me about when I received my tattoo, and they're all shocked when I say that I got it yesterday. I've been told by multiple people that it looks like I've had the tattoo for months due to the fact that there's no swelling, barely any redness and (so far) no scabbing. While part of this may be my body just being weird and made for tattoos, the main reason is Daniel and the meticulousness with which he operates. He knows what he's doing and he's a fantastic artist. I could not have chosen a better man.
I definitely loved meeting and chatting with everyone at the shop as well. Dane, the one with whom I set up my appointment, is a very chill guy with a wealth of knowledge and a calming demeanor. A few weeks ago, when my boyfriend set up an appointment to see Cory, he was nervous (due to also being a tattoo virgin) and probably wouldn't have set anything up if it wasn't for Dane. He immediately makes you feel comfortable with the entire process even if you've never been under the needle.
This has turned into an essay so I'll end it here, but know that this place is amazing and all the guys there are talented and fun to be around. It's obvious that everyone is very happy at Guru, and it makes me never want to go anywhere else. The next tattoo I get, I'm without a doubt going back to Daniel.
Cory does some sick work and I'm stoked on the work he did on me. Totally communicates before you even step into the shop. I gave him some ideas and pictures on what I wanted and let him do the rest. The first go around wasn't exactly what I was looking for but he changed it exactly to what I wanted. Two sittings later I am totally happy and can't wait until my next tat. Definitely give Cory a holler if you want some sick work. Oh and the new shop is way better than the one on Saratoga. I was actually the 1st person to get tat'd in the new shop before it was officially open.
Thanks Cory!
I am a newfound tattoo lover.
Daniel is the BOMB!!! Â After reading so many wonderful reviews about him and Guru, I went in to get my first tattoo. Â I had an idea of what I wanted, but not specific artwork. Â I figured I could throw my ideas out, and based on the talent at Guru from Yelp reviews, I trusted my artist to help me sketch something out. Â So I basically gave Daniel three keywords, and when I went in the next day, my jaw literally dropped when he showed me the perfect sketch! Â It was EXACTLY what I wanted! Â I was amazed at how he was able to incorporate everything I wanted. Â He is, indeed, am amazingly talented artist! Â
So after that, I was even more excited about getting inked up! Â OMG it hurt like a mofo, but it was totally worth it! Â I love it so so so so so much! Â I've gotten a ton of compliments on it already! Â Daniel was super friendly and easygoing. Â Even though I was holding my breath the entire time, he chatted with me and my wonderfully supportive friend whose arm I was clenching onto for my life.
The shop is super clean and has cool masks and artwork displayed on the walls. Â They have since moved to a new location, though. Â When I'm ready for my next one, I'm definitely going back to Guru Tattoo! Â Thank you for making my first tattoo experience so awesome!
I second Torri's comment, GO SEE DANIEL!!!!
I too have been wanting to get another tattoo for many, many years. I really wanted to have something that had a profound meaning for me. After talking it over with my wife, for the past year, I was finally ready to pull the trigger.
I spent a lot of time doing research on tattoos that were along the same lines as what I was looking for. I didn't want some cheese-ball tattoo and had trouble finding something that was similar to what I was looking for. So I finally found the right combo from different tattoos and images. I printed them up and was ready to get my tattoo.
I have many friends who have tattoos. I checked out a couple of places, recommended by my friends, but it didn't get the vibe I was looking for at those shops. So I went back to the internet to research shops. I found Guru Tattoos and was very impressed by their reviews and 5 Star rating with so many reviews.
On the way home from work, I just barely made it to Guru Tattoos before they closed. When I walked in, I met Daniel. He was helping someone else but paused to speak with me. I got a great vibe from him and the shop. Daniel was able to help both of us at the same time.
I told Daniel I had an idea of what I wanted and several pictures of the different elements I was looking for. Right away, Daniel could see what I was looking for and had some GREAT suggestions to make it better. I am no artist, so I left it all up to him. We made my appointment and it ended up being a very long week and a half wait. Prior to my appointment, Daniel was able to text me a drawing he made of my tattoo. IT WAS AMZING!! He captured everything I was looking for and he killed it!
Yesterday was my appointment. This was the first time I had met other artist in the shop. Everyone in the shop was friendly, funny and we had great conversations. Daniel showed me the final drawing and I was super pumped. The whole experience was outstanding. When Daniel finished, it was even better than I expected, IT WAS AMAZING!! Even my wife, who wasn't really down with the tattoo, said it was a great piece of art.
Thanks Dave for having such a great shop and thanks Daniel for my OUTSTANDING tattoo. You guys are the best!!!
I had been to another Tattoo studio and they were the worst. Â I went with my daughter for her first tattoo she got done by Cory at Guru. SHe had a good experience and liked Cory a lot. Â on 2/12/12, we went for a consultation because both me, and my daughter planned on getting a new tattoo for our birthdays (we both are February babies) We also went for moral support since a friend of our was getting a tattoo. Â
Cory was too busy doing our friends tattoo, so I started talking to Justin Brooks, a visiting artist who had just finished a tattoo. Â He said he was visiting, but would be back at the en of March for good. Â I was disappointed, because I saw his portfolio, and he had beautiful clean work. Â WHen I told him what I was looking to do, he said that he could draw something up. I couldn't believe he was available. Â So he drew up a design and after tweaking it a couple of times, he did my 3rd ever, and quite possibly my last tattoo. Â
Justin was such a nice guy. Â I can't emphasize enough how nice ALL the guys are at this shop! Â But, I think I connected with Justin and chose him. Â It took about an hour and on a pain scale of 1-10 (ten being most painful) I'd say it was MAYBE, a 3. Â Justin said he's been told he has a light touch, so maybe that was it. Â I just know that my other 2 tattoos hurt more than this one did, on my upper arm.
Justin charged me 150. Â I LOVE it! It represents my love for the King Of Pop, Michael Jackson. Â
As far as customer service, the whole shop gets 5 stars, MY experience with the artists, also 5 stars. Â I recommend Guru to anyone. Â If you want to deal with Justin Brooks, check back at the end of March.
**Bonus points- Amatos Sandwich shop is 2 doors down, so, while you're waiting for your artist to sketch, or tweak a sketch, get yourself a delicious sandwich!
GO SEE DANIEL!!!
I have wanted to get another tattoo for years. Â When I woke up on Sunday I decided today was the day. Â Fairly new to the area myself, I decided to check out Yelp for tattoo shops in the area and came across Guru Tattoos. Â I figured with a five star rating and all the reviews I couldn't go wrong. Â After my experience they certainly live up to that rating and more...impressive! Â
I dropped by on Sunday with the hopes of getting it done that same day. Â Knew exactly what I wanted; Turkish crescent and star in black and gray with a 'tribal' flair on my right inside forearm. Â When I arrived Dave greeted me and was very sociable and funny, plus gave me some helpful suggestions that would make my tattoo even better. Â He then assigned me to Daniel. Â I met with Daniel and he said he would be able to do my tattoo that day but to come back in about 4 hours since he already had a previous appointment. Â I couldn't believe they were able to get me in that day...this is not normal though, I think I just got lucky.
It has been many (too many) years since my last tattoo and I had an understandable amount of anxiety. Â Daniel made me very relaxed and my anxiety dissipated immediately once he began. Â The place is super clean and inviting. Â All the artists in the shop were telling funny stories and interacting with the customers - no 'bad attitudes'. Â Daniel was personable, made great suggestions, and was very easy going. Â It went surprisingly very quick and painless (not what I remembered from before). Â His work is amazing. Â My new tattoo turned out even better than I expected. Â I am so pleased with his work that I scheduled another tattoo for next week. Â This time I had a rough idea of what I wanted and told him to interpret it his way. Â I can't wait to see what he is going to come up with and how amazing this one will turn out.
Daniel is new to the SJ area but not to tattoos. Â Great price, great service, great vibe, an overall amazing experience! Â Bring cash, no credit cards. Â If you are looking for an outstanding tattoo shop in the SJ/bay area AND an amazing tattoo artist you MUST go to Guru Tattoos and see Daniel. Â You won't regret it. Â Thanks so much Guru Tattoos and Daniel. Â I'm hooked.
I'm really glad to see Guru has maintained their five star review. They deserve every one of them. I came here first in 2007 for my first bit of ink on my side. The guy who did the work is unfortunately no longer with them, but is still in the area. my latest work was done with Jason, fixing some crappy work I had done on a bender down in Camarillo at Bone Deep Tattoo. He did an awesome job helping me figure out how to put what I was visualizing in my head down on some skin.
They're extremely clean, only using sterilized and bagged needles, tools, etc. They also aren't outrageously expensive like some shops in the area. Cough Cough, Luky Stars, Cough Cough. They do great quality work and don't shove it in your face.
Make sure you schedule and appointment to have a drawing done first with the artist you want to have the work done with for the best experience. They can help you turn what you have in your head into something awesome in ink as long as you give them some basic info about what you want.
Definitely deserving of a five star rating. Keep up the good work, guys!
Came here for a tattoo as well as my best friends first tattoo. We saw they had great reviews so we decided to go for it.
When we got there, my friend had in mind a script tat but can't draw so she was trying to explain it to the older gentleman who was helping us. After a few drafts she still wasn't sure, being a permanent thing she wanted it a specific way, and the older gentleman then passed her off to an apprentice and said "Here you take her, she's proven to be too difficult". We were shocked and should have left but didn't since the reviews couldn't all be lies right?!?
She was able to agree on a script and went for it. The artist, a younger guy, had done both of our tattoos and they both turned out not well. While doing hers, on her foot which is a sensitive place to get one already, he pressed too hard and her tattoo bled, the ink, not actual blood. Mine, which was behind my ear, felt like nothing at all and I was surprised at how little it hurt! Within two weeks my tattoo had completely disappeared!! I couldn't believe it!
Not only was the actual tattoo experience not great, but on top of that we couldn't help but get the feeling that the older gentleman, who was helping us at first, was making fun of us girls with his next client. We felt very uncomfortable.
We both ended up going to other studios to get our tattoos fixed. Lots of money wasted!
Oh My frickin GOD! These guys rock. Seriously. 5-fckin-star!!
I found them on Yelp and figured that anywhere that has 5 stars after 165ish reviews must be good...hell to the yes!
My tattoo experience was a pretty tricky fix on an old tattoo that had gone to shit.
I went in yesterday (Saturday) and started chatting to Cory about a tattoo I got in Australia about 13 years ago that had totally gone to shit. For whatever reason, it had totally degraded and looked like shit - I'd been wanting to get it fixed for years but most tattoo places I spoke to said that they don't like to touch other people's work to do 'fixes' Â - well Cory said they could do something and made an appt for me to come back the next day.
Sunday - I hardly slept all night from excitement! I went in for my appointment with Cory and he let me know that his colleague Jose would be working on me. Cool! Hella nice guy! I was really nervous because my tattoo was a real wreck but he was totally confident, full of ideas and within 5mins had me in the chair and started drawing on my old tattoo to get a game plan together. He took photos to show me (on my back) what he'd done and I was amazed that he'd sketched a fix in about 10mins.
We got to work - 2 hours later he took a photo on a camera and showed it to me and I almost sh*t myself...THAT was my tattoo?? It was effing amazing! This guy is a total pro - he worked some serious voodoo magic to take what I had, and totally transform it into something very cool - the lines were clean, the design was awesome... where did all the old shit go? How did he hide it??
And the price was phenomenal. I was expecting him to charge me at least double what he did. I was gobsmacked (yes - Im one of those fools that doesn't ask what something costs before I get it - Im just like that)
Dave the boss man was hanging around. He is adorable! He was constantly checking in to see how the work was going, how I was feeling, did I need a drink etc. Also just hanging around to chat, a total comedian. Made the whole experience really enjoyable.
I'll be back! Again...and again...and again....
I'll be posting a before/after pic in the images section in case anyone is interested at the sort of restoration they can do.
This place has very good reviews, but be careful...
My friend went here and the tattoo artist wasnt one of their full-time artists and he did a  bad job.  apparently he was fired and she got it fixed by someone else who did a great job.
also, i called in to make an appointment and they said i could just walk in cuz they were slow. Â i asked who would be able to do my tattoo and they mentioned someone who i didnt recognize. Â i looked at their website and all of the yelp reviews and i couldnt find the name. Â makes me wonder if they tried to pass me along to a temporary artist again?
who knows. Â they quoted me a really cheap price tho which was cool, but just be careful and do your research and make sure u choose the artist you want. Â
:-)
GO TO KEVIN!
I just got my first tattoo. I had the most amazing experience with Kevin. I stopped in yesterday evening to ask about getting a tattoo done. I spoke with him and he was very very informative and made me feel really comfortable returning. I didn't want to psych myself out, so he made me an appointment for today!
I went in for my appointment. He had spent the previous evening researching what I wanted and sketching it up. I wanted a small text piece on my foot in a very very specific font. He told me that after sketching it out and working with it, he did not think it was a good tattoo to get. He explained that due to the nature of the font, it would have a few good years but then would bleed and be irreparable. He spent a ton of time sketching it out, gave me a next day appointment, and then was all set to give me my money back. I can't believe it. He could have taken my money, done the tattoo, had it look great, and never looked back.
I asked him about an idea I had been tossing around for over 10 years. He sketched it out in about 45 seconds, adding slight details and making it go from an idle doodle to an absolute work of art. So, I got a tattoo! He pointed out the most perfect spot for it and made me completely comfortable and secure.
He gave me a LOT of great information. He was friendly, jovial, and I really generally enjoyed his company. And the tattoo... my first... is better than I could have ever imagined. I felt so cared for, and I just felt in completely capable hands.
Oh, and a foot tattoo doesn't hurt as bad as people say :-)
I can't wait to return. KEVIN FTW!!!!
So I went there for my first tattoo with Che and was super nervous!
I had in mind what I wanted and I showed it to Che.
He had drawn it on the stensel but never showed it to me,he just put it directly on my skin.
I had the feeling that I was very rushed.
All in all he did a ok job but Che was not for me! Maybe he is different with others but to me as a first time customer he was not good.
I think for my next one I will go with Corry, he was so nice and took his time to explain the process of it all.
I am ok with my Tattoo but yeah, bit sad that the experience was not ok. :(
I can't say enough good things about this shop. They were friendly, funny, accommodating, just absolutely wonderful.
Cory was the artist who did my shoulder piece, and I still get complements on it. I will defiantly be going back to Guru and Cory for all my other tattoos.
Highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for amazing customer service and exceptional art work.
Back in 2002 ...when I thought I knew EVERYTHING. When I met the man I would later marry...I decided to go and get his nickname signature tattooed on my body....
Being a big fan of Amatos (YUM) ....I knew the boys had work done by Guru nextdoor ...so thats where I went.
My guy...who I can not remember right now...damn it... was great! Warned me against what I was doing but did the work without a complaint. We laughed and he kept me calm. It only took a little bit.
Now ...why I am I reviewing a place from so long ago?? Well... I did get married...I later separated and before I left California (yes...I am back now but thats a whole other story) to start my new life...I thought I should get my tattoo covered up. Hard to date when you have to explain what that signature is... *sigh*
So I went back to Guru. I had not remembered who did my tattoo before. This is now 2007....but I had a good experience so meh...why not.
I show up at random....get some ideas down with a girl and make an appointment. I come back later in the week to get this done and low and behold...the guy doing my tattoo...is the guy who did the original work! hahahaha
How can you not laugh your ass off?? He told me it was a bad idea...we laughed about it and he did a great job working the perfect cover up for me. I wanted something that represented me...the NorCal girl who was off on her new adventure to Oregon....and he did exactly what I wanted.
After my experience....I got my best friend a certificate for the same guy to get the tattoo she had been talking about for YEARS.
Sadly, he was gone by the time she went (a year after I got her the certificate) but she worked with a kid named Cory and loved him!
All in all... it seems no matter who you get...you will be happy with the results.
I am going for one more tattoo fairly soon (maybe a birthday present to myself??) and I am pretty sure...I will be right back at Guru...
So I decided to go to Guru Tattoo for my FIRST tattoo and I'm very glad I did! I went in planning to set up an appointment for the following day but ended up getting my tattoo on the spot. Cory was my artist and after he sketched out what I wanted to my liking, we got right to getting it done.
I'm very happy with my tattoo, It's perfect. I'm very satisfied with the service of this shop. They're friendly, clean, LEGIT, and their customer service is great.
Their pricing is also good/fair. Their minimum is $60 and they charge $100 an hour except for one of their artists who charges $125. I payed $80 for mine! YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR when it comes to tattoos so stop trying to look for the cheapest place. You're more likely to regret it in the long run.
I now have 4 tattoos, 3 at other shops. Â This was the first at Guru. Â Very impressed. Â Shop is very clean. Â Yes it is a tattoo shop, and I am not offended by the loud music, rank language and rated R artwork displayed at other shops, but as somebody in my late 30's, it was refreshing to see a shop that portrayed itself as a business, there to offer a service. Â Shana was my artist and I would highly recommend her, but I watched several clients come in and out while I was there and everybody seemed to be happy as they left, regardless of the artist. Â They had a manager their, I think his name was Troy, that made sure that the artists and clients were comfortable through the entire process. Â
If you are looking for a very layed back, clean, comfortable environment with talented artists, this is your shop.
A review that has been long over due...
My first time coming here, I had an idea of what I wanted, a simple script phrase. I was really nervous seeing as this was going to be my first tattoo, but I went to a couple other shops and the staff were rude to me. I walk into Guru, and end up chatting it up with Dave, the super awesome owner. We talked for a bit, asking me questions on what I wanted, and eventually he directed me to Cory, who was the master behind my first tattoo... Now, I will be honest, Dave is awesome and very funny and flirtatious with the ladies (he was trying to get me to put "Property of Dave" on me instead of the quote I wanted, lol) Because what I was wanting was simple enough, I was able to get my tat on that same day.
And then... I fell in love...
Eventually I wanted to get another piece done, one that I am well known for. I walked in with a sheet of paper with about four different designs of Julius Caesar Daggers. Josh came up to see what I was wanting, and all I did was show him the pictures and he was excited to work on it. I set up my appointment, since it was going to be a lengthy procedure.
The day of my appointment came, and it was wonderful. The design was better than I had ever thought of, and the end product is amazing. He quoted me a large sum, but it was on an hourly rate and we finished early, so not as bad as I was anticipating. I did have some fallout, which happens from time to time, and I came back for my free touch up (which are included and make me happy). He enhanced the color in some areas as well as add a touch more to it, something he had thought of doing. To this day I am known for that tattoo!
I have recommended people here, took my best friend here for her first tattoo, and my husband and I are going to be getting our next pieces here. If I am still in the area, and they are still in business, I believe I will always be a patron here.
I have been a customer of Guru Tattoo and Dave for  close to 10 years.
99% of my ink was done here, and it is the ONLY shop in the Bay Area I'd recommend a friend to use.
If you have seen my art, you know they are good. If you haven't go to <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgurutattoo.net&s=ca8460fd20126bdd3250bd34281bd18a56e058250baa82930d57fe4c92240ac8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://gurutattoo.net</a> now and see for yourself.
The ship is super clean, the artists are very talented, and the staff are all very friendly.
Guru is THE spot to get inked!
Che did a great job on my tattoo. The shop is very clean, the artists have a professional demeanor (not like the sleazy tweakers at a shop in Fremont where I had my first done), and they try to make you as comfortable as possible throughout. (Comfy chairs, pillows, etc. I would hate to flinch mid-tatt from muscle cramps due to sitting uncomfortably for an extended period of time.)
I have been a 240z aficionado for most of my life. My parents are original owners of their '72, and I've owned two '72's as well. It was a crazy coincidence to see that Dave has a nice one (If I remember right, it looked to me like it was a '70? Regardless.... *drool*).
I think I am going to him when I am ready for a tattoo of my first car. I look forward to seeing how he does with matching the Datsun 112 yellow.
GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!!
Go here!!!
Any of them are fantastic, Josh does all mine now, An did my first one but he no longer works there. Â They are fun, easy to talk to, every time I've been there the other customers are always willing to talk with you. Â I've been to other shops with friends and everyone looks like they are trying to pull off the new "emo" attitude and look thats so popular with the kiddos these days. Â I would drive 4 hours to go to GURU, never will let someone else touch me with a needle
LOVE IT!!!! *****5 STARS*****
my first tattoo, its painful, but suck it up!!! good thing they give you pillows to grab onto. They are a very clean shop compared to others i've seen. They take there time setting up, which is always a good thing. Everyone there is chill and funny busting out random jokes. Dont plan on coming in here and expecting to see posters on the wall you flip through of tattoo designs, the artist here custom draw everything, but you can bring in your picture and ideas for them to copy. You definately get what yo u paid for here. Also, remember to bring 60 bucks after you have a consultation with your artist, but no worries it goes towards your total tattoo amount. CASH ONLY.
Shana was my artist, she is theeeee best, i showed her random pictures of what i wanted, but didnt know how to put it together, and BAYM, she did her magic,,,, i LOVED the final drawing. I was so glad i chose her, i was satisfied with everything. I get compliments all the time on it, and people like to take a good look at it because of all the great detail. I posted pictures of both sessions, check out awesome work!!!
If your going for your first tattoo or looking for a new place,definately check out this place!!!
I absolutely love this place, I went to marks of art because my friend was get her nose pierced at pierced out (right next door) and the people there were so rude, it was so quiet and awakward. Came onto yelp, looked at the reviews on Guru, and also had a couple co-workers get tattoos done here. I got all of mine done with Cory! He is super nice, normally just have random conversations with him, and the shop just has a good vibe in-general, you feel very welcomed.
If you are getting your FIRST tattoo, i recommend going here, because of the very fun, easy vibe of this shop.
love ittt!
Shana is awesome! I was tattooed by her last summer. After seeing her artwork I put full faith in her to draw out what I wanted and it turned out amazing! It was my first tattoo so I was a little nervous especially since I knew i would be there a while with it being a back piece and all. In total it took about 9 hours or so (3ish sessions) all of which was an awesome time and my tattoo turned out amazing. I have gotten so many complements (and have referred many people).
Everyone there is great to talk to! I HIGHLY recommend this place.... in fact I will probably be in again soon :]
I love Che! Not only did he do an awesome job on my tattoo, he was pleasant and interesting while he did it, didn't talk too much or too little.. great experience.
I highly recommend you check out Guru Tattoo in person before you decide on your studio, Guru has a great vibe and the people are fantastic. My tattoo is beautiful, and totally unique. Yay for Che!
Price: Â It's not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for. Â This place is definitely worth every dollar you pay and of course it depends on what you plan to get. Â Only down side is that it's cash only - it's okay they have an ATM there if you forget.
Service: Â Awesome crew, very nice, very genuine and know exactly how to treat their customers/clients. Â You can tell they appreciate their customers and the customers definitely appreciate that. Â Very down to earth and funny people. Â I had a bit of a wait even after I set up an appointment, but you'd figure they are in a business that will be time consuming and don't want to rush - so it was all good.
Atmosphere: Â It's cool to see a place surrounded by art, even down to it's ATM machine. Â They have up paintings from the different artists along with the living, walking, art (themselves).
What You'll Remember: Â Great service, amazing skills and talent, and an experience that is not painless, but definitely not the most painful.
Comment: Â If you are looking to get a tat and you live in the South Bay Area, I'd definitely recommend checking this place out. Â You won't be disappointed.
Cheers,
T-Chung
My mother, sister, and I came to Guru Tattoo after a good experience with my best friend getting a peace sign/floral tattoo on her back by Shanna earlier that year. We were all looking to get a tattoo of a hummingbird and an alstromeria flower in memory of my brother, Sean, who passed about twenty years ago. We chose the Hummingbird and flower because every time we'd see a hummingbird my mother would tell us that was Seanie checking up on us, and the flower was what he was buried with. Â
While it wasn't my first tattoo, it was the first for my mom and sister, so they were very nervous. When we entered the shop, we were greeted with smiles from everyone (including the cat!) and were even offered freshly sliced apples! Natalie gave us all of the artists books and we looked through them, deciding which artists we wanted. We definitely had an idea of what we wanted. A friend of the family, Andrew Denman (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FAndrewDenman.com&s=8222d6533471d719ac6a552f5cabd3aae4543011ab3bc2cf056fd2753790bbc2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://AndrewDenman.com</a>) had designed the original artwork for us, and we allowed each artist to put their own twist on it.
I really appreciated the professional attitude of everyone there, while still having a good time. I had gotten a tattoo at Players Ink about a year before and the artist (Andre) was constantly making suggestive jokes (the tattoo was on the side of my upper ribs/side boob area) and actually missed my first appointment because when I came in he was 'smoking' out back and was in no condition to be sticking a needle into me. That was not the case at Guru. The tattoo I got was on my hip/upper thigh which meant my ass was in Dave's face for five hours, and he did not feel the need to make those jokes and I felt comfortable the entire time (I actually fell asleep three times..).
Needless to say, the entire experience was a great one. Shanna ended up staying after closing to finish up my moms tattoo so we wouldn't have to split it into two sessions. I definitely recommend this place to anyone I hear is wanting to get work done and wouldn't consider going anywhere else if I wanted to get another!
I always passed by the shop on the way to Nordstrom Rack. Planning my third tattoo, I decided to YELP some tattoo parlor's and Guru Tattoo was the first that had the most legit ratings and reviews.
I walked into the store and right away, the energy of the place was awesome. Dave was doing a tattoo on someone but his humor and personality welcomed me while he was doing the tattoo!  I told them that I wanted a tattoo and Corey, who was painting, came to help me.  I wanted to do a lil more to a tattoo I had before and only had ideas. He  totally took my idea, sketched it out in like 5 minutes, and no lie, the sketch looked better than I could ever imagine.  He added everything i wanted, and took everythign I said into consideration while also putting in his inputs.  But he always allowed me to speak on what I wanted.  I quickly made an appointment with him because I knew that was the perfect tat.
I went back a week later and got to work. Â I was super comfortable with the pillow and the talks wit Corey. Â i got to know a lot about the store, tattoos, him, and before I knew it I was done. It was a good price too!
I'd definitely recommend Guru to anyone who wants a tattoo. Â Each artist has their unique talent, the price is great, and they won't front...meaning, if they don't think they can do it or that its not gonna turn out good for you, they'll say no. Â That's what great artists do. I'm gonna go back to Corey soon for another tattoo, or at least plan to. They're really graet.
Gosh, where to begin...
I've been going to Guru and Dave for the past 2 1/2 years. I discovered Guru when a coworker mention that his uncle was a tattoo artist and at the time I was looking into getting a sleeve. After lots of research of artists and shops I finally decided to visit the shop. Â I was helped by Adrian (who no longer works there) and since Dave was not in that day made an appointment to come by later to talk about my sleeve ideas. I came back a few weeks later and finally met Dave and the rest is history.
Before Guru I had gotten a few tattoos at other shops in the area (who we will not name) and have had terrible experiences. I've always made to feel that I was "below" my artist and even the receptionist for being a girl or for whatever reason. This is never the case at Guru. Guru is like my Cheers.. you know... where everyone knows your name and they're always glad you came. Everyone is super friendly and helpful and  I love the atmosphere of the shop. Its a place that where if I lived closer I would stop by every week, if only to say hello.
As for my sleeve I am in love with it. It is everything that I wanted and then some. Dave is extremely talented and pays attention to every detail. I have never seen anyone there produce a bad tattoo.
So thanks Guru for all the good times I'll be seeing you guys soon!
I walked in here in February with absolutely no idea what the process of getting a tattoo was like and with not even a clear picture of what I wanted. Â I just wanted to talk to some artists and get information the first time I went in and a nice woman (forgot her name =/) was really helpful in giving me info and didn't make me feel like an idiot when I asked some (probably) really dumb questions. Â I felt comfortable enough with Cory and set up an appointment with him the day after (or the day after that, not sure). Â I told him that I just wanted 3 lotus flowers cascading down my side about the size of a human hand. Â The rest was up to his imagination and when I went in the day of my session, I looked over his designs, talked it over, and decided on colors and whatnot. Â He was really good about giving his input but leaving the decisions up to me.
It took about 4 hours and I'll admit to being a little bit of a wimp, but he didn't seem to get too impatient at my occasional squirms. Â He was an overall chill guy and I'm really glad he was my artist. Â My tattoo cost $250 and it was reasonable considering the size, color, and service I received. Â
Ummm, as for going back for my one-month touch up, I never did. haha but I do plan on going back to Cory (I know its been more than 2 months) eventually. Â The reason why I've been holding off on the retouching is that I'm still thinking of adding to it and also getting another. Â S once I decide all that, the first place I'm going is Guru.
Definitely recommend. Â I've been to other places and they just aren't as clean, professional, and welcoming as Guru.
Che was fantastic. I came in and they weren't sure if they had any openings to tattoo me that day but he took down my information and i ended up getting a phone call from him about an hour later saying that someone didn't show up and he would be able to do my tattoo that day.
When I went back, he already had a sketch of what I had described to him earlier. He was really great to talk to and made me feel very comfortable, especially since it was my first one. All of the artists there were so down to earth and were just having a good time. Â
My tattoo came out beautifully. The colors are bright and it also healed perfectly. I couldn't be happier with how it came out.
Okie dokie - as promised an update now that my ink is inked.
My initial feelings about Guru haven't changed a bit. Â The staff are all friendly (well the cat's a little standoffish at times, but she's not really staff either), the place is clean, the artists are down to earth, the atmosphere in the place is pretty mellow but in a fun sort of way. Â I've been in for the artist consultation and then five sessions being tattooed - and I have never been made to feel uncomfortable (well, except for - you know - the pain of being tattoed!) or felt like I made a bad choice getting my tattoo here.
I have one more session to go - for touchups, but my arm is pretty much done at this point. Â I posted a picture, go check it out :)
I got my ink about a year ago, so my review is belated.
In the old days I would have gone and seen Pinky at what is now Dragon Tattoo, but sadly that's not a good idea these days. My friend had his work done at Guru, and it looked good so I decided to go off the reference.
I wanted a very simple design, just some Kanji on my upper back. I printed out the characters in MS word, made an appointment with Shana (Shauna?). She informed me that she was in training and offered to do my ink at a discount. I didn't care about the discount so much, but figured it was a simple thing so it would it was no biggie that she could pratice on me... Yeah, I know... risky, lol.
Anyway, I showed up with my friend and it seems Shana forgot my appointment with her... But she rushed back ASAP and got setup. I think that set me back about 30 minutes. Not a big deal to me, but I was also eating up my friends time. So I take off half a star, though I imagine this is not a regular occurance.
I was impressed at how clean they kept each station, they seem to be meticulous about keeping everything clean, I really appreciate that. It's not just that they kept it clean, but also made it visible to the customer, which would put a germophobe (I am not a germophone though) at ease.
So I handed my design to Shana, and she took it to the manager (don't recall his name). He indicated that he could not the printout I supplied as the copy for the transfer; I didn't expect him to use my print for the transfer anyway, just as a sample instead. I thought he would just write up the Kanji himself based on the strokes in the printout. However instead he tried find the phrase in his books, but he couldn't find them (I knew this would be the case as I picked something obscure).
It was strange, but he said that the Kanji would have to be handwritten, but that he was not able to do it or at least was reluctant to do it. I think he meant that he would have to work with it and I would have to come back, but he did not actually say this it was just my assumption. I was really surprised, but I asked if he was okay with my friend, who is Chinese, drawing it out... he seemed relieved about that. So she wrote out the characters for him, and he modified it a bit to make it more stylin' for a tattoo, and then he made the transfer out of it. Anyway, I just deducted another half-star for not being able to handle that on his own... What if my friend wasn't there?
Anyway, Shana did the deed and it turned out well. I was very satisfied with the result and would not hesitate to recommend them to somebody else. I did deduct a star, half for the tardiness, half for not being able to properly deal with a simple request for two Kanji characters, but I don't feel these were show-stoppers nor do I think it's the typical situation.
I still need to get more work done, and I have no problem going back to Guru for the work. If I do go anywhere else, it's just to try out something new, not anything against Guru.
Thanks for your help Shana.
CHE ROCKS.
From the first day I met this guy, he was the ultimate professional. Â Asked me questions about what I wanted, showed me around the studio, calendered me in immediately for an appointment. Â
The day of the TAT (which I now refer to as my Tattoo Tuesday), I brought in three of my girl friends for moral support. Â The entire time he was inking me, all of us were joking around with Che and the other workers. Â Some F*bombs thrown around here and there, clowning, story telling, and even pregnancy/baby advice (for one of my friends). Â Dave, the owner, even drew in a tattoo (using my imprint) on one of my friends.
For what felt like a prickly needle drilling into my back for two hours (YES IT EFFIN' HURT), I had a pretty awesome time. Â The design came out beautifully (tribal phoenix on the lower left side of my back... as Nam N. would say "my lower left quadrant"). Â Very true to the design I showed him.
Music choice isn't quite top 40s, since they play this weird OM chanting song (which came on at least twice). Â It's supposed to relax the customers, but it only pissed Che off
Che: Why is this F*&% song on again? Â That fool OMs for like 7 minutes straight!
Good times. Â Just watch out for the crazy man that sleeps in the dark hallway to the bathroom.
WOOT! I made it into the Weekly Yelp....
lmao
Which reminds me...
I went back again...
I came back here with a few other cousins and we all got inked by Che.
One got some work on her wrist.
-she took it like a champ...but then again it only lasted 20min tops
The out of towner got some ink down her back.
-hers took a lil longer....but she didn't seem phased by it at all.
And I joined in the pain by getting some down my forearm.
-i didn't cry....too much. ;P
And as usual Che took care of me and mine like we were his own.
Good times!!
Guru was recommended to me by several people so when I went in for a consult, I was confident. I didn't get paired with the person I went in to see, but she recommended Che and I'm so glad she did. Â I chose a cherry blossom branch with 7 flowers that go from my wrist, to the crease in my elbow on the inside of my left arm. As with most tattoos, this piece meant a lot to me, so it was important that the artist understood what I was trying to describe. Che came up with a great design that followed the picture I brought in, but way better as it was custom fit to my arm and style.
I now worship the ground he walks on as Che has a customer for life. I already have plans to go back for 2 more tattoos and I'm looking forward to working with him again. It was a different then the tattoos he usually does, so it was kinda cool that he was looking forward to the outcome as much as I was.
The rest of the staff is hilarious and THANK GOD good music was playing every time I went in. So great staff, very clean environment, Â professional results, and great music playing while you mutilate your body with permanent art via sharp needles. Sounds like a good time to me.
I was finally able to come up with a tattoo meaningful enough to lay on my body for the rest of my days. My grandfather passed, and I wanted to get a tribute tat... I knew right where to go!!! Straight to Guru, a friend of mines had referred me years ago, and when I walked in I was greated by Shana and a gentleman with red hair , who drew out my ideas immediately!
I ended up getting a lotus flower, with a cross coming out of the flower, with script. Shana did my artwork and I was so relaxed that I fell asleep!!! I only have a picture of the outline to share. Everyone gives a wonderful vibe and makes you feel welcome every time!!! At the end of my tat session, i couldnt believe that she was able to bring my thoughts to life!!
I totally recommend Guru, happy Tatting!!!
Nic
Guru Tattoos is awesome! I just got my fist tattoo done there last week by Shana. [I put up photos of her tatting me and my boyfriend in the album]
I was so terrified before she started but the friendly artists, clean relaxing enviornment and awesome music made me feel much more comfortable. She also gave me a bunch of pillows to hold!
See she was doing my tattoo right after they closed to all of the other artists were surrounding me watching but once she told them I felt nervous they backed off and one by one checked on me to make sure I was doing ok. They were all such sweethearts!
As far as my tattoo experience goes, it was much less painful that I though and  everyone made sure I was doing ok and not in too much pain. I got a tribal design with a colorful butterfly on my shoulder blade [I might add that to the album] They also gave me a great price for my design! Did not overcharge at all, honestly I think they undercharged a bit but I'm not complaining. ;) Shana's work came out beautiful! She is a wonderful tattoo artist!
Guru Tattoo is great place for everyone from first-timers to tattoo junkies. They have a clean interior with good music, sterile equipment, comfortable seating [for while you are getting tattooed] and most of all a kick ass staff!
I definitely recommend going here and I am looking forward to having Shana do many more of my tattoos in the future! =)
Came back from Guru. Had a roman numeral done with my friend by Shauna (sorry if i spelled it wrong).
The place is strictly tattoo, strictly cash and strictly appointment. So plan accordingly.
All the artists there are like a big family just having fun tatting people up. They even have a cat running around.
Shauna took a lot of precautions in making everything sanitary which is always a plus.
I would recommend this place to anyone.
I recommend Guru to everyone who's in need of some fresh ink. I've only had one of my tattoos done here, but it will for sure be the only shop I go to in San Jose from now on.
The place is clean, funky and very unpretentious. All the things that are important. Â I've been to quite a few tattoo shops in San Jose and Guru is the BEST. My artist Adrian got exactly what I was going for and I couldn't be happier. The rest of the crew is awesome too. Dave and Shana kept me entertained while we listened to Metallica and Guns & Roses (another testament to how cool the place really is). Â
The only drawback I know of is that it can be pretty busy. I would suggest making an appointment (even for a consultation).
The first is always special, especially if it's an ink )))
a friend of mine had wanted one since she was 15 - oh, i guess you don't know her age, but trust me, it's been awhile. Â When she was finally ready, she spend another year (-s) picking a design and, finally, 6 months to pick a place. Of course, I had to go and hold her hand throughout...
Dawn was wonderful - she calmed her down, made sure she was comfortable, and was always handing her the mirror so that she could see if it was coming out right.
I've gone to so many tattoo parlors with her before she came upon Guru's, I can't overestimate how great it was to be in a clean and friendly place with friendly faces and great art books to leaf through.
I got my latest tattoo here by Ahn. I really like it! He is really good at what he does, specializing in colors, asian art and lettering. I got cherry blossoms with my dad's initial's in old english, done in hot pink. He was nice to chat with during the time I was there, and my tattoo has come out beautful.
Its been two months since I have gotten this tattoo, and I have received TONS and TONS of compliments on it!!!
HIGHLY HIGHLY reccomended.
Dave did an armband on me a few years back. It was exactly what I asked for...I'd have like more of an artistic approach since I have no artistic talent whatsoever, but he was good.
Anally clean place, major plus. Nice people didn't seem stuck up or anything. He was cool the whole 2 1/2 hours of the process and let my friend sit by me and we all talked together.
Good aftercare also.
Side note- I'm getting the tattoo removed now, but not because he didn't do a good job. The ink is coming out evenly and nicely, not like another tattoo I'm having removed (done by someone else)
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