So I'm a little late on writing this, but I definitely wanted to make sure to write one! Â My boyfriend, his brother and I all went to Comic-Con this year and wanted to get our "nerd" tattoos while there. Â This would be my fourth tat, but a first for both of the boys! Â We searched yelp reviews, and found another place that we called, but they were booked, and could only give us an iffy "maybe we can squeeze you in" which I decided was not the experience they should have for their first ink. Â So, we searched more yelp reviews and found Sailor Graves. Â They were friendly on the phone and told us to come on down. Â Parking wasn't too bad- there's a lot right behind them with an easy access walkway, but you do have to pay a few bucks, so have some ones handy! Â When we walked in we were greeted by Sean, who did our tattoos. Â He was super professional and easy to work with! Â There were no snarky comments or anything about us getting "nerd" tats, and they actually recognized the meanings right away! For the boys, we walked in with a roughly (and I mean rough, I'm no artist, ok!) sketched out idea of what they wanted - Sean spoke with them for a few minutes to get an idea of what they were thinking, went to the back to sketch out their design, and came back with something not only way better than what we gave him, and but exactly what the guys were thinking! The guys were super excited at this point and we were all getting pretty stoked. Â My tat was just wording with special font, so we tweaked the things I didn't like about the font, fixed the sizing, and we were ready to go. Â They usually only let one person behind the tattooing area, but since it was the guys' firsts and we were all 3 getting some work, they let us all back and got us comfy with chairs and everything! Â the boys' tats were on their chests, so Sean had them they down and a wrapped table - everything came out of freshly sealed baggies, and was super clean. Â My boyfriend went first, and it turned out amazing! Â They had us go back up to the front between tats while he cleaned the area between each of ours. Â My BF's bro went second, and again great (they got matching tats) My turn came and I got my ribs tatted (worst pain EVER!!) the placement I chose made me jump and twitch throughout most of the sesh, but Sean was able to anticipate when it would happen and hold me down or stop tatting when it would happen - My tat has really thin lines and yet despite all of my jumping & twitching, not a single bit of ink was out of line! Another cool thing which was slightly unrelated, but happened while we were there - while I was getting inked, the boys were chitchatting with another one of the artists, and come to find out, they've climbed with this guy's dad on several occasions! Such a small world, and we left feeling like it was fate to end up there. Also pricing - very good prices, for very good work! Â We only live about an hour from SD, so we will all be going back to Sailor Graves and Sean for our next tats!
Review Source:This was the third place called on Yelp after my husband gave us the idea of having wedding band tattoos on each of us. Granted, this was my first tattoo ever and to top that off, of a man's name! Two things I said I'd never do!!
Well, the third place we talked on phone with was like come on over. I was so impressed by our tattoo artist's, Jason Ross, professionalism and his art work. Lettering is one of the more difficult techniques in tattooing (let alone small size) & he did a fantastic job. Takes a real artist to do that.
Also, my husband decided to get another tattoo on left shoulder which came out nicely.
Highly recommend!!
I was in SD for a weekend trip with my girlfriends, and they decided to end the weekend  with getting tattoos. It was their first time, and they were nervous. Since it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision, we didn't have much time to do extensive research. We had brunch on University avenue, then Yelp'd this place- we walked around the corner, and walked in. We lucked out!
The tattoo artists were just wonderful. They weren't busy at the time, and gave us their full attention. They put my friends at ease, and talked them through the process. The ink came out looking great, and we were very happy with the experience.
Ask for Jason Ross especially- he was very gentle and just a lovely man.
And the price was VERY reasonable!
Walked in hoping to get an appointment, and they took me right then and there. My tattoo artist, Rob, seemed genuinely excited about my idea and was super friendly. The guys were fine with showing me their credentials, which is a big deal to me. I love my tattoo! Rob does such clean lines. I will definitely be back!
Review Source:Tattoo parlor are finicky especially due to the fact that its something that's permanent. I've been to a few here and there but I actually Yelp'ed tattoos and this was the first place that came up. I read the reviews and saw that it had five stars so I figured I'd give it a shot.
The shop is clean, bright with a lot of the artwork actually drawn by the artist who work there. I went on a Saturday afternoon and they weren't busy so I was able to been immediately. My tattoo artist, Gary, was professional and easy to talk to. The other guys in the shop were also great. They were all skilled and talented artist with rapport. My overall experience was fantastic.
Side note, the place is in Hillcrest so parking may be a hassle. It was pretty easy to find though. I will be back for more tattoos!!! These guys rock!!!
I first met the guys at Sailors Grave over a year ago when I came in to accompany a friend who was getting a tattoo. I had never walked into a tattoo shop before and didn't know what to expect. When I first came in, I accidentally knocked over one of their hanging pictures on the wall, and Gary came over and laughed it off and helped me put it back up. The guys in here are extremely nice, they greet every guest, and what stood out to me was how they made a girl like me feel comfortable in such a unfamiliar place! Within the year I have stopped by frequently, and  I have surprised myself by getting my first two tattoos when I thought I never would get one! I was never pressured once to get a tattoo, never asked if I wanted one, but seeing them make such beautiful pieces on others and observing their work made me want to get in on the fun! I never would've considered putting a needle on my skin if I didn't feel comfortable and confident in the artist. What i liked about Sailors Grave is that they have the ability to not only cater to what each client is looking for, but above all else their ability to  Provide a sense of comfort and solace for all guests!
Review Source:I've been meaning to write this for a few months now...so here goes. This place is great! My sister and I have been talking about getting Sister tattoos for years, and finally this year we decided to do it! My sister lives in Temecula and has a 3 kids, so for her to get down to San Diego for a night out is a big deal. In November we decide its time to check off this "sister tattoo" thing. My hair dresser recommended this place so I figured why not. When we walked in everyone seemed really relaxed and were so friendly. I was a little confused why everyone had a koozy in their hand...hmm. Turns out it was their 2 Year Anniversary party! But you know what, they were still willing to do our tattoos. Jason Ross was kind enough to step away from the party to help my sister and I out. We had no pictures or anything, but he drew up something we both loved and did an amazing job! Everyone was so friendly and happy to be celebrating the shops success. I absolutely recommend the shop, and definitely recommend Jason Ross. All around great experience. Thank you! My sister and I love our tatts :)
Review Source:I've been looking for a great place that perfects in the traditional tattoo art and I finally found the right place. I came to this tattoo shop to get two ships on my calves finished and colored in. I told the tattoo artist Sean to put in whatever color he thought would go good with the outline and soon enough. I was in awe and blown the f*** away with how amazing it came out!
Ever since then, I've held myself to be a true and on going client. This shop has a real friendly and outgoing autmosphere. The customer service is on point and I got greeted within 5 seconds of walking in.
Even if you're not into traditional tattoo art, the artists at this shop can draw you up just about anything you want. I highly reccomend this tattoo parlor to anyone.
Nothing but good playing jams, good conversation, and damn good company all day!
So I'm the jerk who took forever to get around to writing a yelp review. Â I went in for a quick tattoo back in February, and these guys were rad. Â I had a great conversation with all the guys in the shop, and was impressed with their knowledge and passion. Â When my funds get a little bit thicker, I'll be back.
Review Source:Finally found a shop in San Diego with a group of really talented artists!! I (poorly) tried to describe my idea for a "Death Before Decaf" tattoo to Gary Koblis & he was able to draw up this fucking AMAZING tattoo for me, even better than expected. I put up a picture, go look at it.
The line work is amazing, Gary is chill as fuck and makes sitting there with him a good time. He'll quote movies and bullshit about old hardcore bands, I was laughing the whole time.
My tattoo is fully outlined, I'll be back in 2 weeks to have it colored in. Seriously though, it's already my favorite piece. I'm only going to Gary from now on. Next, to finish my other sleeve. Then, my ribs and legs.
Don't waste your time & money going anywhere else. You'll just hate yourself later for it, and I'll hate you too.
A few Fridays ago I went in to sailors grave to get a tattoo. My husband had gotten one there a few months ago that came out great. I wanted the same artist who's name is Josh lamb, I gave him the quote I wanted on the top of my shoulder which should have read " shoulders are meant to cry on" I also got a tattoo behind my ear the same day both tatts are relatively small he quoted me at $200 because of the 100 dollar minimum. I was so determined to get these done I didn't worry about shopping around for a better deal. Every guy in the shop handled my quote that I wanted on my shoulder. One put it in the computer to get the font one printed and cut it and another put it throw the scanner. Both my tattoos came out great. EXCEPT my quote was spelled WRONG!!!!!!!!!!! Â Â Â Â Â " Shoulders are ment to cry on " is how my tattoo came out when I realized and expressed my concern about having a permanent misspelled word on my body I was told I would have to pay again to have it fixed or covered he showed no remorse I believe his words were " ummmm unfortunately you'd have to pay for me to fix it" OKAY I understand that he is not the only one to blame I should have checked and checked and then double checked again but honestly I was more worried about shoulders being spelled wrong instead of "meant" . Every ones telling me to sue go in and demand him to fix it but why would I threaten someone and then go get my tatt fixed by the same person. When you get a new tattoo you want to show people Not this one I was extremely embarrassed and it also made me look every stupid trust me I felt stupid... since then iv had it covered with flowers but you can still see the lingering dark black ink of the suffix "ment" THIS SUCKSSSSS if you ever go here MAKE SURE ITS SPELLED RIGHT BEFOR THE NEEDLE HITS YOUR SKIN!!! Lesson learned
Review Source:I've got to say, Gary Koblis is the guy to go to if you want some amazing quality traditional art. His color work is vibrant, his lines are very clean, and he's so easy to work with and sit in front of for extended amounts of time. He's able to piece together an amazing drawing from a few separate ideas, and the way they flow together is just fantastic!
My boyfriend and I went in towards the end of the night, and Gary was wanting to stay after hours, miss an event, just to finish our work. We couldn't appreciate it enough to take that much time from him. The other artists there are so welcoming and friendly, even when my boyfriend went in a second time everyone collaborated on his tattoo which made him feel great since everyone was very into this piece.
We've found our new shop at the grave, and I know we'll be back time and time again for some new ink!
Want a bitchin, QUALITY tattoo??? go to Saiilors Grave....seriously, do it. I finally found this place by recommendation of a friend after searching SD for 2 years trying to find an artist/shop that I jived with.
I went in last night and got another piece done by Gary Koblis...and yet again he rocked my socks with the start of an amazing half sleeve. If you're like me and can't even draw a proportionate stick figure then these guys will totally make translating what you see in your head into an actual tattoo possible. I'm the kind of person that has lots of ideas of what I'd like but has no creavtive capacity to put them together/filter them....Gary is a pro at picking out what elements are most important to me and creating a great piece of art that flows perfectly. Â All the guys at the shop chime in on what the other ones are drawig up too and give input here and there which I think is great. Check out the pics and I'll post ones of both pieces Gary has done for me, they're both fantastic and I can't wait for the newest one to heal!
The shop is clean, welcoming and has tons of the artists' painting/drawings on the wall for you to scope out. Every person I've met there is friendly and it's a douche free environment...my kind of place! The guys are real and have real passion for creating great tattoos on people.
---sidenote----I read a review where someone complained that his artist didn't only speak to him while getting tattooed....really dude??? personally, I want my artist to be focusing on what they're doing and welcome input from other guys in the shop...and also, are you expecting to have constant conversation with someone you just met for 2 hours while they tatto you....what would you have to talk about? your cat fluffy?? in my opinion, screw the small talk. Plus the shop generally has good music on and the side conversations that pop around the shop are hilarious...feel free to chime into them!---end sidenote----
So the bottom line is if you ever find yourself wanting a tattoo, go see these guys. Their prices are fair and you more then get what you pay for. If you'd like a blurry, crooked, thick lined portrait of your mom that looks like Darth Vader then have your buddy do it in his garage, but if you want a great piece of art that you'll love forever then come see the guys at Sailors Grave!
My BFF and I wanted matching tattoos. Â We wanted to walk in, give them a pic (a heart with an infinity sign through it) and have them take care of it quickly. Â The cool thing is that we could walk here from my BFF's house. Â Perfection! Â This happened to be my 3rd tat but it was my BFF's first. Â She was freaking out. Â However, the guys in this shop did a GREAT job calming her nerves and being on top of everything. Â The shop was clean and orderly. Â The artists and workers were super nice. Â They do have a minimum price of $100 (which is what we paid for each of our tats) but that's pretty standard these days. Â I expected it. Â The tat seriously took less than 5 min. Â Very efficient! Â Also, my BFF said it didn't even hurt as bad as she thought it would. Â I'm super happy with the results and would recommend this shop to anyone!
Review Source:I just went in for their Friday the 13th deal and these guys are great! Â Every Friday the 13th they offer a selection of 20 to 30 tattoos for $13 with a $7 dollar tip. Â I'm going back next week to get some more work done. Â Their minimum is $100 but you pay for what you get so that's a small price to pay for the quality work these guys put out.
The entire staff is FRIENDLY...this is not always the case in all tattoo parlors.
I got my first tattoo done there yesterday and all I can say is wow, these guys are amazing. Sean was the guy who did my tattoo and it looks amazing. He was very nice and professional. As far as the price goes it is very reasonable. You get quality work done at a reasonable price. I will recommend this place to anyone who is interested in getting a tattoo.
Review Source:My boyfriend wanted to get his first tattoo and we found these guys here on yelp. When we went in, they were very attentive and accommodating to what he wanted. Sean did the tattoo but a lot of the guys there have been doing it for awhile and had amazing portfolios! We were walk ins and Sean drew it up very quickly and my boyfriend is so happy with how it turned out. The price was really good too so that also won points on our side! Definitely recommend this shop!
Review Source:Looking for a tattoo in San Diego? Look no further...These guys are awesome, clean, friendly, and fun. I always have a good time when Im there which is every two weeks. Sometimes im there more just to hang out. No other shop in like it in San Diego. Award winning artists...check, they have those. If your gonna be happy with something that your going to have for a life, why not go and get the best...
Review Source:This place is Awesome. Its the best place in San Diego hands down. And now they even offer piercings. Im a San Diego native and Sailors Grave is the only place I will ever go. The Artists sincerely want you to leave happy and proud. You are not a dollar sign with legs. No question is dumb and all inquiries are taken in a professional manner. If they are not tattooing they are working on paintings or flash. The place is spic and span clean and the art on the walls and in the cases are one of a kind. Don't miss out on this place you will seriously regret it.
Review Source:Shop was super clean, and all the guys were friendly and informative and professional. They listened well, and worked together with me to create my personal terrific tattoo! Â If you are a chic and want a great tattoo, see Paul. Â I am one very happy customer! Â This is a 5-star shop!
Review Source:I was referred by a friend to see Ryan for body piercing at Sailors Grave Tattoo. Â Ryan is flexible, knowledgeable, and very down to earth; he definitely made me feel at ease and he has reasonable prices! Â Sailors Grave Tattoo has a very calm, clean, friendly, and professional atmosphere; I was taken care of from the moment I walked in, to the moment I walked out. Â I definitely recommend this tattoo shop and I will be back to see Sean for my first tattoo!
Review Source:Awesome place. Every in here is great. I came in for my birthday and they were all very welcoming, which is a good first impression. I instantly felt comfortable and they all helped me figure out exactly what and where. I want to go back today for more!!!! Â I visited all the other shops in the area and am SO glad I chose here. Ross your an awesome cat!!! Thanks!
Review Source:IM NEVER GOING ANYWHERE ELSE FOR A TAT OR PIERCING!!!! Everyone there is super awesome and way talented! They actually pay attention to detail when they're tatting you, especially Paul. Ryan is the most coolest piercer I've ever met! I actually met him in Vegas when he did my first monroe and he fortunately moved to sd! I love how they always have like special deal events like the hearts for homeless and the "Friday the 13th deal", this shop is pretty awesome, if you're thinking of going somewhere else for a tat or piercing, you might wanna think twice!
Review Source:These bro's sling ink like its nobody's business!
Oh, and I'm sure its not the shop owners who are putting stickers "all over Hillcrest". Â You know, they have no control over what their customers do. Â And its actually probably great publicity for their business. Â If it keeps you up at night, I'd suggest you go take down those stickers, or go talk to the business owner yourself....or just keep complaining on yelp, that might work.
I absolutely love this tattoo shop. The guys are very friendly and reasonable with pricing. I went in to get some lettering and went back a week later for another tattoo. Every tattoo I get from now on will be from this parlor. It is in the cutest little area of Hillcrest . I'll recommend this tattoo shop every time
BTW :there is a minimun of 60 dollars for a tattoo
SGTG got me hooked on tattoos. By far the most legit shop in SD. These guys live, eat and sleep tattooing. They AREN'T a bunch of tweakers that bought tattoo machines from China, faked a portfolio and lie about how long they've been tattooing. Gary won 1st and 3rd place in the traditional category at the last San Diego tattoo convention. You'd expect someone like that to charge a ridiculous amount of money for a tattoo but he always hooks it up and if you send alot of customers his way, he doesn't forget it. There's more to tattooing than being a good artist. It's like the difference between a guy who just buys a Harley and a Hell's Angel. Sailor's Grave is the real deal.
Review Source:Hubby and I were tattooed at the tattoo expo late last year by Gary. He was so cool and nice and made us feel super comfortable. We got matching anchor tattoos (because we are each others anchor...LOL...corny I know...don't judge!). I told Gary I wanted color and I allowed him to pick them. I think it's important to allow the artist to be an artist by putting their own special touch to the work. He did amazing job on the coloring with the "worn" metal from the sea. See photo that I added to the gallery. This was right after and my arm was bruised. It was underneath my right arm. The tattoo looks small but it was 6 inches long and almost 3 inches wide. I'm a fan of the "sailor jerry" style and this is something they specialize in. I can't wait to go back for more. Oh and they are pretty reasonable too.
Review Source:This place is awesome. I wasn't tattooed at the shop (it was at a tattoo expo) but Gary did an awesome job. He stayed within my budget while still doing exactly what I wanted.... Which I couldn't find anywhere else. My tattoo is amazing and still bright like the day I got it after almost 3 months. As long as I'm in SD I'll definitely be coming here.
Review Source:This place is the place to go for a great tattoo. The guys are awesome  and some of them are easy on the eyes as well.  They really made me feel comfortable. As a gay man wanting to have tattoos near my " stuff "and being able to talk freely with the guys about what and where I wanted was easy. I was also un sure of some of the details of what I wanted, Gary and his knowledge of what he thought would look good and look right helped me with my design and my decision. I had 2 sessions and I am happy with my 100 stars. I tell everyone I know that is thinking of a tattoo to go see Gary. I know this is the only place that i will go to when I decide on my next art work.
Thanks guys.....
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