Carlos aka slack is amazing!!!! I made an appt with him at 1230 and basically took him the rest of the evening. He did his first tokidoki tat on me that took 2.5 hrs! Did an amazing job! Gave him an idea of what I wanted and he designed something better! Â I also told him my brother and his friend was ready for their first tattoo and was super scared! He talked them both thru it and they both left super happy with their tats! The price is beyond reasonable! The service was great! I would highly recommend Carlos! He makes you feel super comfortable. He is honest with you about what works and what doesn't. He is not about to waste your time or money if something won't stick or look good!
Review Source:I know I'm a lil late having just signed up for yelp and all but, I wanted to show some love to shogun tattoo and the only artist I have been going to for the past 9 YEARS. PETE CASTRO. I have 9 tatts and he has done 8 of my pieces. He is patient, friendly, and funny. I always refer all of my family and friends to him. I constantly get compliments on my work. His color skills are amazing and my first 9 yr old tattoo with him looks just as bright and colorful as my last. I highly recommend Pete if you want an awesome tattoo. You get what you pay for people, and you will pay for quality here.
Review Source:After doing a LOT of research and looking around, I decided on Shogun as the place to get my first tattoo -- great decision! Joe gave me my first tattoo, and despite the fact that I was a really nervous first timer, he was really patient. The tattoo was on my ribs and came out better than I thought! There was a lot of fine lines and it couldn't have turned out better! Naturally, when I decided to get a second, I went back to Joe and this time took my sister with me for her first. Once again, he did a fabulous job! This place is clean, friendly and worth every penny! Even though I haven't had work from the other guys there, they all seemed really friendly and professional. I've been itching for a 3rd piece and I have no doubts as to where I will go once I decide what I want! Thank you Joe!
Review Source:Charles is the man! I got a tattoo from him 2 years ago and was looking to have it touched up a bit. Charles returned my call very quickly and we were able to set something up for the next day. He is so friendly and professional as always, and if/whenever I'm ready for more tattoos, he's the only one in LA that I would go to!
Review Source:Since I've decided not to return to the tattoo shop where I got my first arm piece, I've been researching locations in person and online and happened upon Shogun on Yelp. Many of the artists had good work but since I wanted a black and grey tattoo, I chose Joe Reno because I checked out his book at the shop and he had some good black and grey work. I talked with him briefly that day and showed him a picture but since it was pretty small, he suggested I try and get a better, clearer picture. When I returned a couple weeks later, I put down a very reasonable deposit of $40 and was able to schedule an appointment with Joe for the next week. I had to reschedule my appointment and this was easily handled over the phone. It seems like a good time to point out that the guys at this shop I interacted with all seemed really cool--laid back but professional with no attitude. My boyfriend, who came with me when we visited the first time, noted the same thing.
One of the reasons I was looking for a different artist was that I felt my previous guy was really unprofessional--on my last touch up, I waited two hours for him to start! Joe was refreshingly punctual and came out with my sketch within about 5 minutes of my arrival. He scaled it down for me a bit and within 20 minutes was beginning my tattoo. Even though I think the time he spent was more than an hour, my total including deposit was only $150, which I think is the hourly rate. I was really happy about the price and, most importantly, the result. My tattoo,located on my upper arm, came out just like the image I brought in. I'm very pleased with the work and professionalism of this shop.
About 7 years ago, a friend recommended Joe at Shogun for my first tattoo. He did a great job, and the shoulderblade tattoo I got still looks great, so when I was finally ready to get my second one yesterday, I knew where to go. I didn't have an appointment, but I brought a simple, small design with me. Pete had wrapped up a previous appointment early, and was willing to fit me in on such short notice.
I was pretty nervous, despite it being my second tattoo, because the design had really fine lines and was in such a prominent place (my wrist), but Pete did an incredible job. It looks fantastic and it actually turned out even better than I expected.
Pete was also incredibly friendly and personable - not that it would have mattered to me, frankly, as long as my tattoo came out well, but it really was the icing on the cake.
If you're looking to get a tatt, I'd recommend Shogun hands down.
I have to start off by saying, I'm not one to write reviews unless the experience was beyond exceptional. Tattoos are something that stick with you for life, and when you look back on your first tattoo you appreciate the work, but more importantly remember the experience. Shogun Tattoos is truly the place to go if you want both quality work and service that makes you feel right at home.
With that, they get a 5 star rating for service, atmosphere, fair pricing, and most of all, quality work. Just from conversation alone, Tony and Andrew are really awesome guys, but from personal experience, I can only truly speak for JOE RENO- he is the man!
I tagged along with my best friend to get my first tattoo. I have to admit I went into it not knowing who my artist would be, but thank god it was JOE. To keep it short, my first experience was so great with him, that I had to come back for more. My first tattoo was a simple phrase along my ribcage (under-boob), and being that I was shirtless, he still managed to make me feel comfortable, which is very important. We talked like friends, which made the process a lot less painful.
I recently got my second tattoo by JOE, which really exemplified his talent. Prior to actually getting the tattoo, I came in person to share my ideas. He was able to book me within the same week, and on top of all that, he even kept in touch via text, keeping me posted with picture messages of his rough sketches and taking my thoughts into consideration. That is something I truly appreciated. As always, the tattooing part of it, while painful, was made easy because of how f*cking awesome Joe is. He knew exactly what I wanted, and my results are astounding. He is a true artist and a genuine person. Days later, he was kind enough to check up and see how my tattoo was healing. Do yourself a favor and go to Joe, and make sure you tip him well because he truly deserves it, just like everyone else at Shogun.
I'll be back for more :)
Great quality of Tattoo! Great service, very honest, and professional! I had Charles, he charged $80 minimum, slightly pricey compared to a lot of other places, which usually charge on average from 60-70, but it totally worth it!! If you're getting your first tattoo, I highly recommend this place because they spend a lot of time teaching you how to take care of your tattoo, and what to expect days and weeks after getting the tattoo.
Review Source:Pete Castro, you are the BEST. I have been searching far and wide for THE place and THE person I trust to do my first tattoo and I am SO SO happy that I chose this place. I was really worried about regretting what I wanted and I hear so many stories about how the tattoos don't turn out right. But I am 100% in love with mine. Pete was so patient with me and he made sure that whatever he drew for me, would match what I ultimately wanted. I'm not one to settle and he did not disappoint. I was so nervous that I was practically shaking as he was working on me. He offered to stop and wait for me to breathe and everything. Pete, Â I LOVE YOU.
Review Source:Come here for cover ups and see Charles! Â
Great work, done fast and reasonably priced. Â Appt availability was open and the shop was clean. Each tattoo artist has a separate room so that you don't have to worry about anyone staring at you from over the counter or through the front window like most tattoo shops. No big ego's, talented and friendly staff. Already planning next cover up with Charles in the near future.
I am a 48-year old professional and recently got my first tattoo from Charles at Shogun tattoo. Shogun has a great vibe and I was especially enamored with their studio - each artist has his own private workspace.
I asked Charles to do my tattoo because I liked his portfolio (it reminded me of my scuba diving days) and because he had a great vibe - just like the shop itself. I met briefly with Charles three times before the tattooing session to go over my design.
Did it hurt? Yes, yes it did. But after about five minutes, the pain became bearable. My tattoo, about the size of a hockey puck, was placed on the inner aspect of my forearm. It took about an hour from start to finish. I'm writing this review at the three-week mark and I am very very happy with this tattoo.
Getting a tattoo has been a great adventure and the momentary discomfort is absolutely worth it, IMHO. I highly recommend Charles and Shogun Tattoo.
Charles did my tattoo last weekend. Â It was the third one he did for me. Â
It hurt like hell, but thankfully Charles was his usual efficient self and finished it fast. Â I'm still amazed at how fast he finished a rather detailed piece. Â Even though it's still in the healing process, it looks beautiful; he did a great job. Â
Whenever I decide on my next piece, Charles at Shogun will be my go to guy.
I went back in May to get my very first tattoo. Â A portrait of my late daughter on my back/shoulder. Tony Action did an amazing job. Â It looks just like the picture. Â Tony you are an amazing artist and amazing friend for doing this for me. Â I'm proud to walk around with this piece of art on my body. Â I would definitely recommend this place for people looking for amazing artists!!!
Review Source:So I finally entered the world of tattoos last week, and after checking yelp thoroughly, I decided Shogun would be the place to start my journey. I went in with a few pictures and met my future artist Tony to book an appointment. He was real swell and gave some great suggestions to perfect the tattoo that would soon be on my skin permanently.
The actual process, a few days later, was nothing short of fantastic. I got Alkaline Trio themed prayer hands on my right arm, and Tony did a great job. He was very personable and friendly, and it was very courteous of him to continually check how I was handling the process, offering breaks and such. The tattoo came out wonderful, the price was fair, and the healing process has been easy and generally painless.
As to the shop, the vibe is really cool. It was relaxed but professional, and everyone seems to be in generally great spirits, with great music constantly playing in the background.
Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better place or artist for the first tattoo, and it's safe to say when the savings build up again, and I get the itch, I will be continuing my journey with Shogun.
Just got inked by Joe a few weeks ago. Â My hubby got his half sleeve from Joe as well. Â We're both extremely satisfied, me especially. Â The thing I loved about Joe is that he's quick. Â Got a long ass quote on my side from the rib cage area down to my hip. Â Hurt like a bitch I tell ya. Â Joe was very precise and hardly went over anything. Â He knew I was in pain so he really concentrated and got down to business. Â He managed to finish my tattoo in just under 2 hours and it looks great. Â No touch up needed at all. Â Joe's awesome and extremely professional. Â I would definitely go back to Joe for another tattoo when I've forgotten how painful it is.
Review Source:I am so glad I went to this place to get my work done about a month ago. Â It was nice to be in a private room and my all color tattoo (A tribal sea-turtle with plumeria flowers on my side) came out beautifully. Â Everyone who has seen it has said the same thing. Â "Wow, that's beautiful"! and "Where did you get it done?" Â
I had a 4 hour session with Pete Casto. He turned a photograph of some plumerias and a print out of a tribal sea turtle and blended them together very nicely. The tattoo was better than what I had imaged. Â He suggested I highlight it with some blue, and I loved that, too. Â I was comfortable the entire time. Â He had some fun stories to tell and was really easy to talk to. Â It made it easy to deal with the pain. Â I also felt the price was reasonable.
This tattoo was my second one. My first one was smaller and only took 45mins, so the jump to 4 hours was huge, but it was a good experience.
I should also mention my boyfriend went the next day to get a tattoo from Carlos. Â His tattoo and experience was great too!!
I highly recommend this shop!
I had my Sanskrit tattoo done on my inner arm. Â I am extremely happy with the work done by Carlos Almeida. Â I was somewhat nervous about finding a good tattoo artist who knows exactly how I want to have the word and the size done right. Â Carlos did exactly how I would imagine the symbol of the "Om" in Sanskrit look on my arm. Â I recommend him to anyone who is looking for an artist to do Sanskrit. Â It looks amazing! Â Thank you, Carlos for your great work.
Review Source:First time at this shop, was referred by my friend and his brother in law. Â I have to say the staff was great, shop is clean and rooms are private so you don't have to worry about everyone looking at you for those who like privacy. Â Got inked by Charles who did a great job could not have been more satisfied with the end result.
Review Source:Amazing!
I just got my Tattoo yesterday I was totally impressed by the experience. I felt welcome  from the minute I walked in and I felt the prices were good and better than I expected. My Tattoo artist Andy made me feel totally relaxed and he did a professional job on my tattoo; to the point of making sure to take his time and make something I would be proud of. I would recommend Andy and Shogun to anyone looking to get a tattoo
Took my sister here for her 18th birthday present. We spent some time looking online and thought Tony's stuff was awesome. I for sure don't think we could have picked a better artist. He was so professional, explaining everything to us since we were tattoo newbies. He showed us places on his own tattoos where he could best explain how a tattoo changes as we age, an told us how to best avoid it. The feather that he created looks so realistic! Well worth the money for cleanliness, fun attitude, professional nature, and beautiful art. :)
Review Source:LOVE THIS PLACE! I used to go to um let's say rhymes with Inflictions (that's a review all in its self ugg), best thing outta there was TONY, I followed him here! (smart move my man). Â I had several old tattoos that he covered PERFECTLY and now he's adding more. I tell him what I want and show pics and he creates these pieces of art. I've healed great EVERYTIME!
Review Source:I have to agree with the other reviews. I had a great experience here because my tattoo artist was quick and professional. The place is also clean and there are private rooms so that people aren't looking at you while you're getting tattooed. If you want to get tattooed by the same guy who tattooed Jessica Alba, ask for Charles!
Review Source:After reading the reviews and seeing nothing but a 5-star rating, I was dying to check this place out.
I had called the day before to ask if appointment was necessary. They said it wasn't and that an artist should definitely be available, so I told then i'd walk-in about 1. Once I got there, they said no one would be available to see me until 7. I was so set on writing the first negative comment for this place, 'cus I had driven 40 miles to come here.
But, the service was great. Not outstanding like I predicted from reading reviews, but pretty good. I brought in a friend to talk me through my two-hour long session, but Pete managed to still talk to both of us comfortably and do great work, asking if I needed stretch/water breaks every so often. I didn't think my dreamcatcher tattoo would take that long, so I was kind of worried about the $150/hour rate. But in the end, the total turned out to $180 (including a rather generous tip), for this hugeass beautiful dreamcatcher tattoo on my left thigh. This alone deserves the 5 stars.
Next time, I'd definitely make an appointment though. Lucky for me, Old Town Pasadena isn't far, and 5 hours of shopping chipped away at the anxiety.
Shogun Tattoo is a great tattoo shop and I highly recommend it! Joe was the artist who did my tattoo and it's great! Everyone here is really friendly and the place is nice and clean. Joe talked to me the entire time and made me feel comfortable. I'm sure the other tattoo artists are great, though, but I had a very good experience with Joe. The pricing was also fair - you really do get what you pay for! If you're in search of a place to have a tattoo, this is the place.
Review Source:A few days ago, I went to Shogun for my first ever tattoo-- my daughter's name on my upper arm. Â I first spoke by phone with Pete who was very helpful but couldn't fit me into his schedule on that particular day. Â He referred me to Joe who was able to accommodate me that evening. Â A few hours later, I was there getting inked. Â In addition to being an incredibly cool and down to earth guy, Joe very simply does excellent work. Â
I honestly could not be any more satisfied with my new tat. Â If you are looking for a studio that has a clean environment with talented and professional artists, I strongly recommend Shogun. Â In fact, if I ever decide to get more work done, I would not go anywhere else. Â This is my spot.
i'm writing this review to make sure Shogun doesn't receive anything less than 5 stars overall.
Andy did my tattoo on my upper back this past June, and I've been receiving many compliments since then. He's very professional, humble, and most importantly, knows what he's doing. After 2 hours of horrific pain (ok..im exaggerating), I left him a 20% tip. He gave me a Shogun t-shirt as a token of his appreciation. Since I was a tat noob, he was patient with me when discussing the after-care process. I'll definitely refer to Andy if any of my friends decide to get ink'ed up or if I decide to get another piece soon. For my piece, he charges  $150 per hour for a total of 2 hours.
Shogun is as good as they come!!
I can't believe I didn't review this place before. Â I've been searching for a tattoo shop to stick with and I finally think I found one.
I got my third tattoo covered up here by Charles some time last year. Â The original tattoo was a fucked up bee that I got done at Pico Indoor (well, it's my fault. Why I got a tattoo at a swap meet to begin with is beyond me). Â I went here after looking on Yelp and seeing how great they were, so I went in and made an appointment. Â
Charles is great. Â He covered up my chweck bee with a COMPLETELY better looking bee. Â What I loved most was that he really took charge and put his own personal skills to use. Â I just chose a picture of a bee and he went to work, adding colors I didn't even expect. Â It's great! Â You cant even see the original tattoo (thank god). Â And man was it cheaper than I thought. Â Considering the size of my tattoo and colors used, I really thought I was looking at $120. Â But no, just $80.
Im definitely coming back here again within the next month or two. Â I was going to come here originally for my most recent tattoos, but stupid me went to another shop and now I need more covering up.
Went here back in January, and treated myself for my very first tattoo for my 18th birthday. Â When I first walked in my nerves got to me and I was so close to walking out then I met with Pete Castro and he was very hospitable and outgoing. Â We joked around and it was interesting to get to know more about his work and customers. Â I absolutely LOVE how it came out and after six mos. I STILL adore it and have no regrets.
I want to thank Yelp for helping me decide on where I should go, especially since I did not know anything about tattoos. Â And remember a cheap tattoo is NEVER a good quality one, so decide wisely !
Very friendly, artistic, patient, professional. Had the pleasure of getting a small tattoo from Joe and a larger two session piece from Charles. Very happy with their work and felt very comfortable throughout the experience. Very reasonably priced- tip these guys, they work hard and are very talented! Looking forward to getting touch ups and additional work done in the years to come.
For a detailed piece covering the outside half of my upper sleeve it ran me $300 for lines and $350 for color (6 hours or so total).
Thai restaurant next door is ok and Game Empire board game shop is in walking distance- good way to heal up.
Andy is super patient with newbies, even though I'm sure he's rolling his eyes on the inside. Calm, professional and very, very patient, he's a true artist who will collaborate with you on your design and turn it into something unique and unexpected. He makes art. Shop is clean and reputable and a low key vibe. Perfect for first timer and vets alike. They know what they're doing, so listen to all advice they give you.
Review Source:i can't praise this man enough. Â andy moore is a king amongst men. love his demeanor and work ethic.
i initially came in to finish off my jazzy ladies piece, which is long overdue (tough year) to be finished. but the accident i had, put my leg out of comission, so i decided to start up another project and andy made it happen.
i came in with an idea, he made a sketch. i liked where it was going. my appt was just a couple days away, he already had a final draft of the piece, which i completely fell in love with. so we get started. a couple hours later, bada bing bada boom. piece done. it was a pleasant experience too. i like the arms area better than the legs, tickles less lol.
any who, helluva of a job by andy again. can't wait til my leg heals up, so he can put the finishing touches on that masterpiece.
pictures coming soon after the healing =)
I've always wanted a half sleeve; I decided to get one as a college graduation gift to myself. Â I never realized I had to dedicate a lot of time in researching what I wanted and to choose the right person for the job.
After going to several different shops and speaking with many artists, I decided to go with Charles from Shogun Tattoo. Â Right when we started talking, I knew he was the tattoo artist I wanted. Â He was very friendly, down to earth, straight forward, and knowledgeable about traditional Japanese art work. Â Also after looking at his portfolio, I fell in love with some of his Japanese pieces he did on previous clients.
He charges $100-$150/hour with a $50 deposit to have a sketch done. Â I enjoy the fact that he is very easy to get a hold of via phone/text. Â We communicated several times before the sessions regarding what I want changed/added.
I have several more sessions to go, but so far I am more than satisfied with Charles. Â I definitely can see myself going to him for future tattoos.
(note:  my half sleeve is of a Geisha. You can see it in  my profile pics.)
I went here about 3-4 years ago... It being my first time, the service was wonderful.. the guys were really friendly and patient with me... the pricing was standard and the shop and tools were very clean...
I do suggest for anyone going... trust you instincts and be sure to do your research thoroughly!! especially if you are getting anything that is in a language you don't know fluently!!! It'll be on your body FOREVER!!
AMAZING!!!
Just got my tattoo today... four roses on my side/back.. amazing work by Joe!! I had concerns with the placement of the stencil and he kept redoing it until I felt it was right.
The detail of the roses is gorgeous and I'm glad he was able to put a twist on the design I had given him as an example of what I wanted.
Joe is so nice and patient in addition to a talented artist.
Exciting decor in the rooms and good ambience.
Definitely recommend this shop!!!
This place is so awesome!
My friend and I came in to get some work done and we ended up talking to Andy. He was SUPER friendly and nice and professional and gave us a lot of good suggestions. It was my friend's first tattoo so he was super patient with her and explained everything about the pain and aftercare. Our tattoos came out really good! This shop is really clean and sterile and has a chill vibe to it. I would definitely come here again and recommend this place too all of my friends. Ask for Andy.
I was ready to get another tattoo and got in touch with Andy he was so busy he recommened me to Zach- I went in met with him and he fit me in the next day- I had a picture but was looking forward to his ideas to and together we got started on my full color forearm tattoo- he was focused but funny and he made it a great 2 hours!!! I am looking forward to doing my peacock tattoo next and will now looking forward to Zach being my guy! Â Thanks Andy for the great recommendation!
Review Source:I came in to make an appointment with Charles. I decided to treat myself to my own birthday present, a tattoo nearly half the size if my arm. Charles was very patient and we talked about what I wanted to do with the tattoo design. I gave him over a week or so to come up with a sketch and when I came back for the appointment he showed me what it looked like. I also decided to be more adventurous by asking for a slightly larger version of the design he made. It took about 3 hours and my tattoo ended up looking AMAZING and COLORFUL!
I definitely recommend this place, as well as Charles! Since he's really great at fish and octopi, I might get another one in the near future! Shogun is also clean and the guys are nice, which is a plus :)
Okay, so I was a 51 year old tattoo virgin. And my mom was a 73 year old tattoo virgin. Then we met Zach Johnson. We had a basic idea of what we wanted for our mother/daughter ankle piece. We spoke with Zach, gave him our thoughts and he disappeared to his cave and came back with drawings that were very close to what we wanted. He was open to our "tweeks" in the design and came up with a final design. Then he got busy right away setting up the room and his color palette. An hour later Mom and I walked out so excited to show the world our ink.
Mom lives in ATL. After her tattoo had healed, she decided she wanted one part filled in with more color. We went back to Zach last week while she was here visiting and he was very accommodating in getting her in to the studio and amping up her color.
HIGHLY recommend ZACH.
I got my first tattoo by Andy Moore at Shogun, and I could not have been more pleased with the experience. He's not only an incredible artist, he's a great tattoo artist, meaning that he listens to you. He makes sure that you're happy, and that makes him happy.
I came in with a fairly vague idea of three leaves with some kind of background element, and we corresponded through email to get the concept just right. So, when I came in for my appointment a few weeks later, the sketch he drew up just blew me away...and that wasn't even the final stencil. He tweaked it here and there, and the stencil looked fantastic. It was exactly how I pictured it in my head. If not better!
Pain tolerance is subjective, but let's say that I toughed through as much as I could. The tattoo was placed over my shoulder which Andy explained is one of the more sensitive areas. Outlining wasn't too bad, but shading was a bitch. Andy was so great as to reading how my body was responding and suggested making a second appointment for the color. Yes, please.
Andy spoke everything in plain English. There's not a pretentious bone in his body. He was thorough and clean, and he was also a great guy to just talk to. After the tattoo was done, he went over aftercare with me and he didn't try to push any products. He just gave me simple, to-the-point instructions.
Shogun in itself doesn't have a lot of flair on the outside, but that's okay. I would much rather prefer to have a clean environment than something flashy. All the artists have their own separate rooms that allow a certain level of privacy, and all the artists and managers are super nice and talkative.
And as far as pricing goes, they always say that you get what you pay for. And I got a really lovely, high quality tattoo with excellent service. You can put two and two together.
My black and grey leaves are healing up nicely. And my coloring appointment is in a month, and I really can't wait.
Zach Johnson is an amazing dude. Not only is this the guy that you need to see if you want a REAL and SOLID tattoo. This man and i successfully have hunted for Sasquatches in the greater northern Monterey peninsula.
Zachs working on my back piece from knee to neck and a half sleeve and a big piece on my neck.
Every single person that see's either has dropped their jaw and or panties. Zach has such an awesome understanding of design and respect for other art styles. No matter if you want a huge large scale Japanese chest piece or a butterfly behind your ear. He just "gets it" I think thats something that has totally gone the wayside with tattooers recently, driven by making cash and being cool will not make you a good tattooer.
I have worked in shop for some years as a body piercer and was blessed to work side by side with Zach for a good year or so. He truly is a gem. If you live in the so cal area you have no idea how lucky you are. Look him up. If its your first tattoo or your 57th Zach will do you right.
Stand up dude!
ZACH JOHNSON IS MY ARTIST FOR LIFE!!!!!! I'm a classy lady. I like nice things. I need an artist who takes this serious and is not afraid to say "You might consider....." The thing I love about Zach is the fact he can do an amazing portrait in one session, a traditional style on the next and still come back and slap on a sweet flower when I feel all lady like. If you take what you do serious and want to have the best in life then please go see Zach, help the world be a more lovely place one amazing tattoo at a time.
Review Source:I've been getting tattooed by Charles for about ten years (or more) and can say that his work is always stellar. I have a few separate back pieces that I'm going to be integrating soon and I couldn't be more excited. The shop itself is very neat and clean and the separate rooms for each artist really help make your tattoo experience that much more comfortable and private. If you're looking for a new artist come here - Charles never disappoints (I'm sure the other guys are also good, but he's the only one I ever go to).
Review Source:Truthfully, I was a little sketched out upon first entering Shogun. I got my first tattoo in a real bougie place in Montreal, so the unpolished look of Shogun kind of threw me off. I should, however, be reprimanded for judging a book by its cover - what Shogun lacks in aesthetic value it makes up for in customer service and quality.
I made an appointment with Charles after reading yelp reviews which raved about how great he is - and I was definitely not disappointed. He was real laid back, not pushy at all even though it was near closing on a Saturday night, and took the time to talk out my design and how it would look on different parts of my neck. Although it was a simple design (music notes) he didn't deride my insistence on perfection.
Although the minimum price was a little high, I was glad to pay it (and heavily tip) for the quality and overall experience. I absolutely recommend Charles at Shogun.
I have been going to Joe Reno for years and he doesn't cease to amaze me. Â Joe is a great listener when it comes to truly understanding what I want and what my motivation is for my new tattoo. Â He considers what type of person I am with what I have in mind. Â He can do that b/c I've been going to him for so long. Â I'm committed to him. Â He is kind, funny, smart and an all around good person. Â Therefore, Shogun Tattoo is the place to be for your tattoo needs.
Review Source:Shogun is great. Â Got my tattoo done here by Pete. Â He was very accommodating and friendly, both with creating the tattoo and fitting me in. Â Since he was booked, he said he'd let me come within the next few days if someone flaked, which someone did so I got started with the tattoo right away. Â He also did a drawing of the tattoo and showed me before we started. Â I didn't think it was big enough so he made it bigger, and was super nice about it.
Even though he doesn't press hard with the needle, since this was my first tattoo, I wasn't accustomed to how much it hurt. Â By the third or fourth hour of the shading, I wanted to run into a corner like a scared baby. Â But I talked to Pete about it, and he was super nice and made me feel comfortable about the whole situation. Â He made sure in all my subsequent visits to ask how I was doing. Â (I know it's a tattoo and it's supposed to hurt but like whoa).
Overall, my tattoo took about 20 hours over five sessions and Pete was awesome about fitting me in and doing a great job. Â The place is also clean and everyone seems nice.
Check out their website if you want to see the artists' work or for more information.
Parking abounds.
I can't believe I haven't wrote about this place. Looking at amazing the photos of work on hear speaks for the place! I had my tat done by Sal because it was black and white and he was really sweet. It was my first tat and he was really understanding. He did a touch up for free and told I could come get touch ups whenever I needed it.
And it turns out my friends got tats done here too. I always bump into to someone that gets one done here.
I feel the prices are decent compared to some place that charge way more money! The quality is good and it's good atmosphere. I can't wait to come here again.
I have been getting tattooed for the last 17 years, with the majority of my work done in the last 6 years by Andy Moore of Shogun tattoo. So with some level of experience I can honestly give Andy and the crew at shogun my highest recommendation and is the only studio I would recommend to my friends and family.
The shop itself is extraordinary clean and has very relaxed atmosphere with no signs pretentious or "artist attitudes". They are all just really good down to earth artist who only interest is giving a great experience with the exact tattoo you desire.
My experience with Andy has been exemplary while tattoos do hurt it has been my experience that Andy has very light hand in comparison to other artist I have worked with. All my work has been a combination of pictures I have brought in and idea's that have been drawn by Andy and with my entire back nearly completed to say I am happy with his work would be an understatement.
Basically if you want a great tattoo done by professionals in a relaxed environment, I again cannot recommend Andy and shogun tattoo enough.
All I can say is Andy-you rock!!! Â I could say more of course, and I will- On 6/1/09, Â I was referred to Shogun by Incognito - who didn't 'have time' for my tattoo or me but 'Thank You Incognito' for sending me to Shogun!!! Â I called, spoke with Andy, and got exact directions so as not to go to the shop right near them, and when I got there - Andy was ready and really nice about getting me in on such short notice. Â I usually bring my own 'artwork' for my tattoos so I showed him what I wanted, he made it way better than the pic. I had, and 1 hour later it was done and PERFECT!!! Â
I visit CA 1 or 2 times a year and wanted a regular shop to go to whenever I visit. Â I am so happy with Shogun and Andy that I will return on my next visit and will send anyone there in a heartbeat. Â He is a pro at what he does, very nice & pleasant, and just overall great. Â The shop is clean & comfortable. Â The price was more reasonable than I expected and I just think that there should be 10 stars instead of 5 because they would get 10 from me....I take my tattoos very seriously and I am glad I found a shop that is serious and awesome.
Thank You Andy!!! Â See you next year or sooner if possible.
my boyfriend and i have been coming here to get our tattoos done even before we met! (interesting side story: we both happened to be in the shop on the same day over a year ago; i recognized him from school. i brought this up with him later and he remembered!)
i had my first tattoo done by sal. i had to go back to get it retouched, but it was no big deal. sal was really friendly and would talk to me while he was working on me, which i didn't mind at all. i think it made me less nervous too.
since meeting my boyfriend, i switched to his tattoo artist, pete. pete's been working on filling up my boyfriend's arm, and all the tattoos look amazing. he's super friendly and calls a day in advance to confirm the appointment. he's always booked months in advanced too. pete's not a huge talker like sal, and he made me feel comfortable and relaxed.
i went in a month ago to watch my boyfriend get some work done, and wanted to make an appointment for mine. our next available date was april 3rd, but, seeing that i was a bit disappointed, pete said that he could pencil me in for the following day, because the customer for that appointment hadn't returned any of his calls. i called him the next day and he told me she didn't show up so he told me to come right in.
by the time i got there, the woman did come (it was a misunderstanding, won't get into it), but she was nice and let me use a bit of her time to get my small tattoo. i felt bad because it was putting a lot of pressure on pete, but he remained patient, drew up my tattoo quickly, put up with my readjustments, and got to work. it came out really well, and i thanked him for doing this pretty last minute tattoo for me.
there's a $80 min., just a heads up. the space is clean and well lit, and all the artists have their own private rooms (sal's space is open but it's upstairs), so privacy is not an issue here and was a huge bonus for me.
I have been getting tattooed by Andrew Moore at Shogun for 7 years now. The quality of work is amazing. I have referred many clients to Shogun and none of them have been disappointed by any of the artists with the work they got. All of the artists there are highly talented artists and are friendly and professional.
Oh and each tattoo artist has their own room and you get plenty of privacy.
I went to Charles who was really friendly, nice guy. I think there minimum price is alittle high, especially for something small, but i support them because they give a shout out to Victory Tattoo in Chico, Ca whom i Luv! Overall, i didn't go here for the atmosphere, but Charles was pretty cool and i'd recommend him to anyone looking for fine lines with black ink.
Review Source:I got my first tattoo here back in October, done by Andrew Moore. I can tell you now I'm not going anywhere else, ever, for ink. My sister set up appointments for us because I was in San Diego, so I corresponded by Andrew entirely by email. I emailed him a picture that I wanted to work off, and although it was small and low-quality, which I apologised for, he was able to make a great sketch. The lineart and coloring took less than 2 hours, and he was really kind the whole time, talking to me to keep my mind off it and answering my stupid questions.
My sister got a gypsy head tattoo of our mom done at the same time by Joe Reno and he captured our mom's profile perfectly. She went back a second to get it coloured and the quality of the work is impeccable. Both the artists are really professional and ready to answer questions about their art for the curious, like us, even annoying stuff like what they're doing next, how they clean the needle, how different colored inks work, etc.
The studio is really clean and there are individual booths for each artist. The back office has tacked up lineart sketches of tattoos they've done for other customers and it's really interesting to see the variety in everyone's work. Their website has samples of all the artist's work and was how I chose Andrew. I've recommended this place to my friends as well and some have already set up appointments and gotten work done here as well.
This shop is "as good as it gets!" Â You'll be impressed with the great , professional atmosphere and the talented (friendly) artists. Â You won't find attitude, posing, or drama--just staight up good people and great art. Â Andrew Moore has done all my work here and he is an awesome talent and genuinely nice person. Â Go there now and check it out!
~Ken
Where I got my first tatt 3 years ago. No complaints here, Big Joe was really awesome and worked with me on what i wanted. Even though mine was really simple, I don't feel like he skimped on me. They even allow free touchups for your tattoo, I think, except I haven't been able to go back. If I were in the area again, I definitely would.
The studio looks nice inside and is clean and professional. They do your tattoo in a private room which is nice. Cost is $50 minimum.
Clean, friendly atmosphere. Â Excellent artists here. Â I was recommended to go here by a friend who gets tattooed by Andy. Â His color work is great, but I opted to have Charles Belnavis as my artist instead, whose black and white work is simply amazing. Â
Just look at the tattoo I got, it's sick!
go to <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shoguntattoo.com&s=e440ea6467fde8656023da573867c607fb03ae77a47d361bfdcb34a9a39bbcb0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.shoguntattoo.…</a>
click Charles Belnavis
bottom right of his tattoo section, black and white lion looking thing....Thanks Charles!
when i moved back to california i searched high and low for a tattoo artist and then i found andy moore. he is amazing. andy is super talented, smart as a whip, and very funny. he's been tattooing me for 9 years.
the shop is very clean and all the artists have their own private rooms. you can't go wrong with any of the guys at the shop. joe, pete, charles, andy or sal. they are all very talented, and very professional.
Both my husband and I have been going to Shogun Tattoo for over five years and have spent many hours under the needle getting extensive tattoo work.
We have always been thrilled with our tattoos. Â The colors are bright, intense and beautiful, the outlines are clean and sharp and the overall artistry is amazing.
Joe, Andy, Pete, Charles and Sal are all friendly and professional  artists with a wealth of experience and talent.  Whether you are getting your first tattoo or one of many, they will ensure that your experience is a good one and that your tattoo is every bit as awesome as you hoped for.
Shogun is a hidden jewel of a tattoo shop, they are not so famous (yet) as to be out of reach financially or to require long waits to get an appointment, but their tattoo work is some of the best you will see anywhere and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere makes for a truly great tattoo experience.
I got my first tattoo done by Andrew about 12 years ago back when he was working out of this shop in Old Town Pasadena. I instantly fell in love with his work. Â Every year I would go back to get some work done. (YAY FOR TAX REFUNDS)
It was that time of year again, so I went back just to find out that Andrew and some of the other guys no longer worked there. I asked if anyone knew where he went. Of course NO ONE KNEW and they were also RUDE.
I wanted to cry! WHAT WOULD I DO?? WHERE WOULD I GO??  At this point  I didn't trust or was willing to get work by anyone else.
Luckily, my savior, AKA Jenn mentioned this new tattoo shop that recently opened. So after doing my homework I found out that Andrew and the other guys opened a new shop in the area! WOOHOO!
OK, so why is this place so special? First of all the artist are damn good at what they do! Â They are all truly gifted. Â Second, they are professional, friendly, and make you feel comfortable. Â They don't make you feel like a "newbie." Â Third, the shop its self makes you feel comfortable. Its clean and each artist has a private room. (unlike the old shop)
Yes, you might have to wait a couple weeks to get work done, but its so worth it. Â There's a reason why these guys are always booked!
Shogun Tattoo is amazing! I went to Pasadena, originally planning on getting a tattoo at Resurrection Tattoos, which is 2 blocks down from Shogun. But the people at resurrection were not helpful and the place was dirty. DON'T GO THERE! I drove down and spotted Shogun Tattoo and decided to give it a try. I walked in, the place is clean and private and the people are so nice and helpful. I told Charles what I wanted and he pulled up a design in 5 minutes. It was my first tattoo and I'm super pleased with it. It was fast, and the tattoo is so artistic and the price was reasonable. You don't have to worry about being out in the open, each artist has their own room and if you bring a friend along, they can come in too. I think making an appointment would be best but I walked in and luckily, Charles had just been canceled on. Check out their website to see their work!
Review Source:Honestly can only speak about Big Joe Reno. He did one of my tatts way back when he was with another shop, but I followed him here to get my stars done on my back when I was ready. I'd seen so much of his work all over the body of a friend, that I knew he was good.
Great guy, nice little place where you wont be sitting out in the open having everyone who stops by watching you get worked on. Their website shows some incredible work from the other artists. Definitely work checking into. Joe never makes you feel silly about what YOU WANT. All touchups or fixes needed are free, guaranteed for life.
This place is clean, friendly, not intimidating if you are not someone used to frequenting tattoo shops and easy to find. Â Sal did a tattoo for me - my boyfriend got one the next day. Â He knows what he is doing and everyone else there was friendly and clearly very accomplished. Â I recommend this place very highly....
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