Guru Tattoo

I went in to get a father-​daughter tattoo yesterday. Meaning she had gotten a tattoo here previously, and we agreed that I would get the matching tattoo, and yesterday was my available time. I wanted to take her tattoo and embellish it a bit for my adaptation.
Albert looked at about 3 example images I saved off a Google search and quickly sketched up a concept. We worked it over side by side for about 10 minutes, and he came up with something different than what I walked in mind with, but something that my daughter and I really liked alot and better than my original.
He transferred to his stencil, took two careful attempts to place it just so, got it right on the second attempt, and this being my first tattoo ever, Albert took the time to explain the process carefully, show me the inks, needles, guns, etc… He definitely does not rush. He takes his time, very methodical, patient, and given that my daughter and I both ended up on his schedule, he worked well past closing time, never rushing the work.
We really liked the results, my daughters calligraphy was done so perfectly, it was like a laser cutting. I can’t understand how he could modulate line width so perfectly, but he did.
Mine was done very well, artsy, masculine, emotional, just right. Thanks to Albert for jobs well done all around, both on the art design and the implementation.
The place is super hygenic. Honestly, it’s more hygenic than my dentist office. The cleaning and prep process between sessions is impressive.
The other artists and staff are SUPER polite, friendly and interested in a good outcome for you.
Very accommodating and gracious to first timers like myself. You’ll feel SUPER at home here.
Price-​wise, I imagine you can find cheaper, I don’t really know, I didn’t shop around.
I figure it ain’t coming off for good, so it better go on good.
Overall, it is a ⁵⁄₅ stars.

Albert did a fantastic job on my first tattoo about three weeks ago. He made me feel comfortable, as I was nervous, and did a wonderful job. Definitely will be back for more!

My best friend has had a tough year and over the past weekend it was her birthday and I wanted to do things that we haven’t done together and just get her mind off of what she’s been through… TATTTOOOOO came to mind as I have been wanting one my self. So we walked into Guru and said hey we want some tattoos! We had some ideas in mind of what we wanted. Mind you this is something small, nothing large. We both have quite a few tattoos and have been to many artist her in SJ and SF but after the reviews I saw on Guru I thought lets try this place out. Now, the shop is really cool, very clean. BIG plus. My friend was up first and the guy I believe David, designed her tattoo and began tattooing. Literally its as big as my nail and he tool maybe 5 mins, its beautiful! super small, very cute! She loves it! However it was $ 100 LOL WTF come the hell on now, even the top of the top artist wouldn’t charge that for something so tiny. but whatever… Now my turn, I had an idea, the artist, I believe Albert drew it up with his artistic twist to it, I thought hmmmmm its not really like what the picture is I showed you, I could tell he was annoyed. Dude relax… So then I gave him another idea, which he didnt draw it the way I said so I scratch that idea and went back to the orignal plan, again these tattoos are small, my larger that my friends but both very small. So he told me dont worry it will look nicer when done. ok ok ok ill take your word for it. He worked quickly, not painful at all, he became more friendly and talkative when he was tattooing which was nice. Now when he was finished… Tattoo not centered, and def not what I was going for. But hey its okay ill have someone else fix it or add to make it look better. That prices 120 which is still a little over but not by to much…
All in all, I wouldnt come back, way to pricey. Some of the artist did great work, my friends tattoo and the girl next to me, hers looked great but my guy sucked! Go figure, it had to be me… Hahahaha! dont get me wrong its not horrible but not at all what I wanted and its off centered… Infinity sign with daughters name, pretty simple tat and my friends was her sign. super easy tats, nice clean place, friendly staff, WAY over priced, and not ALL there artist are good. be careful who you picked. I blame myself, I knew I wasnt impressed with his drawling but it was all about the experience for my friend =) I can get anything fixed. wont be back.

Highly recommended! I got my first tattoo in years done here by Jacob. The atmosphere is nice, welcoming and clean, all equaling to a great experience. All the tattoo artists, employees and the owner and fun, talkative and you can tell they love the culture.
I set up an appointment a couple weeks out, and within days changed by mind about the design, text, location, etc. I emailed Jacob with the changes, and he assured me no problems. That he’d have it ready for Saturday. Day of appointment I get. Not really knowing what to expect with the design. But the moment I saw the sketch I knew it was perfect. Right down to the size. Jacob was helpful going over font and placement of the text and we got under way. The entire time the staff and customers were talkative and lively. Great experience made better with great people and in the end a great tattoo.
Just be aware they only take cash. Kinda sucks, as I rarely carry cash. But from a business standpoint it makes sense.
All in all I can’t recommended the place, or Jacob as your tattoo artist, highly enough.
Now I can’t wait to return to get another piece.

This review is long overdue for Jacob. He did my clouds and beach scene that you can see in the picture that exceeded my expectations.
A few months ago I was looking for a new tattoo artist since I moved down to the South Bay and thought it was time for a new tattoo. I was searching through Unilocal constantly for weeks looking for the artist that could understand my style.
I went for a few consultations but the only one I felt comfortable permanently inking me for life was Jacob. I went in, the whole shop welcomed me and my girl, told him my ideas and he went with it 100% instead telling me nah that’s a weird idea or don’t put it in that place like other shops did.
After about a week it was time for my appointment and the only stencil he used was for the lettering, chairs, and case of beers. Everything else was free handed on me, which is what I prefer than copying someone else’s idea. This is going to sound weird, but just like the other comments about the pain, Jacob is «gentle.» Meaning none of my tatts scarred and healed way faster than I expected them too. Your tatt will not be a massage so don’t expect it to feel great, but Jacob will help you feel less pain than you usually would with other artists.
In the end just go check out Jacob and the fellas at Guru Tattoo. Every artist in there have great portfolio’s, are personable, and will do what they can to work with you. After your first visit, you’ll be back more often than you think you will.

I got my first tattoo, script along rib cage, by Travis. It was a last min walk in and he was super awesome. He made me feel comfortable and at ease. He was fast and the result was perfect and beautiful. I absolutely love it.
Thank you Travis for my first of many tats!

I alllways go to Guru’s, even though I have a tattoo place right next to where I work. And I take my friends too. so many people for their first tattoos. And have done 4 of mine here :)

I went to get my first tattoo (in honor of my baby) and decided to come here based on the good reviews. Dave was nice and when I showed him the inspiration picture he said it should be easy and assigned me to Albert. Well, let the picture speak for itself. Albert did a TERRIBLE job. When multiple people asked me if the baby bears foot was a penis, I went back and asked him if he could fix it somehow. He was super defensive and acted totally unhelpful, saying there was nothing he could do. So: crappy work + bad attitude = horrible experience. Oh, and he charged me $ 200 for this piece of crap after Dave quoted me «$ 150 at the most». Yo Dave, can I get my money back so I can get this thing removed?

5 STARS all the way! This place is long over due for an awesome review :). I lost my tattoo virginity to this place back in 2006, my first visit to this studio was when it was at its Barrymore location near Saratoga. The tattoo artist were very helpful and super creative about the pieces I presented to them, they were patient and extremely helpful, this is one of the many reasons why all my friends have tattoos from this shop.
A few years ago, about 6 to be exact I wanted to get a piece that will hold dear to my heart and something to remind me that every moment is a new beginning, I inspired for a year or so about getting a tattoo of an Indian diety, Ganesha…
After 3 months I got into my appointment, Dave worked on my piece for one year until it was completed, lucky we both worked on a plan for the completed piece, every two weeks for one year… he’s a great person to talk with and super crazy passionate/​talented.
Need I say More? Take a gander at the art piece!

This shop is top notch — you WILL NOT find more friendly talented people in the business. I have had 1 major piece done on my foot and some touch ups on old tattoos and they have turned out AMAZING. My husband, my sister in law and Brother in law are all clients there and we could not be happier with the level of their creativity and the work they put into making sure it’s EXACTLY what you want. Simply the best !!!

I had work done here before and they did a great job … However this review is on my latest experience here. I came in to speak with an artist about getting some work done … literally the very first thing I said to him was «do you have some time now to talk about a piece» … he said yes and we start discussing what I’d like to get done … then the phone rang — he ran upstairs to get it. I had no problem with that … while he was gone another artist came over to the computer with his client and his client physically bumped me out of the way. I’m an Iraq War Vet with PTSD who doesnt like to be touched. Anyways at this point my artist came back to tell me he had someone showing up shortly and he could see if another artist would be done at some point to help me… My issue is — the very first thing I asked was if he had time — if he didnt I would have no problem coming back … I feel like it was a complete waste of time even beginning to discuss what I wanted done … I was treated really rudely and I dont plan on returnning.
If your looking to get a tattoo done — I’d advise you to go elsewhere. The unprofessional attitude in the shop was enough to deter me from ever returning.

Still 5 stars!
I recently went back for my second session, to color my tattoo in.
The amount of detail is incredible. It is beautiful. I cannot even count how many compliments I (DAVE! he did the work, I just sat there) receive about how detailed and beautiful the piece is. Still have a couple more session to complete it, but it is a process well worth the time. I am very, very thankful for Dave and his talent!

This review is long overdue!
I first worked with John back in July 2014. It was my first tattoo and I had a good idea of what I wanted it to look like. I came into Guru one day (unannounced) and got super lucky that John just happened to be there. I looked through his portfolio and was pretty much sold on his style and the intricacy of the pieces he had done. One thing I don’t share about myself when talking to other artists is that I’m an artist as well, so this part of the process was really important to me. I really look for people who listen and aren’t afraid to give suggestions. One thing I like to tell my art friends is that tattoos are way different than painting on canvas or using photoshop. YOU CANNOT JUST SLAP A TATTOO ON YOUR BODY AND EXPECT IT TO LOOK GOOD. You’ve got curves, and edges, and all your perfect imperfections (hm…where have I heard this before?).
John gave good suggestions and even made recommendations on how to properly have it positioned on my leg. I honestly had never thought about proper positioning of tattoos and it made so MUCH SENSE. You don’t know how many times I see people that have tattoos in places with awkward positioning. I wish I had a good photo for proof of this tattoo because I get so many compliments on it (taking a good photo of your leg is harder than you think!).
Anyway, I worked with John again two days ago and it was amazing! It was a commemorative tattoo for my graduation and I was very specific with what I wanted. John made a quick turn around because I had literally decided upon it last minute. I’m super proud of the outcome and can’t wait to show this off once it finally heals. John listens to what you want, and just makes it happen.
I would definitely recommend working with any of these folks at Guru. They’re super fun, friendly, and the place is CLEAN.

I’ve been planning to get my tattoo since the summer of last year. I figured out what tattoo and where. I came in as a walk in, and was told I could get my tattoo today. Albert was my artist and he did a really great job with my tattoo. He was very friendly and he worked with me through out the whole process. My tattoo is really small and he charged me $ 80 (min. rate)

Took my sister here to get her first tattoo because I’ve heard really good reviews about this shop on Unilocal,so I thought I’d go give it a shot. My first impression getting into the shop was that it’s very neat and organized. Dave who was the one that welcomed us and did the tattoo on my sister is such a great guy. Very hilarious and makes you feel at home. He’s also a very talent tattoo artist with great line work. My overall experience at the shop was splendid. Thanks GURU!

I’m a research freak — I research everything and anything from my gadgets, gear, electronics etc… I read through a ton of reviews and emailed a bunch of artists before I chose to go see John Cimperman at Guru Tattoo. His portfolio online was the deal sealer for me — the dude has talent. He also is a big fan of the islands, and being that the tattoo I wanted was a design from one of Hawaii’s top artists it all seemed to line up nicely. I went in on a Friday and made an appointment for a week later. John was actually tattooing someone when I walked in but he quickly looked at the art I had printed out and quoted me a price and put me on his schedule. A week later we showed up and John had already completed an outline sketch — everything was just as I had requested. It was nice to not have to sit and wait for him to get things moving.
My wife and I just got back from getting her tattoo done and it was the same scenario. John had everything ready to go and he paid close attention while they worked their way through the sizing and placement of the art.
Our tattoos exceeded our expectations — Clean lines, detailed shading, and they looked dead on like the artwork we had brought in. John takes all of the detail into account and never misses the small stuff. I’ve already received a ton of compliments and some people thought it was a sticker because of the initial clarity.
The whole crew there was super friendly and the owner Dave offered drinks and checked in on us a couple of times to see if we needed anything. They’ve got a very clean shop, well decorated, and they’re very accommodating.
I’m sure we’ll be back again and I highly recommend this shop if you’re in the market for some tattoo work.

The five stars are for Albert, although quite frankly, the rest of the shop deserves it too.
I came in here to get my first tattoo ever, and was a bit nervous, because let’s face it — getting a tattoo can be very intimidating. But the fears quickly faded away as I met the amazing people at Guru, all of whom made me feel welcome.
I eventually chose Albert as my artist, and I could not be happier with my choice. Albert is a really awesome guy and a very talented artist. On my first visit, I talked with him about what I wanted to get done, and we set up a separate appointment so that he could have time to draw up some sketches. It was obvious that he put a ton of time and effort into researching my request and coming up with a design… which I ended up rejecting. But Albert said no problem, rescheduled me for the next week, and went back to the drawing board. Albert isn’t there just to take your money and get you in and out of the shop. He genuinely cares about delivering a quality product, and making sure that you are happy with what you get — after all, it’s your body, and you are going to wear it for the rest of your life.
The second design he came up with was more the style I was looking for, and we went with that. We did it over a couple of sessions, because Albert really emphasizes quality work. He made some suggestions as to the design and size of the tattoo that were different from what I was originally thinking, and I decided to trust him on it. It turned out amazing, and I’m glad he offered his suggestions — there is no substitute for the experience he brings to the table. I was also thinking about what I would do to kill the 3+ hours the session would last, but I just ended up chatting with Albert the whole time — he’s a really funny and cool guy.
The rest of the artists are really cool too, especially Jacob, who did an amazing job on my girlfriend’s tattoo. The shop itself is also really nice — it is somehow simultaneously very sterile (they are very professional and do a great job following cleaning protocols) and yet also very warm and welcoming (it’s located in a cute wooden house). Shout out also to Nicole and Fiona, the super friendly girls who run the front desk.
This is an easy 5 star rating to give. I had a great experience and will be back for more!

I just got my first tattoo yesterday from here seeing all the good reviews on Unilocal,and I’m so glad I did! I came in around 12 with my boyfriend when they’ve just opened and the place is really cool because it looks like a beach house hangout kind of thing. We were greeted right when we came in and was asked what kind of service I wanted. I showed them what I wanted and they sent Travis to help me. His work is amazing and I would totally recommend him if you’re looking to do a specific picture or something that has a lot of detail because he creates such a realistic version of what you want! I showed Travis what I wanted and he gave me options of setting a deposit to get my tattoo later or to just do everything right then and there. I decided to set a deposit and come back later that day around 5 and he said that he would have Jacob do my tattoo.
When I came back later around 5−6ish with my boyfriend and two other friends Jacob was ready to get me started on my tattoo. I was super nervous because this was my first tattoo but Jacob and everyone in the shop were really nice and comforting and it really helped with the nerves. After Jacob put on my stencil, he made sure I liked what was on me and didn’t rush me at all. During the actual tattoo process it, the pain wasn’t even that bad. Other reviews said that Jacob has a light touch, and considering I had no experience of other tattoos, I’ll agree with that! It didn’t take too long to finish my tattoo, probably like 45 minutes and honestly it was all worth it. Jacob had did the exact design I wanted and it turned out better than I imagined! I would totally recommend him and will ¹⁰⁄₁₀ come again when I get my next tattoo!

This was my first tattoo experience, and I am SO glad that I got it done at Guru Tattoo. I have been wanting a tattoo for over ten years and finally got the courage to come in and follow through!
The guys at Guru Tattoo are very easy going, friendly, and make you feel right at home. I showed them a design that I wanted, and they did a great job of adding in some extra changes. They are pretty amazing artists.
In the end, after a little pain (not as bad as I thought), the tattoo turned out gorgeous and absolutely flawless. It was exactly as I wanted it if not even better.
Thank you Guru Tattoo for making my first tattoo experience great. xo

These guys are amazing. First off I love their shop, the desing of the building it self is so cool, they are like their own shack there and best part, they are located within walking distance from my place. I came here 2 months prior of getting my tattoo done and Dave has approached me with a very friendly attitude. I showed my design and Dave referred me to Jacob who I also had in mind because I love the work he has done. The day before my tattoo, Jacob texted me with a reminder that I have an appointment the next day. Talking about customer service now! He did an amazing work on my first piece (Ukrainian Trident). He is very calm and friendly, takes care of you. I almost felt like I was treated in a 5 star hotel.
Don’t be afraid to ask any questions to these guys, they are honest and will not pull those shady moves on you! If I ever wanted to get another tattoo, I would come here again and definitely recommend others to come here as well, you wont be disappointed.
Guru Tattoo you rock!!! 5 Stars!!!