American Electric Tattoo Co
3532 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026 (323) 664-6530
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
15 Reviews for American Electric Tattoo Co
Here's the deal kids, I've been getting tattooed by Craig Jackman for almost 12 years and I will continue on with him for another 12 (God willing). Why you ask? I'll tell you why...his work is fantastic, he's a true artist, he's got a wicked sense of humor, he always talks me out of getting something I'll regret later, he's always there when I need an emergency tattoo and today my friends...he rescued me from a nasty encounter with parallel parking!!
Seriously, go to the shop and check it out...you won't be disappointed. The atmosphere is relaxing, personalized and as far from a "one on every corner strip mall take a number and wait" tattoo shop as you can get. I love ya Craig and TJ you rock too darlin'!!
i now understand why people get loads of tattoos. i got my first tattoo from the charming and handsome craig jackman. not only was his first drawing of my tattoo exactly what i had in mind, he did an amazing job on my tattoo. i was a little nervous at first, but craig and chris (aka: the handsomely ripe dave jackfruit) made me feel right at home. craig let me ask every dumb question about the UK, taxidermy, sex, and religion without making me feel annoying. (i get real chatty when i'm nervous!!) anyway, in addition to getting a fabulous tattoo, by a very talented artist, i also had a lovely time. i highly recommend american electric tattoo. i love it.
Like everyone else that has written a review the first thing you notice on walking up to the front window and entering, this is not a regular pick the postage stamp design off the wall and they will stick it on kind of tattoo parlor. The atmosphere is funky silver lake and very comfortable. The guys that work there definitely enjoy it and have their own quirky sense of humor, which I enjoy.
I have been going to this shop now for about 4 months having a total leg piece done. Actually kind of started out as one tattoo and I got the bug and went through with my dream of having a full legs done,(similar to what you traditionally see as an arm sleeve.)
But, the work has been outstanding. Not only beautiful but creative and have complete trust in Craig as he is in the final stages of doing the background work.
Highly recommend this place if you want top notch work that your not going to see coming and going on everyone else. A big plus is Craig's knowledge and taste level. Also he has helped me from making some major ugly design mistakes.
I keep saying this project will be the end of my tattoos for awhile but I am already thinking about the other leg!
I'll echo what some others here have said in regards to the vibe of this shop. After reading a few reviews here on Yelp, my friend and I ventured over to American Electric to talk with them about the tattoos we wanted done. Note: my friend and I were, at the time, both tattoo virgins. We walked into the shop and admired the art on the walls, the amazing fishtank, and the relaxed atmosphere. It didn't scream "TATTOO SHOP!" in neon like so many other parlors. In some way, I felt like I was in a friend's living room that just happened to have a few tattoo chairs set up. A few guys were standing around, shooting the shit, and TJ approached us to ask what we were in for. We sat down to discuss ideas of what we wanted and he just took off sketching. My friend immediately loved his first sketch for her and I liked his approach, so we booked him for an entire evening the following week.
We walk into the shop to go over what exactly we wanted, and TJ produced his sketches. My friend saddled up and got hers done first, but I sat with TJ and had him re-draw mine (it's a relatively simple tattoo, but I was increasingly paranoid and of course wanted it perfect). I sat down, freaked out, got up, jumped around the store, and then sat down and did it. TJ was chill, hilarious, clean, and worked with me to make sure that I got exactly what I wanted. Months later, I'm 100% satisfied with how it came out.
Price will vary according to piece. Mine was not as expensive as I thought it might be.
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I heart these guys.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? American Electric is home to very talented, professional, and hilariously funny artists who truely care about the quality of work they do. These guys are serious about what they do, won't feed you any b.s., but keep you entertained the entire time you're in the shop. I've had 2 pieces done by TJ Hernandez here - a small script anklet and a large elaborate phoenix on my back. TJ gave both pieces a lot of careful thought and a lot of details which made the results even more beautiful than I anticipated. I doubt that I'll ever go anywhere else for a tattoo.
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My first ever review, and it's not even on a taco truck...
Anyway, yeah. taxidermy, rammstein, and nina hagen galore. I've gone to oooooh, 4 different shops, and this place is by far my favorite. And for any future work, i probably won't be going anywhere else. And I've gotten tattooed at some *VERY* well known shops and even though they've turned out great work, none can match the vibe of this place.
Craig is... one of a kind. ha. nah, he's absolutely hilarious and had me practically crying every time i went in because i'd be laughing so hard. Between him and Dom i'm shocked my tattoos' lines turned out straight! And considering the upper third of my arm is ALL single needle Edward Gorey drawings, that's most impressive. I can't recommend him enough. (Oh, and part of it was by Adrian, who is also awesome, and I'm really sad he's not there anymore. And although he is at another great shop, between you and me, i still prefer Am. Elec.)
If you've had it up to your eyeballs with Hollywood attitude and you want a great piece of art, this is your place. If the Viper Room is your favorite place to go on a Saturday night, then this probably is not your place. But it should be.
Tatoo is nothing but just a permanent ink coloration of the second layer of the skin.
And I had my first tattoo a long time ago, when having tattoo still wasn't a cool thing to do.
Currently, it's quite apparent that most sports and entertainment celebrities are also having their own tattoos.
And it's been revealed that even renowned world leaders and political personalities, such as 4-term U.S. President FDR, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Senator Barry Goldwater, Pres. John F. kennedy's son, JFK, Jr., State Secretary George Shultz and President Bill Clinton also have tattoos.
I really don't know what's the reason for their respective tattoos, but all of mine have significant meaning, which is much deeper than skin.
Anyway, Craig Jackman did a tiger on my upper left arm recently and it certainly looked great.
A colleague of mine, Freddie, liked it too and decided to come with me when I had a subsequent appointment with Craig for a tribal armband.
Freddie had a phoenix bird on his left arm and likewise it looked simply fantastic.
I still have a lot of empty space on my body to inked on, and American Electric's Craig Jackman, definitely will be doing the next one and then some.
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Feelin' a lil frisky, my best bud and I decided to get a matching tat. After reading the stellar reviews of this local place we made a quick call and zoom we were in like flynn.
We discussed what we wanted with the 3 humorous artists in this very kitschy, taxidermy filled studio. Craig, the Brit, drew our art on the spot and zzzzz I was on the block. We were in and out in just over an hour. It's still a bit scabby but looks fan-tas-tic. BTW the tats are teeny, hence the quickness.
It was just us and the artists on a Sunday night which made the experience very personal. The radio was playing fantasy metal which was divine. Craig was a great artist.
What are you waiting for...go get inked!!!
Update: so nearly 2 weeks later and I'm not as happy with my tattoo. It's on my wrist which I've read is a tempermental location for a tattoo but I don't think that it was supposed to react like this. It totally scabbed over after the 4 day and then proceeded to flake off. Now a new layer of skin covers it but I can tell that it looks pretty faded. I've read that when a tat scabs over it means that the artist went too deep and that your body is rejecting the ink, hence the faded color. I returned to the studio and asked Craig if this was normal and he said oh yeah...once that new skin peels off it will be vibrant once again. We'll see. Thankfully he offered to do any retouches I wanted for free. So now I wait....
And wait I did. It looks perfect now. My impatience was silly. Yippee for body art and yippee for Craig!
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This is my shop! I have 4 pieces from American Electric and I am in love with them all. Craig did one piece (amazing black and grey shaded tail piece) and the rest are by Adrian. I have plans for at least two more and am going back. They always joke around me and make me sooo comfortable. The first time I went there I ended up fainting and they took good care of me(I fainted while Adrian was stenciling my back) Each of my pieces from there is custom and I am in love with all them. And if you get to know them they'll give you deals and buy you donuts!
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I went to American Electric Tattoo to get a tattoo from Craig Jackman. He gave me a beautiful custom tattoo based on a design I brought him. That was five years ago. Since then I have had him put 7 tattoos on me, some really big and detailed ones. He has always been very professional and skilled. He listens to a lot of Rammstein and it shows. Bravo Craig, thanks to you I have the nicest buggy whips in all of silverlake.
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Recently I deleted a 5 star review on another tattoo shop.
I jumped the gun on that one and because I am unable to say anything "nice" about them I won't say anything at all.
the thing about tattoos ,tattooers and tattoo shops is that they are all different and it's such a personal choice it would be hard to say one is better than the other.
It just depends on what you want.
Do you want the attitude to go along with your tramp stamp or do you want skill and someone who loves their job?
I vote for the latter.
If you do as well then American Electric is your place.
Craig saved me from a disasterous situation.
Not so much the tattoo rather a flaky "famous" artist who really had no desire to finish my work.
Ok,now the "flaky artist" started a lower arm piece to finish my sleeve.
This tattoo has a lot of meaning to me as it is an homage to my furry family and my dedication to rescue work.
Fine, I really do not want anyone marking me that does not want to do it.
Done deal.
Craig has been a dear friend of ours for years now. He has worked on many of my friends and my husband.Everyone is always so happy with their tattoos.
He was kind enough to take on my project.
That's not always an easy task to take over where one artist leaves off.
I so appreciate this.
I appreciate even more how BEAUTIFUL my arm looks.
OMG.It's so perfect and I am feeling more complete.
Poor Craig,I'll be keeping him busy for awhile now that I am having him complete this piece.
He has two other guys in his shop that are very talented too. TJ and Albert.
Albert told us he will be on an upcoming episode of my newest addiction "Rock Of Love".YES!
If you are looking for unbelievable artistic talent,great conversation,interesting objects surrounding you,this is your place!
Bring cash and tip nicely!
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Ah man!
I thought I'd beat everyone to the punch here...
This is my shop - meaning I don't really seeing myself going anywhere else. Unless of course I find my self in prison - were I'm sure they'll just love me and want to show their appreciation by inking me up with some high quality art.
I've been in a few times and plan to roll in again in a few months - here is what it has going for it:
1. Bill Ward originals - framed and on the wall - yes!
2. Taxidermy - I'd hardly call a place a tattoo shop if its bare of some stuffed animals. I'm not kidding. The front window is filled with skulls and frozen critters. You'll also find a few other pieces throughout the place... mandatory!
and
3. Craig Jackman - call ahead as chances are he's booked... i was sold on this guy from the first tattoo he gave me. Good natured salty Englishman is how I would best describe him... Made me laugh the whole time - could be talking to himself or yelling at someone as they enter the place... doesn't matter - he is bound to be saying something funny. And he really is good at what he does - solid job. If these tattoos were falling off after awhile I'd let you know. As it stands - I can not give a higher recommendation... 5 Stars!
Clean and professional! Top notch...
As Aunny D. points out - price per piece - its best to know what you want. Bring it in ahead of time for a quote. Cash only!
A genuine place where it's still cash only and there's no body peircing crap. Ole fashion tattoos no bs. It's a humble vibe inside and out, a place where taxidermied animals set the pace. Bring your favorite record and have it played while you get inked or sit back and relax and let Craig, Adrian or Dom pick the tunes. The shop is clean and there's always laughter and quality work. Let Dom do your tattoo for free! He's learning so the apprentice needs your skin. Call in advance though. Visit the shop and bring your best ideas. Tell em Jo-elle sent you!
First off my tattoo artist's name was K.C. Angel, what a rockin name huh? Me and my best friend stopped by before a concert to get a few quick tattoos before a show because that's how we do. K.C. was a shy sort of fellow but very sweet, and did an incredible job in record time. We were in and out of there in no time and are pleased with his work till this day. They price them by the piece so you won't really know what you are going to spend until you actually go in. It is in the heart of Silverlake so if you are waiting for a friend there is plenty to do while you wait.
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Like alot of other reviewers, I was really impressed and drawn in by the appearance of this shop. Unlike alot of other shops, American Electric is unique and has mucho personality.lots of artwork and taxidermy adorn the walls. don't touch the books!! I especially like the framed picture of regan from the exorcist in full possessed mode in the bathroom.
The folks over there, adrian, craig (owner), and dom(currently an apprentice) are damn hilarious and extremely nice. i laugh so hard when i'm in there, luckily adrian has nerves of steel and doesn't fuck anything up. they give the whole place a friendly bar vibe, sans alcohol.
They are very clean and professional. It helps to book in advance, and give them a detailed idea about your concept so they could really make it one of a kind (who wants to get a pre-made tattoo?). it also helps them determine a price range, although it may change slightly depending on the amount of work it took.
Oh yeah, they are amazing tattoo artists. I've had my sister, my cousin, my best friend in to get work. I've had three pieces done by adrian, and i'm extremely proud of them all.
check out the other shops, then check out american electric. you won't regret it.
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