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American Graffiti Tattoo & Piercing
Categories: Beauty and Spas Tattoo Beauty and Spas Piercing Tattoo, Piercing [Edit]
1617 J StSacramento, CA 95814
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Midtown
(916) 443-7778
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
$150 for $200 Deal
Melissa R. said: "Go to Joe. Seriously, go to Joe. He does amazing work! I looked for an artist for two years to put my sleeve on me and as soon as I saw his work, I…" read more »
25 reviews for American Graffiti Tattoo & Piercing
25 reviews in English
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Review from Michelle T.
Sacramento, CA
11/21/2011
I have always heard great things about American Graffiti, great artists, clean welcoming shop, quality work. I stopped by a few months back after my boyfriend got an awesome tattoo done by Scott. I was looking for a new tattoo artist and came in with a pretty basic idea. I wanted some lyrics on my side and really only wanted them to look clean and not too thick.
I first talked with the front desk guy who gave me a super reasonable quote and told me RJ would have time later that day. I came back, met RJ and really liked what he drew up. It was just what I had pictured. I was a little nervous but RJ was really funny and made the time go by fast.
My tattoo looks great and I was really happy with my experience here. I'm already thinking of more work I want to get done and will be back soon!
Thanks American Graffiti! -
Review from Alyssa S.
Sacramento, CA
5/9/2012
I came in here almost a year ago to get my belly button pierced. I came in cuz it looked like a cool place and their tattoos were amazing. I expected to get more information about the piercing because I had never had anything done except my ears. I asked questions and was blown off like oh yeah it'll be fine you can resume your normal life with no problems. When I asked how to clean it and what to use, the piercer told me to just use some salt and warm water. (That's where my problem began, because he just blew off my question and just told me salt I used table salt since he didn't specify that I needed to use SEA SALT) Well after the first few days it became red and irritated when I called them back to ask if that was normal the woman on the phone told me yes and asked me what I was cleaing it with. I told her salt and warm water and she assured me it was fine. I continued to use it because of what they had told me and my piercing became so irritated and disgusting I had to finally take it out. I am now left with a scar and regret ever spending $60 for that. So make sure you ask the right questions and get specific answers.
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Review from Charles B.
Sacramento, CA
7/14/2011
My experience getting a tattoo here...First off, let me say the tattoo ended up being great. Everything else about this place blew...
Counter guy was a tool. He acted a like a tough guy and made me chase him down to talk to him. I came in with an incomplete idea for a tattoo, so he took some time out of his busy day to pass my message along to Ryan (?)
Tattooer didn't show me his design until he was done; which took 2 hours longer than I was told. (I walked in only because I was told on the phone that I couldn't make an appt).
I fucked up by asking the guy to make some changes, and he reacted like a 16 yr old who was told they couldn't use dad's car. Rolled his eyes, etc. That's artistic collaboration for you.
Felt like American Graffiti was the last place they wanted to be. My .02 -it's ok to smile and talk to people who are paying you to tattoo them...
Employees might not give a shit, but I wonder if the owner is concerned about how many people feel the same way. All the ones who don't complain on yelp... -
Review from Brittany N.
Pacific Grove, CA
4/26/2011 1 photo
Eric's rad. He cracked me up while piercing me...seeing as I'm deathly afraid of any needle (that's not a tattoo needle) that's quite a feat!
Also, I got a tattoo by Ryan last week and it turned out fabulous. My stepmom was getting a tattoo by Miguel (he also did an amazing job...it's a beautiful back piece!) and I was coming in to hang with her for moral support. It's rather hard for me to go into a tattoo shop without getting something, so I was lucky enough to have Ryan squeeze me in. I told him my idea and he drew something up that was even better. The lines are clean and the shading is soooo great!
The shop is clean and professional and all of the guys are great! -
Review from Tram T.
12/12/2010
I got my tattoo done here last year and it has definitely already FADED, and it's not just a little faded, there a blotches of lighter parts than darker parts. It just looks bad now. NO BUENO!!!
My tattoo is behind my neck, about the size of a dollar coin. I brought in my design that I was thinking about, and the artist didn't even try to make suggestions to make it any better. He then charged me $80 for a job that took 12 minutes. I took care of the tattoo exactly as he had told me to, but a year later, it looks completely unprofessional because it has FADED. I'm totally unhappy and would never, ever return here.
Definitely would give this place 0 stars if Yelp allowed it. -
Review from Coopgirl K.
Oakland, CA
3/2/2011
I was tattooed by Eric Hogan twice. The place was hospital quality clean and run by friendly, professionals. I can't give an opinion as of late as that was years ago.
RIP Eric - I loved singing Pancho and Lefty with you while you worked on my back piece! -
Review from Julia S. J.
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY
4/27/2008
while i didn't get tattooed here, i accompanied my cousin here for her first time. American Tattoo is a very chill space, and is everything I expected a west coast tattoo shop to look like.. like your best friend's sunny apartment.
my cousin got tattooed by Andy, who may seem a little brusk at first, but is really a very funny and friendly guy. he did great work on my cousin's tatt, and was willing to work with her with her budget as well. everyone's portfolio i saw were of equally high talent. -
Review from Vanessa O.
Citrus Heights, CA
9/3/2008
I've been here three times.
For piercings, theyre awesome - Elton is great, hands down.
For tattoos though, thats another story.
I went in for a tattoo a few years ago and told the artist the basic idea of what I wanted. He did help me to sketch out the tattoo, but kept trying to push his choice of colors and what not.
Once we got beyond this stage, he was brisk and surly. Dug in deeper for the tattoo than any other I've ever had - it was seriously painful. Then, when I left, he didnt put a bandage on the tattoo - just used a paper towel and scotch tape. Suprisingly, it was infected by the next morning and healed horribly, completely losing all color in some spots. I need to get it fixed, but won't be doing it at American Graffiti.
I would definitely go back for another piercing but would never even entertain the idea of getting another tattoo there. -
Review from Melissa C.
Shingle Springs, CA
7/16/2011
Scott Bryant did a cover up for me on my hand I had my heart set on something else but it just wouldn't work for the cover up.I ended up liking what I got its really good art work.Shop is cool and Scott was a great artist and funny guy.However the guy at the front desk was RUDE and I almost walked out because of him.Thank goodness Scott came up when he did.I asked the guy at the front desk the price on some earrings and he said "I don't know so i'm not going to sell them to you" I was like Wow really and that happened after I had already gotten my tattoo....( he did end up selling them to me cause he could tell my friends and I all thought he was very rude) Any whooo if you are looking for a talented artist Scott Bryant does amazing work...Cant say anything great about the guy in the front though....Cool shop I would go again.
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Review from Amelia P.
Brooklyn, NY
10/31/2007
I've known Scott for about a BILLION years. But I never got a tattoo from him until after he moved here from our homeland down south. I didn't get anything crazy or huge. I needed a 'lil something to commemorate that day. Scott's honest about what you can expect from a tattoo in the far future, he won't just agree to something to make the money. He knows he's putting his name out there and wants it to be as beautiful in 10 or 20 years as it is in 2 weeks.
I've been tattooed all over the country and by many quality artists in some great shops. I'd put this one toe-to-toe with ANY of them.
Also, If I EVER poke another hole in myself I will just wait until I can make it out here to see Elton again. Best EVER! -
Review from Tiffany L.
Sacramento, CA
1/7/2011
Of course I miss the old Victorian- but they've done a great job with the newer place; they still have the cool folks and brightly colored beautiful walls. I have a small crush on Eric, who's pierced me several times and never ceases to make me giggle. It's been awhile since I came in for work, but I really liked the last guy I ended up with- it may have been Elton- I cannot recall names (thanks early party days) regardless, I still enjoy looking at it- so they did a rad job. Prices aren't too shabby, great suggestions are always made, the place is super sterile, and despite the amount of douche that strolls in- the staff has never been short of sweet to me. Definitely near the top of my favorite shops.
Listed in: Come here often??
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Review from Nicole O.
Santa Clara, CA
5/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I came here with a friend for his first tattoo. He was a little nervus and didn't plan in advance so we decided to go Early. We arrived around 1245 when the shop opens at 12 pm. We walked in and were imidiatly greeted, but the shop was already crowded. We went up to the front desk and asked for a consultation, they were very rude and short with us.
All I have to Say about that would be, we are here to pay you to stick us with needles, so of course were nervus and intimidated, you could at least be nice and friendly about it.
This is the first shop which I visited that charges by the piece not the hour which is sort of nice. It is also odd to talk only to the receptionist instead of the artist. You told him what you wanted and they told the artist!?! This seems so odd, why wouldn't they want you to speak to the artist? What if they drew up the wrong thing,and waste everyones time.
Although you can request an artist, If your a walk in they usually assign you an artist. I like to have more knowledge on who is doing my tattoo but again this was for my friend so I just kept my mouth shut.
The artist was really nice and informative, his work looked amazing, and he was pretty fast. Everyone in the shop was quiet and still, sort of akward, and a little boring.
The owner Andy was a little akward to be around. I know it's his shop, but he was rather crude. I don't mind dirty jokes, but I don't think they were apropriate for mixed crowds.
Over all the actual work from the artist were good, but the customer service and atmosphere was horrible. I would never get a tattoo there personally. If I was a guy, looking for a cheap quick tattoo I would recommend this place. It's called American grafitti and it looked like a lot of their portfolios were more American style
Pieces although I'm sure they do a little of everything.
Do your research, be confident, have cash, tip well and good luck. -
Review from Jennifer T.
Sacramento, CA
5/22/2009
I have been to American Graffiti 5 times for tattoos. I have gotten 5 out of the 6 that I have here. The people who were working there at the times I went in were very helpful and friendly. I have nothing but good things to say about the quality of their work.
I absolutely love the tats that I got there, but I can't say the same about the 6th tattoo that I got at another tattoo place. -
Review from Lacy L.
Sacramento, CA
1/10/2011
I used to get all of my work done here, when it was on 19th and Cap and all of the big names worked there. I recently visited (no names) and got a side piece done. We were told to come back several hours later (6), so the outline could be drawn - no problem BUT - I was quoted $300 and was later told, when I retured for my next session, that I still owed $350! If my outline was $650, that should have been expressed in the first session! My friend has returned for similar work and is qutoed prices that the artist sticks to.
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Review from Estella C.
Folsom, CA
5/8/2011
Everyone here was friendly and welcoming. Since it was my first tattoo I did my research and visited tons of shops, this one just felt right. RJ was the artist that I worked with and he did an amazing job! I am very happy! I had a friend come by the following weekend (Ryan T was his artist) and he is happy with his as well. Will be going back for more!
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Review from Chloe H.
Sacramento, CA
3/26/2011
American Graffiti is awesome. I've gotten all my tattoos here so far, and I don't plan on going anywhere else in Sac. I've been tattooed by RJ, Ryan and Andy and they are all really great. Have to say my favorite is RJ, he is an amazing artist and is a nice guy, made sure I was comfortable during the process and thats saying a lot. I recommend this shop hands down to all my friends looking for a clean shop with great artists who don't have a 'holier than thou' attitude.
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Review from Liz S.
Sacramento, CA
5/30/2008
The first time I went to American Graffiti (2005) I was rather pleased. I just had a small tattoo done on the back of my neck. They were professional and clean. Because there were a few people in the shop that evening I was told there would be about a 2 hour wait. Luckily my house at the time was only a few blocks away, so they took my number and gave me a call when they were ready for me to come back. Since my tattoo was small I only had to pay $60, the shop minimum at the time.
Since I had a good experience my first time there I went back a couple months later for another small tattoo. Again a pretty good experience, they were very fast and friendly.
Although I noticed that both of those times the artist didn't give any suggestion for things to do with the tattoo because they liked the idea I had.
Skip to early 2007, I was looking to get another tattoo on my neck. The couple of fellas working were not very friendly at all. They had their guard up as "I'm so much better than you because I tattoo and I know everything there is to know about my job." When I showed them my sketch reference of what I wanted and also what it looked like in the comic the guy just scoffed and gave me a "what is that". I didn't expect him to know exactly what it was, its a Dalek from Dr. Who, not everyone knows that program. But he looked at it and just said "No, I won't do it. First I don't think you should get a neck tattoo thats a noticeable place to get one." I responded with, "Yes I'm aware of that, I already have one tattoo on my neck, I'm not worried about it." FYI I wasn't planning on having it down my throat, it was going to be more towards the back next by the ear. The thing that really bothered my about his refusal to do it was he didn't give any other suggestions about placement for it. He just said no, argued with me for a minute and went to hide in the back of the shop. The shop hand working suggested I come back the next day because a different artist would be working and perhaps he would do the tattoo.
I decided against going back the next day and took my sketch and comic to another shop. Where the artist worked with me on my idea and instead of doing the tattoo on my neck we ended up moving it to my back where in the end I'm much more pleased with.
My main disappointment, other than the guy acting like an ass, was that none of the artists there take your concept any further than you do. In my experience at other shops the artist actually sits down with you to discuss ideas. The two of you throw back suggestions to each other until you are happy with what will be on you forever and they are proud to have their name associated with it.
There are plenty of good tattoo shops in the downtown area, but I don't feel American Graffiti is one of them. -
Review from Nicole E.
Sacramento, CA
5/21/2008
I went in American Graffiti with my boyfriend and we were hoping to get tattoos. No we weren't getting each other's name or face tattooed on ourselves. Anywhoo....We walk in there around 1:00 p.m. on a Saturday morning and stood there for 20 mins before we walked out. The customer service sucked. There were probably 2-3 other people in there that weren't employees and they weren't being helped either and it's not like they were even doing a tattoo on someone. I've heard so many good things about American Graffiti but I was not impress by their service or their books. I would never go there again.
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Review from Mawi C.
Roseville, CA
10/27/2011
Customer service stinks! First of all, I came in the shop with my own design but the problem was i didnt have a printer at home. I was hoping they could let me email it to them and they can pull it up from there but SURPRISE! they told me to go to Officemax and print it myself. it's 2011.. i mean. who doesnt have a computer+printer in their business/shop?? The way the guy in the front (receptionist) talked to me was just so rude., he wanted to see my design and asked where i want it tattoed. i said i wanted it on my left chest not too big but not too small. he immediately said they need to re-draw it or re-arrange some stuff in order to get all the detail in a medium sized tattoo on the left chest. he started giving me all these ideas of how theyre going to change it and im like and i just thought that it was disrespectful/rude to tell someone that you are going to completely change the design they want for their tattoo. I know what i want and i know how it's going to turn out. plus he quoted me $200 on a design i didnt even want.!! Third, why am i talking to the receptionist when hes not the one whos going to do it anyway?!. he keeps relaying the message to the tattoo artist i believe whose name was Andy.. why Cant he just come up to me and talk to me directly? So i decided to leave and went to Bonehead tattoo instead which was 4-5blocks away and they did an awesome job. They did the exact design on me and the exact size that i wanted. I totally love it and it looks FANTASTIC. they only charged me $125 and i was able to send them the design via email and they printed it themselves. how awesome is that!? i dont recommend AMERICAN Graffiti
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Review from Shannon G.
Folsom, CA
1/19/2010
I walked in and was greeted right away by a friendly receptionist (female) and a guy sitting in the reception area.... they asked if I needed help, I gave them a quick brief description of what I wanted and they said the artists weren't in but they would be right back. When I found out they were at lunch, I went to my car and when I saw them return, I gave them about 20 min to eat their lunch before I went back in.
I went in and the female receptionist left and the guy that greeted me earlier said the artists were back... so I waited and waited and waited and waited... NOTHING! I could here them talking about some fight/court case, F-this, F-that he's such a pu$$y (basically gossiping)... I waited at least 20 minutes before I went to the reception and asked if I should just make an appointment. He said that they were drawing it up... WTF? They never said anything to me or asked what I wanted. As I was walking away the artist came up and said in a totally snotty tone, "Do you have a question" I said "I was just wondering if I should come back." He said, with TOTAL attitude, "I have it right here" He showed me his drawing and it wasn't right. He got the object I wanted confused with a similar object so I said, "Nice, I like it but it doesn't have those..." Again, he gave me attitude responded with "What do you mean?" I explained and he just sighed and walked away...
I said, "I'll be right back"... I went to my car and didn't return. -
Review from Joe J.
Compton, CA
6/15/2008
I went into American Graffiti about a year ago because i heard great things about this shop. I wanted to get my half sleeve finished up. As I approached their shop, a bunch of guys were sitting outside talking and smoking. Not one of them acknowledged that I was even there. Not a great first impression. I proceeded to walk into the shop and to my surprise no one was in the shop. Everyone that worked there was outside bullshitting. If a customer walks in, shouldn't they at least acknowledge that you are there? Shouldn't at least 1 person get off their lazy ass and walk in with me to see what I needed?
Anyway, I looked through the books and was not very impressed with any of the artists. I asked the front desk dude, Grimace if any of the artist specialized in japanese style tattoos and all he said was yeah. But he didn't suggest any specific artist to me.
I walked out of there very dissappointed. American Graffiti sucks on customer service. I would not go there again. -
Review from LALA T.
Sacramento, CA
4/25/2008
I woke up and just decided to get my 1st tattoo..this was a year ago. Got my first tat here, my gf referred. I was lost, so many thoughts running thru my head. I wanted to get my chinese last name, and i sketched it out on a paper askin if he could enhance it, make it look artsy or proper. He said he didnt know how and it is up to me cuz he dont know how chinese symbols supposed to look. I wanted him to create it but i had to do it myself.. i think they overcharged me for a lil ass tat.. 70? Oh well, first times are always not the charm still happy with the tat.. cuz it was MY artwork!!! Argh.. I didnt even know wat was his name!! There were 2 guys, one skinny and one chunky.. thats all i know.. oh and i do agree with how they talk down to u and not putting effort, i felt the same way.
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Review from Jessica R.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2007
Best shop in Sacramento. I first came in as a freshly turned, naive 18 year old girl. Scott Bryant just happened to have the time to work with me, put my first idea to the trash can and crafted a much more realistic, well done piece for my first tattoo. Every time I go into that shop I'm treated right. I'm not the most modified person, I don't have a lot of "cred" but this shop is professional, they know what they're doing and they're not above telling you that something isn't going to work. If Scott hadn't told me my first idea would look like crap years down the road, I'd be stuck with a shoddy tattoo. Thanks to him and that shop I've gotten some great work over the years and I will continue to go back.
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Review from Mz. linda L.
West Sacramento, CA
8/12/2009
This shop is truely the best! Scott Bryant did my back piece that took 5 two hr session and it looks amazing! I recommended the shop to my co wrker and he went back twice n one wkend! I'm just sad Scott left! Great artist!
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Review from Chrysti M.
Sacramento, CA
9/30/2007
i loved my tattoo artist (brian) buti hated scott. hes just a plain out asshole. last time i was there i asked if brian was available so i could get a quote on a tattoo and get it altered. he wanted to 'see' what i wanted done. he took one look at it and said it wasnt possible to do. i left a note with (i cant remember her name) to give to brian and to tell him im not dealing with the shit attitude, left him my phone number and the peice i wanted done and to give me a call. he did, said he would do it and he was sorry for his attitude. i got it done, but im not dealing with scott again. i go someplace else now. but brian seems to be the best guy (if he still works there)
