Avalon Tattoo 2
(at Ohio St)
San Diego, CA 92116 (619) 280-1957
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- By Appointment Only: Yes
22 Reviews for Avalon Tattoo 2
This is one of the best tattoo parlors I have been to. The location is great - right off the 805 on Adams and ample street parking. The store is really clean and the employees are pretty friendly (I've been to tattoo parlors before where the employees are snobby and only want to talk to you if you're getting major work done or if you're a guy. For some reason women as not taken as seriously as men).
Mike was my tattoo artist and he was super cool. I felt like he knew exactly what he was doing. He listened to what I wanted, didn't rush me and gave me exactly what I wanted. The tattoo came out great and he charged a fair price. I will definitely go back to him for my next tattoo. **bonus - he's a dog lover - always a good sign.**
This has got to be one of the finest tattoo parlors in San Diego, and the owner, Fip Buchanan (who, as far as I know, stopped taking appointments until October) is a phenomenal (really) tattooist. He works quick without sacrificing quality, so when I have awesome pieces that took two hours apiece and I look at others' scratchwork that took six hours, I can only feel bad for 'em.
The prices were comparable to others, and Fip himself charges something like $160/hour, but whether it's that or $250/hour, I would lay off of drugs and booze for a few weeks, save up, and get awesome tats from that place instead of getting some scratcher for a hundred, which is most of tattoo shops around.
I thought long and hard about whether I really wanted to get a tattoo. Then I thought long and hard about exactly what I would get.
And then came the hard part...finding a place that I would trust enough to etch something permanently into my skin.
I researched online, I asked friends for recommendations, I weighed my options...and everything converged and pointed to Avalon II.
I didn't have an appointment when I went in, I really just wanted to check the place out and see how comfortable I would be. It was the Saturday of a holiday weekend so I figured, no way would anyone be available. And it seemed like I was right, until the person waiting decided to pass (don't think she had decided on what to get) and voila - Dave had an opening! I was pretty excited since he'd been recommended by a good friend AND I loved his Sleestak art.
So I presented Dave with my drawing - not a typical tattoo, probably way too plain for most people. He was cool, gave some ideas to make it pop a little more and we got started. I was happy since I'd been afraid a tattoo artist would turn his nose up at me but Dave was chill...he even put up with me being such a baby about the pain.
I completely love my tattoo and I do get compliments on it from random strangers.
I realized how great this shop was after visiting a few others with a friend (he was trying to find place he'd had his first tattoo done years earlier). Other places had rude people at the desk, eating lunch and chatting on cell phones...or tons of sketchy guys just hanging out, smoking outside the door.
Highly recommend Avalon II and I'll be going back for my second piece!
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This is the place to go for tattoos. It does not matter if you live in San Diego or not, make the trip out to San Diego to get your work done here. I have three tattoos, my largest was done at Avalon 2 by Alessio Ricci, one of the most amazing artists I have met. All of the artists here are amazing, the vibe is awesome, everything is perfect. Seriously, you will not be disappointed.
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Hands down best tattoo crew and shop out there.
Fip is the man, I've had award winning work done by him which won at the body art expo tattoo contest in San Diego.
You'll never find a more friendly and welcoming shop with this much talent anywhere.
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Went in for a cover-up and Chris did a fabulous job!!! Couldn't have been any more happier with his work! I was totally stoked!
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talented crew. ego-free. comfortable. great music.
mike stobbe:
i've been going to mike for over ten years...
an amazing artist, conversationalist, and soul.
also, does great "cover-up" work. tiki master.
fip:
a genius. that is all.
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Real people doing really great work. Stop being a pussy... get that back piece!!!
A lot of tattoo shops I've been to and heard horror stories about start off with snobby tattoo artists who don't really have the social skills necessary to make someone want to get tattooed by them.
Thankfully, Avalon II is a great exception to that trend. From the moment I walked in to talk to an artist about what I wanted to get done I was greeted with smiles. I ended up getting my worked done by Dave Warshaw.
Dave is amazing. The piece I wanted was very complex because it was a water color drawing mostly and I had a lot of artist tell me they wouldn't even do it because they weren't sure they could make the image come out the same on skin. However, Dave made the tattoo better than I expected. He's amazingly talented and easy to get along with.
I definitely recommend him.
Mike did a large back piece for me based on artwork from one of my favorite comix, "Love and Rockets." He really rocked it out. I was glad to find he was a fan of the book as well, so he chatted in a friendly manner for a while, but when it came to the inking he concentrated and got it done faster than I had hoped. I need to go back for color...and I look forward to future tattoos at this establishment!
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i have been tattooed twice by mike. he has tattooed my husband and my mother. the three of us have nothing but good to say about him! he is a great artist and he only books a week in advance--i really love not having to wait months to get in, like i have had to at some other shops. he is super professional and always answers my (stupid) questions in a way that doesn't make me feel dumb!! plus, he has given some great ideas on how to improve the designs we've brought him. all the other guys in the shop have been super nice as well. i wouldn't go anywhere else in san diego!
I just got my arm worked on by the "newbie" Chris. He actually is not so much a newbie to the field, ten years is a seasoned vet. I was lucky that he had a cancellation and was able to fit me in on the same day I walked in. He listened to my jumbled ideas and created this MASTERPIECE that I now so proudly display on my upper left arm. Although there are many great artists at Avalon 2, Chris is definitely my hero and will soon be booked months in advance like the rest of his cohorts. Better watch out Fip! ;) If you are looking for someone professional, kind, skilled and good spirited, Chris is your man!
This is a great place - last time I was down in San Diego, I got a tattoo there, and I will again next time I'm down that way in October. The reason it strikes some as aloof is that the people there are professionals and artists; rather than just throw whatever damn-fool idea the customer has on the skin and then go off to count the money, they work with the customer carefully to makes the composition works with the inherent limitations of the medium (skin and needles isn't photoshop, people). The reputation of all the artists is unimpeachable, but all my Avalon 2 work has been done by Alessio Ricci, and he's the one I'll be returning to next time.
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I got my arm blasted there a couple of weeks ago and the guys are all really cool there. I had Alessio Ricci do my right arm and it looks insane. I really like the work that he did and will tell you that everyone at this shop really knows what they are doing.
Kinda pricey, but if its going to be on your body for the rest of your life, this is probably not the go time to go with the lowest bidder. His website is www.alessioricci.com. A really cool dude and did I mention he italian?
You guys are great and keep up the good work.
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I came in for a tattoo here just because it was closer than the AVALON in PB. Coming in I knew about Avalon because I had been tattooed before in PB.
So I had the same expectations with the customer service part and the timing of the tattoo. AND well I was disappointed. The person who worked on my Tattoo talked a lot SO much that it was annoying.(DAVE) He took forever!!!!! to finish a tattoo that would at most take up to 2 1/2 hrs.
So I had to come in for a second session. And finally my new tattoo was done!!!
I do Like my tat. no problem with that, its just the fact that the artist seemed to talk a lot instead of just working on the tat. And time costs $$$$.
Another thing I noticed was that some of the guys there liked to talk about their customers in a bad way.
In front of their face they were cool but as soon as they left they would say something bad about them.
So of course I'm sure they said something about me even though I paid my dues and didn't get in their way. SO no more Avalon II for me.( Don't like two faced artists )
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After the way I got treated when I walked in, I sure wouldn't let those guys stick me with needles!
8/1/07
Just got a mess. from owner of said joint asking for an email describing what happened so he can fix it. I added a star for that. (and removed the not good reference form the AV One review)
10/8/07
Just got reminded via PM that this was not much of an evaluation. I had forgotten all about it. Well, the short version is, I had gone in here after being totally treated like Crap at Avalon 1. The guy here barely gave me the time of day--I don't know how to convey in writing that he acted as if he was totally put upon by my mere Existence, let alone showing up wanting a tattoo. I left tattooless and he lost two customers (me and my wife). Its not my responsibility to ask his name or ask for the manager or whatever. It is His responsiblity to act like he wants my business when I walk in the door.
Again, when the owner saw the first review, he PMd me wanting to know what happened. That's good business practice. I gave one more star (making it two), but I wont give it a third because it's a review of My experience. I do appreciate the inquiry, though.
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I love this place. it has that confident, if somewhat aloof, tattoo parlor vibe but the art and people skills to back it up. I've seen Dave for several tats and he is always friendly and professional, does great work and is reasonably priced. Plus you don't have to wait three years to get your frickin tat done well. bonus!
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got my latest done by dave last week. and i love it. granted not much work for him b.c it's just words that i typed out (kinda) and he put on my arm.
but i liked my experience there. not overpriced. i was guessing around 75 for mine, and it cost 80.
my sister went before me, and they had this conversation about pho. he freakin loves the stuff!! and he's a vegetarian, so he goes to this one place, that i forget the name of, but i wanted to try it b.c the way he explained it, it sounded delish!
overall, he ran a bit late, but a pretty chill guy. i'd definitely go back to him, esp after looking at his portfolio.
I dont know why the last girl was so butt hurt (all of her reviews are shitty) but my visit to avalon tattoo II last night was great. The artist ALESSIO RICCI did my tat and it turned out amazing because hes a ridiculous artist. He was very easy going and willing to brainstorm with me until I was happy with the design. He made the whole experience very fun crackin jokes which took away some of the pain but not much.
The last person mentioned that they didn't like how long it took because of talking all i have to say to that is when you get a tattoo enjoy the experience its going to cost money and who cares its going to be on your body for the rest of your life. I don't mind forking out an extra 100 bucks because someone takes their time on the tattoo to make it look perfect or wants to chat for a bit. That might just be me but if i just sat in the chair and he knocked the tattoo out fast and didn't say anything I would have been really bored and wondering if he wanted to just get me out of there. All in all i had a great experience there all the guys were cool and I couldn't have been treated better.
I would recommend this place to anyone!
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Well, I was looking for a place to get my first tattoo done and a lot of people recommended Avalon Tattoo 2 for the place to get work done. One of my friends had some work done here and the tat looked awesome! So I went down a few weeks ago to talk to someone and get pricing, etc.
I spoke to someone and they gave me a general idea of how much the tat would cost and time involved great! The one artist that was there was booked til May and could not get me in so I was told to come back and speak to another artist and maybe I could get in sooner. I could not set up an appointment then. I kinda understood since the artist would want to see what he would be working on.
About a week went by and I stopped in to see if I could get an appointment set up. I walked in and there were two artists there working on some clients. No one else there. I felt bad that I would have to interrupt them to talk. They both looked up at me and ignored me for a bit then finally the one guy looks up as asks me if I needed something. I told him I was looking to get a tattoo and he kind of looked at the other artist and they kind of just looked at each other with a look of "crap, which one of us is going to have to talk to this guy." Did not make me feel comfortable at all as a customer. The other artist stops the work he is doing and comes up to me and asks me what I want done. I showed him the image of a symbol that I wanted and told him where and how big. He did not seem real enthused about working with me and did a half assed attempt to make an appointment. He would tell me what dates he was available but then say, but I think Mike could get you in sooner, but I could do it if you want, but Mike...etc. It did not make me feel comfortable in having this guy work on me and something that would be on my body for the rest of my life. The customer service of this place sucks, even if they do awesome work.
I think they need someone to schedule appts. for them, even for a consult so they are not interrupted and treat potential customers like crap. Will not go back there and will not recommend this place to anyone.
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These guys are amazingly talented artists. When I decided to get my first tattoo, I did lots of research and came across the website of Fip Buchanan... (www.fiptattoos.com), an experienced, accomplished tattooist who opened Avalon 2 in 1989. I was blown away by the quality of his work. I emailed Fip with my ideas and eagerness, and a few days later I stopped in to show him the piece I had designed. After seeing the Avalon 2 studio, meeting Fip and witnessing his knowledgeable and gentle demeanor, I felt totally confident. At that time (a few years ago), there was about a 6 week long wait to get in to see Fip... (nowadays I hear it's about a year or so.. that's how amazing this guy is).. The entire experience getting my first tattoo with Fip was fun, comfortable and addicting. After 2 hours of chatting (all the while being poked and vibrated repeatedly with needles) my first tattoo was finished. My tattoo came out even more beautiful than I had imagined it would. I get compliments continually, often from those who never really cared much for tattoos yet can't help but admire the quality of Fip's art. I plan on returning to Fip for more work in the near future, however I have two friends who get tattooed with other artists at Avalon 2 and their tattoos are beautiful and unique as well. Needless to say, I highly recommend stopping into Avalon 2 if you are thinking about getting inked... you'll thank me later.
PS. check out LOTS of pics of Fip's work at http://www.fiptattoos....
(my firstie is the 5th picture, 2nd row, red cherry blossoms)
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went here for my second tattoo, the first i got 2 years ago in arizona. since i'm relatively new to the area i looked around for reviews and photos and then tried driving around to different shops. i ended up settling on this one for the comfortable atmosphere, another i went to had this whole chrome/glass dentist office feel going on and smelled very chemical-y and i just couldn't get comfortable there. i know chemical smell could very possible be a good thing, signifying cleanliness, but i have issues with the whole sterile doctor's / dentist's office feel.
anyway, i was a bit worried because my first tattoo turned out so well that i wouldn't be nearly as pleased with my next one. this one hasn't even fully healed yet but i've been completely in love with it since day one.
also, kudos on the people skills. again, it's very important for me to feel comfortable when i'm getting something permanently etched into my skin and the artist who worked on me, denny, was an all around nice guy.
p.s. i was a random walk in, but it seems that you generally have to book well in advance with these guys. guess i got lucky.
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