Guru Tattoo
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: Yes
32 reviews
San Jose, CA
"Players Ink is my new favorite spot... Although I didnt have one to begin with, I do have to say that everyone here makes awesome tats.…" read more »
22 Reviews for Guru Tattoo
Well our tattoos are finally done and they were well worth the long process it took!! I just uploaded a picture of my fairy on my back, and I really couldn't be happier. Both Shana and Che have such a good handle on colors.
Both my boyfriend and I are planning on coming back into Guru in the near future for more tattoos, and we're very excited. :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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03/24/2008
My boyfriend and I just went in to Guru this past weekend for two different tattoos. We are not new… Read more »
I got one of my tattoos here from Shana. I came in with my friend so she could get her cherry blossoms finished then I just decided right then and there I wanted a new tattoo. Shana was nice enough to just draw out what I wanted and tattoo me without an appointment. I got a cute little patch heart on left shoulder blade. The colors are so vibrant and everything. She even did my touch up for free. I really like the rest of the staff here, they're real easy and fun to talk to.
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Guru Tattoos is awesome! I just got my fist tattoo done there last week by Shana. [I put up photos of her tatting me and my boyfriend in the album]
I was so terrified before she started but the friendly artists, clean relaxing enviornment and awesome music made me feel much more comfortable. She also gave me a bunch of pillows to hold!
See she was doing my tattoo right after they closed to all of the other artists were surrounding me watching but once she told them I felt nervous they backed off and one by one checked on me to make sure I was doing ok. They were all such sweethearts!
As far as my tattoo experience goes, it was much less painful that I though and everyone made sure I was doing ok and not in too much pain. I got a tribal design with a colorful butterfly on my shoulder blade [I might add that to the album] They also gave me a great price for my design! Did not overcharge at all, honestly I think they undercharged a bit but I'm not complaining. ;) Shana's work came out beautiful! She is a wonderful tattoo artist!
Guru Tattoo is great place for everyone from first-timers to tattoo junkies. They have a clean interior with good music, sterile equipment, comfortable seating [for while you are getting tattooed] and most of all a kick ass staff!
I definitely recommend going here and I am looking forward to having Shana do many more of my tattoos in the future! =)
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I have only wanted a tattoo for 30 years, so when a group of my fourth-graders' moms bought me an end-of-the-year gift-certificate to Guru, I went and did the deed! When scheduling the appointment, Dave gave great information about who faints and who doesn't (Go, Women!). Shana took my idea for a sunflower tattoo and ran with it, adding interesting color and artistic touches that make everyone who's seen it green with envy! Yeah, I'm old and a big wuss, but Shana was an equal-opportunity artist, cheerfully giving me a GREAT design to wear back into the classroom! And that "green soap" smelled soooo GOOD, I bought some of my own on-line! Five happy camper stars for Shana and Guru!
I got my tattoo done here yesterday. From the moment you walk in the door and see the sign, "yeah, it f*cking hurts", you know you're in good hands. It was extremely busy when we went in.
The guys & girls here are all really talented, entertaining and professional. Also, it is an ultra clean establishment which was important to me. Dave, the proprietor ,sat me down on a big fat futon and we discussed what I should get, as he proceeded to take the piss out of all his staff and the clientele.... but he did it in a funny, intelligent and endearing manner. A very smart man indeed!
Che was able to do my tat the same afternoon. This guy is a big gentle giant. He had me laughing so hard I was frightened he would slip! Three hours later, one throbbing arm, I staggered out of Guru Tattoo with much respect and kudos for these folks.
I will be back again very soon!
Advice: I believe Dave is the most in demand so if you really want him, then be prepared for a +3 month wait.
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I'll update this entry later once I've actually been inked, but for now a review of the shop based on my looking for a new artist who can tattoo my parrots onto my arm.
I've been searching for a new tattoo artist, someone able to do photo-realism, someone who I liked personality-wise, someone who was in a shop that didn't have attitude or look down their noses at anyone who doesn't have sleeves or a full backpiece. The reviews here on Yelp were encouraging, so I checked out the website - and I LOVED that there are huge portfolios there, not just a few pieces!
Dave's portfolio really impressed me, so after work yesterday I drove over to check the place out. The sign over the door "YeahItFuckin'Hurts" made me laugh. I went in, the place is clean and well lit, so I pulled out my photoshopped "concept" picture to ask some questions.
Big pluses:
* They charge by the hour, not by the piece. I never again want the feeling that an artist is hurrying at the end because it took longer than they'd expected.
* Dave is booked out several months - but not out a year+ Being booked out means others think he's good and worth the wait, but beign booked out a year is just ridiculous and always seems to equate to a much higher hourly rate.
* All my questions were answered fully and politely, and when I was convcerned about the amount of time being booked (12-16 hours), Dave (who was tattooing someone else) took a quick look at my concept picture and confirmed it wasn't going to take nearly that long (phew ... I was doing the math for the total cost of the tat and thinking there's no way!)
All in all, I just felt that THIS is the right place and the right artist for this piece, so I booked my appointments, paid my deposit ... eee! I'm so excited. August can't come fast enough for me! :)
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Came back from Guru. Had a roman numeral done with my friend by Shauna (sorry if i spelled it wrong).
The place is strictly tattoo, strictly cash and strictly appointment. So plan accordingly.
All the artists there are like a big family just having fun tatting people up. They even have a cat running around.
Shauna took a lot of precautions in making everything sanitary which is always a plus.
I would recommend this place to anyone.
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I recommend Guru to everyone who's in need of some fresh ink. I've only had one of my tattoos done here, but it will for sure be the only shop I go to in San Jose from now on.
The place is clean, funky and very unpretentious. All the things that are important. I've been to quite a few tattoo shops in San Jose and Guru is the BEST. My artist Adrian got exactly what I was going for and I couldn't be happier. The rest of the crew is awesome too. Dave and Shana kept me entertained while we listened to Metallica and Guns & Roses (another testament to how cool the place really is).
The only drawback I know of is that it can be pretty busy. I would suggest making an appointment (even for a consultation).
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My friend recommended that I go to Guru tattoo when I was looking for a good artist for my fourth tattoo. Dawn was the artist and she is AMAZING!!! I get sooo many compliments on my tattoo to this day and it looks great. I had no running of the ink and it healed well. She took a long time to do my tattoo but in my opinion, that is what made it come out so great. She took her time and was so easy to talk to. Itw as nice to have a female doing my art work since some of the tattoo was on my rear and I couldn't be happier with the final results. Definitely see her if you are in the market for a great tattoo.
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I've only got one tiny tattoo done at this shop, but the experience was really good. I wanted to get a rune in memorial of one of my friends deaths, and I wanted it on the anniversary of his passing. I went in to get it priced a few weeks before, and they got me scheduled on the spot. I was scheduled with Shana, when I went into my appointment she had an actual bag of runes out and was informed on them, which was really cool. She was very nice, and took all the safety precautions an artist should. It was one of the better tattoo experiences I've had so far. The price was actually WORTH the size and colours of the ink, which is so rare to find in tattoo shops now a days. I'm looking into going back here for my next tattoo! note: YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THOUGH, I went there with my friend in a spur of the moment type thing and they wouldn't see her, this was super disapointing for her. so come in, get priced, and schedule.
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I really love the folks at Guru. I started going to Dave about 5 years ago... I have a lot of body work done so I can honestly say I am not a tattoo amateur. I know my shit! I have had work done by Dave and by Dawn (who unfortunately moved away :(... ) but overall this shop is cool to go to if you want to find an honest artist who wont rip you off. The shop itself is pretty cool, but what makes it is the artists. You guys rock!
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The staff is very chill and laid back, making the atmosphere very chill and laid back. Dave is incredibly nice. The shop is by far the cleanest one I have ever been to. Colorful and spacious. It seems to be busy all the time whenever I'm there. Got another tattoo done by Adrian. He's aiight. The tatt came out great. Will mos def be telling my friends about this place.
My friends are getting sleeves done here by Dave, the proprietor and Master of Tattoo Arts. He is phenomenally good ! I'm going to work with him on my next piece, a Russian nesting doll, even though I never thought I'd stray from my original artist at another shop. Dave is SO good at what he does, hilarious, understands what people want and works with them to achieve art that is perfect. Sometimes I just want to drive over and hang out with him.
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I got a tattoo done by Dawn last august for my B-day. I wanted a pair of cherubs w/ my girls names but didn't have much else for her to go on. Dawn took my little seed of an idea and turned it into a lovely piece of art, she looked at some pictures i had on my phone and tailored each cherub to resemble my babies. way more than I expected. she even fixed up my oldest name which had been done very poorly @ marks of art and I thought she would have to cover. I've since been back to have 2 more tattoos by Ahn, a band of shooting stars on my wrist and my salons name on the back of my neck, both get complemented daily. I LOVE Guru! The only down side is that the place is so nice, clean and the staff so friendly that you wont be able to stop going once you start.
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anh does a hella good job on my back so far and I havent even finished it. Its been a year but when im ready im go back to him. really good lettering
I got my latest tattoo here by Ahn. I really like it! He is really good at what he does, specializing in colors, asian art and lettering. I got cherry blossoms with my dad's initial's in old english, done in hot pink. He was nice to chat with during the time I was there, and my tattoo has come out beautful.
Its been two months since I have gotten this tattoo, and I have received TONS and TONS of compliments on it!!!
HIGHLY HIGHLY reccomended.
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The first is always special, especially if it's an ink )))
a friend of mine had wanted one since she was 15 - oh, i guess you don't know her age, but trust me, it's been awhile. When she was finally ready, she spend another year (-s) picking a design and, finally, 6 months to pick a place. Of course, I had to go and hold her hand throughout...
Dawn was wonderful - she calmed her down, made sure she was comfortable, and was always handing her the mirror so that she could see if it was coming out right.
I've gone to so many tattoo parlors with her before she came upon Guru's, I can't overestimate how great it was to be in a clean and friendly place with friendly faces and great art books to leaf through.
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I got my tattoo done by Dawn here at Guru last year and she did such an awesome job. The colors have not faded and her lines are sooo precise. Plus, it only costed me $80 =] Visit them, they're really friendly and the atmosphere is very friendly--checkered floors, yellow walls, fishies hanging from the ceiling. It's a really inviting place, unlike some other really freaky looking tattoo parlors.
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Dave did an armband on me a few years back. It was exactly what I asked for...I'd have like more of an artistic approach since I have no artistic talent whatsoever, but he was good.
Anally clean place, major plus. Nice people didn't seem stuck up or anything. He was cool the whole 2 1/2 hours of the process and let my friend sit by me and we all talked together.
Good aftercare also.
Side note- I'm getting the tattoo removed now, but not because he didn't do a good job. The ink is coming out evenly and nicely, not like another tattoo I'm having removed (done by someone else)
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I got both of my tattoos at this shop, the first was a diagram of a dopamine molecule on the back of my neck done by An a few years ago. I still get so many complements on it. it was done in very thin lines and they are still crisp and beautiful looking. last year when my kitty died I was devastated and knew I had to memorialize him in tattoo form. my sister had heard of people putting tiny amounts of cremated remains in the ink and suggested I do that. I thought that was a great idea and asked the nice folks at Guru if that would be possible. after hemming and hawing about it for a minute and me assuring them that it had been done before and was a sterile process, they agreed. a few weeks later I went under the needle for three hours with Dawn guiding and comforting me the whole way. the result was a beautiful chestpiece of my kitty with huge golden rennaissance style angel wings, sitting on a pretty cloud. I had only given her a loose idea of what I wanted and she turned it into a masterpiece. it's still gorgeous to this day. I only wish they accepted debit cards here, I was a bit caught off guard by that!
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I got my first tattoo done here by Shanna and she was amazing! I was really freaked out in the beginning, but she did a great job, really made me relax and made sure I wasn't in too much pain. The whole environment was great: everyone there was friendly and joking around. My tattoo isn't fully finished yet: some shading to do...but I'm already loving how it looks and can't wait to see the end result! I definitely recommend this place.
awesome work. turned out better than i thought. highly recommend this shop.
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