Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor

Just finished my third piece by Baba at vintage tattoo. He free hands everything from my basic idea and comes up with additions that make each piece a unique piece of art. Don’t be intimidated by the loud music or the old school look of the shop. It’s a f’ing time capsule and everything in the store has a great story that Baba is happy to share. If you want to see his work in person come by the pet store on Ave 51 and I’ll happily show off my amazing Baba tattoos.

I got my first tattoo by Karl, it’s perfect (_​) I love it. I will recommend my friend to get tattoo from Karl.

I normally don’t write Unilocal reviews at all but I had to with Vintage Tattoo. They were very snobby and had horrible costumer service. Went in for a lip piercing that came out crooked and ended up having to take it out the next day. Waste of time and money.
I don’t know how it’s been around for so long.

Old school amazing studio! I have only been worked on by the legendary Baba but all of the artists there are amazingly talented and professional. He is by far the very BEST freehand lettering artist I have ever seen. He’s also one of the last true gentleman around. I love all my pieces by Vintage tattoo!!! Great clean fun and REAL experience!!!

I love that everybody on here complaining calls their tattoos «tats» uhg. That’s the worst douchebag tattoo lingo ever!!! I have been around tattoo shops my whole life and every shop has its own vibe. Vintage is the real deal… Yes, Baba has his personality and if you don’t like it, oh well, you’ll leave with an amazing tattoo and only a tiny part of your life was spent with him. Get over yourselves!!!
I know people that have worked for/​with Baba and I know people who he has mentored, they are all successful and wouldn’t be where they are if it wasn’t for Vintage. I have been tattooed by Baba several times, I have a lot of friends that have been tattooed by him and everyone is stoked on their tattoos and the price and experience. I even brought my 20 yr old step daughter in to get tattooed, knowing Baba can be crass, I didn’t even feel the need to ask him to tone it down. He gave her a great tattoo and was a total gentleman!
If you want some meaningless tattoo by some faceless tattoo artist soldier, go to one of the million new pop up tattoo shops you can find on every corner in LA. If you want a real tattoo by a real artist go to Vintage. They are old school and have dedicated their blood sweat and tears into their art.

This place is terrible for piercings got my septum done & it came out crooked! I had to take it out and pierce it again somewhere else.
The guy that pierced me «Andrew» told me it would come crooked because of my nose & true to his word it did.
But then I went somewhere else for a second opinion, first they commented on how terrible the job was & then they fixed it for free. That’s how terrible it was.
Sucks to be pierced twice in one day.
Just so you guys know my piercing is no longer crooked. This guy obviously has no experience.

My review is for one of the artist Andrew. Been here multiple times after being referred by a friend. Wanted a cover up, gave him a few ideas, told him what I had in mind and left the artist ability up to him. What he did was amazing! Over a year later I still get compliments on it and people asking where I got it from. I’ve also had a few other new pieces done, no trouble with any of them. His work just get better and better. If you’re looking for a good artist I definitely recommend coming in and giving him a try, you won’t be disappointed.

So I rarely (more like never) give negative reviews. I went in during art walk. I had three people getting tattoos and the first two were beautiful. The third would have been but the artist made his H look like an N and then got combative when it was suggested that he fix it. I understand being protective of your art but I don’t understand not having any modicum of customer service… thank you for throwing us out before you defaced my brother in laws body. Cover ups and removals cost far more than the initial tattoo. I promise to post picture of our «Hilda» to support my review.

I’ve read all the bad reviews and I have to say I’ve been here twice and have had pleasant experiences both times. And I plan on going back. Andrew is a good kid and a fine tattoo artist. Thanks for the ink homie.

I’m posting this cause my last review got filtered to the «not recommended» reviews… really Unilocal?!
Anyway,
Talk about over confident. I came here during the week to get a tattoo. (my first tattoo). I came here cause a friend of mine got a decent tattoo a while back by Baba.
Anyway, I didn’t get a tattoo by Baba… this guys name was ANDREW. I came to get a tattoo of a rose. And I was pretty specific on what I didn’t want.
He assured me not to worry and came off as he knew what he was doing. I wanted a rose on my arm that was «realistic» and wanted some shadowing on it.
When he did the outline on my arm everything looked good and I was excited. But when he was done I didn’t get the realistic rose I wanted. Instead, I got everything I didn’t want. A crappy, basic, cartoon looking rose with shadowing that really looked nothing like shadowing.
To pay 150 an hour for a slow and inexperienced artist is just a joke. And it’s a joke for an artist to take on a tattoo he probably knew he couldn’t do and scar someone for life. (Very unprofessional) Now I’m paying over 4,000 dollars to get it removed. Yes, ‘four thousand’. Cause there’s no way of covering it.

I love Baba’s tattoos! I only get my tattoos done by him. He is very good at free handing his tattoos and he adds his own style to it that makes it unique even if you give him a picture example. He’s also good at having a good conversation while he works on your tattoo. At times he may seem vulgar but I’ve come to realize that that’s just his sense of humor and personality. He has a lot of interesting stories to tell about his tattooing travels!
My friend got a tattoo done by Andrew. She was hesitant because there was a previous tattoo on here that wasn’t very good. Her tattoo was a dream catcher with a sunflower and was absolutely gorgeous! Andrew did a fabulous job on hers as well. Thanks for the great experience Baba and Andrew!

Yeah it’s a little intimidating but I’ve always had a really good experience at Vintage. I’ve had my nose/​septum pierced 3 times here, and this establishment has always come through. The staff is usually pretty nice, and it’s been different faces everytime I’ve gone in. I had my nose pierced by Baba himself and he was actually really cool. He then offered advices on how to cover my forearm tattoo and drew me a really good freehand of Alex DeLarge.

I’ve been tattooed by Baba and Rick Walters at Vintage Tattoo and have had nothing but good experiences there. It’s on old-​school tattoo shop that feels like the interior of a punk rock club, expect it to be a little messy and cluttered, with artwork and graffiti on the wall, ceilings, etc. That’s part of it’s charm. Don’t expect a modern, well organized space where they serve you lattes while you’re getting inked. As for the artists themselves, they are from another era of tattooing (think like biker era), and they can be a little obnoxious to some people but once you get to know them they are nice guys and very personable.

I visited this establishment a few years ago to replace a lip ring that I accidentally yanked out, and I vowed to NEVER refer anyone to this establishment and to never return after receiving extremely rude treatment and nasty looks from the employees. I happen to live in the neighborhood and know many piercers and tattoo artists who own their own shops and do not treat customers so rudely and as if they are cooler than thou. Give me a break… these people are a joke!!!

I meet with Shaun Kama at this shop, he’s not one of the regular artists there, he’s appointment only and I’ve met with him at a few different shops. I don’t know about the other regular artists, but I get excellent work from Shaun and when we meet there his work station is clean and prepared before I even get there.
The shop is pretty dirty and unorganized, they all use common sanitary practices (gloves, new sealed needles, etc). but the owner really needs to work on just cleaning the general area. Thats a turn off to people as soon as they walk through the door. I’m grateful Shaun will meet me there though since I live close to it, he does work from many different shops but they’re a far drive for me.
I’ve not been tattooed by Baba or the regular artists there, I don’t even think there are other regular artists cause there seems to be new employees there everytime I go. I’ve seen Baba be kind of pervy and unprofessional. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that kind of junk from my artist.

Fantastic artists here– got an addition to my Irish Tat a while back… BaBa did a great job on it… too bad he’s an asshole who is totally full of himself, a constant «know it all» and shit talking negativity in the shop.

Been getting tattooed by Baba since the 90’s. I think its funny people on here judging a tattoo shop on the artist humor or lack there of. Ya he’s a perv, big deal. He is also one of the top tattoo guys in the world. You’re only in the shop for small part of your life. The art is for your life. Long after you forget Baba’s jokes you will still have a sick ass tattoo from him. I for one like his crass jokes.
If you’re a pussy and want to go to the gap to get your tattoo this aint the place for you. If the quality of the art is more important than any thing else. You’ll get great work here. especially lettering. Dude is famous for it.

Hey… This is the Unilocalers girlfriend here. I had to jump in and comment on my fantastic experience today!
I met Baba at the NYC tattoo convention yesterday. After a brief conversation and a look at his book I knew I had found the perfect person to do my first tattoo. I couldn’t believe my luck when he was available today.
The piece that he did for me, I’ve been waiting to have done for years now… It is a very sentimental song title. Mega bonus points for having me pull up the lyrics as he wasn’t familiar with the band! He then free handed an outline, which was absolutely perfect. More bonus points came when I mentioned some piercings I will eventually be getting and he consulted with the shops piercing staff as to how the design will allow future work.
Then we got down to the needles… Baba was patient, conversational, and just plain fun to listen to. He is super candid and calls it like he sees it. These are traits I really respect and he made me very comfortable. As I mentioned this was my first tattoo and he let me know what to expect. There weren’t any surprises and I had no need to flinch.
The art work is beautiful. It’s better than anything I could have come up with and is supremely well executed. I’m excited to see it heal and become even more impressive.
Will he act like a white glove butler at a dinner party… No
Will your art be something you can truly be proud of… Yes

So… I got my first tattoo here. By Baba, who really was a total anus. He wanted to do a «real» tattoo instead of something i had drawn up myself. I wanted him to make it a good piece of work but he just stenciled it and threw it on. He gave me a good price. But they are totally perverted, hence the «pocket p*ssies» in the restroom. i dont mind the dirty humor, as long as it’s humorous. Which it wasn’t. So really, DONT come here. I’m now sleeved up and work at a tattoo parlor. (&Tattoo parlors are friends with other tattoo parlors, so it’s not competition.)
The work is mediocre,
The price is whatevs,
The service is horrible,
It’s unsanitary and overall rude.

Ummmmmm. really? What’s vintage about it? Horrible attitude. I walked in to check the place out, because I Have some friends who live in the area. They approached me like they were the best tattooers on the planet. The place smelled like ass, and the work they displayed was nothing to rave about. I read about the negative reviews, but I wanted to see for myself before I pass on judgement. Tone down your cool toughguy image and remember your customers is what pays your bills.
I know old school tattooer Rick Walters works there, but unfortunately he wasn’t on site that day.