Got my first tattoo from Chummy last week.  He was terrific.  Happy to take the graphic I brought in, explained what I should expect each step of the way, did an excellent job with the black line art.  He was friendly and humorous.  He prepared me for more discomfort than I experienced so the actuality was easy.  (In fact, I experienced almost none, much less than I expected, nothing rising to the level of pain.)  he clearly explained the importance and details of aftercare to me.  I'd prepared myself with a fair bit of reading in advance, so I knew he was giving me good and complete info.  I was really delighted with his work, every step of the way! Read Less

I don't usually post to Yelp, but I had to for this shop. Highly recommend coming here. I got a sleeve done by Hector and he killed it. I gave him a pretty basic outline of what I wanted for the sleeve (told him the style, colors, and elements that I wanted incorporated) and put the rest in his hands. I was not disappointed. I spent a good amount of time here over the last 4 months (14 sessions I think) and although I have not personally had any work done by Chummy I've seen a lot of his work because he's stationed by Hector. Both guys are as professional as it gets and do outstanding work. Read Less

I am so grateful to Chummy! If I am lucky...I will get many more from him! The first tattoo he did for me was several years ago now and I am still getting asked if its new. My second time I got to work with him, I thought I had a cool tattoo....until Chummy fixed it...now I see my last one was terrible!!! And now I am so happy with my tattoo!!! I get compliments ALL the time! People asking me where I got it done...and who did it!!! I got my most dope piece here...from Chummy!!! And more to come! It's so worth the pain to have his art! What an artist!!! I'm so so so happy!!! Read Less

My Sister, brothers and I have been going to Tattoo 13 for years. The artists are awesome down to earth but professional. With the exception of my first I've gotten all my work done here in the beautiful neighborhood I grew up in. Chummy is phonaminal at making bright colors really pop on dark skin. Read Less

My Sister, brothers and I have been going to Tattoo 13 for years. The artists are awesome down to earth but professional. With the exception of my first I've gotten all my work done here in the beautiful neighborhood I grew up in. Chummy is phonaminal at making bright colors really pop on dark skin. Read Less

Great shop- fun atmosphere-  Chummy gave me a great tattoo-  Took my most basic idea and worked it into my other tattoos, both thematically and design wise.  A beautiful piece of work soundly based in traditional american, but with plenty of pop and pizzazz .  Just what was needed. Read Less

I came here because of the high rating, but DO NOT be fooled! I worked with Stash for a while and he was horrible. I had an idea of what I wanted for my tattoo and he kept going on and on and on about other ideas. Dude, it's my tattoo! I also wanted to know what his art would look like before getting the actual tattoo, but he wanted me to get inked about 10 minutes upon meeting him. Did he just want quick money? I said I wanted a smaller tattoo and he said he thinks it should be bigger, suggesting he wanted more money. I don't mind paying for a big tattoo, but I wanted a small tattoo on MY body. Upon leaving, he said "let me know if you decide to get a tattoo" which I found super offensive! I KNOW I will be getting a tattoo (which I told him, which he ignored). Honestly, I am certain he racially profiled me, believing I would not get a tattoo based on my looks. Well! Just to let you know, I will be getting MY tattoo with MY idea, just not from him.P.S. While leaving this review, I skimmed through other reviews about him and I am EXTREMELY glad I did not get a tattoo from him. Save yourself some time and skip this place. Read Less

Sonju is an amazing artist! I love my tattoo and so do others! He's very experienced and knowledgeable. This is my 10th tattoo and he did a great job integrating the new piece into the older ones. Oh and they played rockin awesome music during to keep my mind occupied! I'm definitely going back for more! Read Less

I am 71. 5 years ago I got a tattoo here by Stash and I have been getting compliments for 5 years.  I just got my second tattoo from Chumly (spelling?) and I could not be more pleased with the service, friendliness and artistic skill transferring my desire into a tattoo that puts a smile on my face. Read Less

Stash is the man. I showed him a few photos and he worked his magic. It was the hardest spot I've been tattooed on in terms of pain but he was very gentle and let me take breaks whenever I needed. My husband and I have a few tattoos by him and we love them all. He is always very honest, easy to work with and fun to hang with. He's fair with pricing, gave great advice for after being tattooed and addressed any concerns I had before our session via text. Will be back:-) Read Less

This shop is located in Oakland, therefore, it is pretty small.  There is an upstairs part with additional artists, but the atmosphere is noisy and crowded.  I am looking forward to working with Hector and scheduling an appointment during a less busy time, however, the shop seems to be popular with good artists.  Average price at $150/hr Read Less

(note: the one star rating is not for tattoo 13, but for one of their artists named "Stash") Dear "Stash" aka 'Damian Kress' (and/or anybody who has been over-inked by him). Moe D (the owner of Zebra) directed me here- to tattoo 13, where I was told you are now located.It being my second tattoo, I was young and I didn't know anything about the world of tattoo artists and I figured it was just a outline of flash, how could you mess it up? Well, let me just say I have since realized it was -wrong- of you to keep me in that chair for almost five hours -- while you went over and over on the same simple line with a very heavy hand -- on my hip-pelvic bone area.It was also -wrong- of you to ask me to rest my hand on your crotch. There was probably a better place to rest my hand, but you didn't give me that option.End result: an over-inked tattoo, in a very sensitive area. The ink leaked and has "bled" out to the surrounding skin since day one, getting worse over time. These lines are so over-inked they bulged with ink even ten years in. They get hot and cause pain. The "lines" eventually feathering out so as to become aprox 1/2 of an inch thick in some spots. Even after two removal treatments, which caused me a lot of physical sickness each treatment; the lines are still very over-inked.I read on yelp you also over-inked others as well. I can hope their experience wasn't was as sleazy as mine -- but you should know that you aren't "all that". You acted like it was your right to over-ink me in that way, it's obvious to me now that you abused your position and seemed to be  "getting off " on it, and like I said, had I not been so young and inexperienced in the world of tattoos, perhaps I wouldn't have to bear this wound you put into my skin. The tattoo is making me ill both physically and emotionally and I can't afford (or endure) anymore removal at this point. Part of the emotional sickness is coming from the fact that it is on my pelvic-bone and the memories of you abusing your position while you inked and inked, over and over, for almost five hours -- now I know that tattoo could, or should have taken 20 mins tops.  I ask you pray for me, as I am praying for you.update: Look, "Stash", had I gotten a response from you on my last post, with some kind of apology it would have gone very far, because I know we all make mistakes... and I know you are a human being and everything, so I try to have compassion for my fellow human -- but so were the Nazis, human beings. Like them, you abused your position and seemed to get off on it, And truth be told, I feel worse about you with each passing day. This Hideous excuse for a tattoo. You did me wrong, but I AM BUILDING UP MY STRENGTH so that I can endure the nausea and other symptoms that the removal process has caused me in the past. Oh. P.S. There was always a "bump" of ink, where you finished the tat, a swelling. Some kind of bizarre signature. Always red around it. My personal thought is that there was infection there from that day you trapped me in the chair for five hours, when it should have been less than an hour -- going over and over one outline on my hip bone. Anyway, I think you should know you have not defeated me and MY WILL is stronger than your SHITTY WORK and eventually I WILL be able to remove it from my body. Read Less

I wanted a small heart on my forearm. The girl gave me a disgusted look and told me she couldn't make it as small as I wanted and drew a huge heart telling me that's as small as she could go. Sorry I didn't look the part lady. Sorry i didn't fit into your little box of who is good enough to get whatever tattoo they please. I got my heart done; 8 years ago; and no ... It wasn't too small...and no...it didn't bleed. Read Less

I love this shop, I get tattooed by Hector Fong, he's fast and light. Always communicates clearly and he's very nice. If you have a few ideas you can bounce them off of him and he will come up with a great design. Read Less

After being recommended to Tattoo 13 I made an appointment with Chummy for my first ink! The experience couldn't have been better. Chummy was a great artist, let me ask him to resize the drawing maybe 5 times without making me feel rushed or impolite. The tattoo turned out way better than expected and the price was cheaper than I thought it would be. And he made me feel comfortable and had me laughing all the way through - while knowing it was my first tattoo and that I was a little nervous. Couldn't be happier. Thanks Chummy!!! Read Less

Chummy is amazing!  Not only he is a true artist but he is also extremely nice, every time I been here I had a great experience , he is super professional and don't have the attitude that you will find at others shops.If you are looking for someone talented, cool and very reasonable priced Chummy is your man , he will make u feel at ease and he is a great  conversationalist and you won't be bored while he does his magik :) Read Less

Hector is my favorite tattoo artist here. He's done a lot of my work. He's really cool and always has a smile on his face. He loves what he does. I get tons of compliments on the work he's done. His work is  clean and the color is always on point. I recommend checking him out, you won't be disappointed I also got a Morrissey tattoo by Stash and he does an awesome clean job as well. All the guys here are way cool and great artists. Stop by the shop and check out their work Read Less

After soliciting friends for tattoo studio recommendations, Tattoo 13 was becoming a clear favorite. A week later, I call in and stop by for a consultation with Chummy and immediately felt comfortable and excited about the ideas I'd brought in. I made an appointment for a couple of weeks later, and once I did, Chummy was once again warm and friendly and helped the two hours pass by in a heartbeat. More importantly, he did a perfect interpretation of the artwork I'd used for inspiration and I was so overjoyed I hugged the poor guy not once, but twice. I'm pretty sure I had hearts coming out of my eyes but the time I left. Great shop, everyone there is friendly and cool as hell, but specifically Chummy is my guy. Love this place! Read Less

Got two wrists tattooed here a couple years back by Hector Fong.Can highly recommend them, and Hector in particular.I'm very satisfied with my tattoos and they are holding up nicely, no colour fading so far. Read Less

I'm here for the umpteenth time. My artist? Hector Fong. So, Yelp hates Hector? Not everyone on Yelp! I started getting inked by Hector about three years ago. I started with a sacred heart on my foot. I followed up with a huge Virgin de Guadalupe on my leg. After my mom passed away, I wanted to get a memorial for her. The man?  Hector. What did he do?  He nailed it. Fast forward to today....  Hector has started a memorial sleeve on my arm, and I'm here to add to it. When all is said and done, I'll have a sleeve of Hector's art.  I'm proud to wear them. I've had nothing but positive comments from folks about my ink. Thank you Hector. You are an awesome artist, and a down to earth, nice person to deal with. Read Less

So, I've only had experience with one artist here: Karl Fisher. I would highly recommend him. I had an UGLY, very black armband that was free about 13 years ago. I've spent that long trying to get it covered up. I've gone to about 10 artists that were highly recommended throughout the Bay Area, and all of them said stuff like ""we could make your whole arm black,"" or ""How about a giant scarab?"" They didn't want to take the time to think of what COULD be done, so they just wanted to cover me in black ink. I think because I was not sleeved, they didn't take me seriously. I left those places fighting back tears. A tattoo is an important thing, right? Karl does beautiful work. He drew a design after talking to me at length (and of course with a deposit), and modified it when I asked. There were certain things he thought would look bad and wouldn't do, and he communicated to me about WHY. He kept making sure I was ok during the 4 hour session. My black armband has now been covered mostly in blue. It looks awesome, and I am super happy about it. Read Less