Went (20/1/18) in planning to get a tattoo by Kirk George. I'd come from New Zealand and didn't want to miss out, so I got to the shop early. 5 mins till opening and the line was already 4 people deep. Unfortunately Kirk George was sick on the day I went in, but the girl behind the desk recommended Nathan Fischer. Well he did an amazing job. The whole experience was really good. The shop is clean and tidy, the artists are really nice. When you walk in you can really tell why they have such a great reputation. Read Less

I went for a walk-in on 2/24 for my first tattoo! The space is clean, modern, and comfortable (even if you're a ball of nerves like I was), and all of the staff people I interacted with were very calming and accommodating. I overheard some consultation-esque conversations, and it also seemed like the staff's priority is being honest with the clients when considering their wishes. After a brief wait, Nathan Fisher began drawing the design for me - he really worked with me (like, kind of a lot - I was probably super high-maintenance...I sorry) to come up with beautiful art that also was humanly possible to do, then we got started. I was super scared, but Nathan was so reassuring and put me at ease. And, so: my tattoo looks amazing, I love it so much. I also have been inundated with compliments, and it's only been three days. Nathan is extremely talented, professional, and kind and generally seems like a real cool dude. Go to Black 13 and see him. Start to finish, the experience was so wonderful, I can't recommend these folks highly enough. Read Less

The shop itself was very well designed and tasteful. Everyone was very friendly and made the atmosphere feel very home like. Very professional and clean, and really everything that you expect and want to see in a reputable tattoo shop. Jay was my artist and I am extremely pleased with the work that he did for me! Very professional and friendly, over all 10/10 would recommend! Read Less

Black 13 as a shop is very clean, very nice, and has an extremely good atmosphere. If you plan on going here, do yourself a favor and ONLY book through the shop. Do not contact the artist personally, go through the process the way it’s meant to be done. I went through the artist personally and it ended up being a negative experience for me. The owner, Doy, contacted me personally after leaving a bad review and I thank him for that! His care for the clients experience changed my original 1 star review, if it weren’t for him following up with me, my review and my opinion of this shop would be extremely negative. He handled my problem very professionally and shed some light on what went wrong. So as long as you go through the lengthy process of getting booked, I would recommend going here, that way there won’t be any miscommunication. Read Less

I've never had a horrible experience here. I had an appointment with Kirk last evening and it was AWESOME. I submitted artwork and sat down with him to discuss what I wanted and came back last night to get it tattooed on. He was very honest and diligent with the placing, making sure that the tattoo was right where I wanted it. He made me feel really comfortable and there were a lot of laughs. All I can say is he knocked it out of the park with this tattoo. He took what I asked and ran with it, it's beyond more than what I expected! Thanks again, Kirk. I'll be back for another session soon. Read Less

Big fan of this studio. I went here for my 4th tattoo and left very, very happy. They managed to give me an appointment just 4 days after I called. The tattoo I got was writing so I was a little nervous about how it would ultimately come out. I wasn't disappointed. The artist was friendly, thorough and very talented. The studio itself was clean, bright, welcoming and professional. Their prices are about average of what I expected to pay. I highly recommend this studio and wouldn't hesitate to go back again if I decided to get another tattoo. Read Less

Jay Q. is THE BEST AT SLEEVES AND HALF SLEEVES. Shading.. no problem. He is the BEST around. ALL THE ARTIST HERE HAVE UNBELIEVABLE TALENT. Whether your looking for a small piece to a whole sleeve or calf. This is the place to go. GREAT ENVIRONMENT. GREAT VIBE. AWESOME. Hands down best tattoo parlor in Tennessee. Read Less

Extremely professional, such a positive and friendly experience. I highly recommend Kirk if you're looking for a minimalist, black and white piece. I'm sure he would be great at color too, given the work I received. The staff at the front desk was very friendly and laughed at all of my dumb, nervous, pre-tattoo jitter jokes. I'll be coming her again, to be sure. Read Less

I absolutely loved my experience at Black 13! I was in town for a few days and got the chance to have a piece done by Kirk George. I didn't have an appointment but Kirk was super kind and excited to create a piece for me, even if it meant it took up much of his time. The quality is amazing and I can't wait to stop by there the next time I'm in town! Along with that, the staff is so nice and easy going. Sometimes tattoo shops can be intimidating and the staff as well, but everyone at Black 13 were so fun to chat with and answered any questions we had. Thank you all for an amazing experience! Read Less

I found them several years ago and have been coming back ever since! Their professionalism, cleanliness, friendliness is amazing! I had the pleasure of working with Brad Dozier this past appointment. He finished the color for a piece I started with Steve Martin a couple of years ago. I am more than satisfied! I do recommend calling/emailing ahead at least a couple days/weeks for an appointment. From what I can tell it seems hard to get an immediate walk in (it is possible) but....I personally feel better to be ocd extremely prepared for permanent art. Highly recommend Read Less

Great work. No appointment and managed to get worked-in in around five hours. Very clean, friendly place. Very happy with my first tattoo! Nathan took my initial design and put his own spin on it. His creation looked ten times better than the design I had picked out. Highly recommended. I will be back! Read Less

I came here for a relatively small tattoo, and I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to get one done as I had not made an appointment (when I had called beforehand, the receptionist had told me that they didn't take appointments for smaller designs), but I came in right around the time that they were opening, and I was in luck as there happened to be a cancellation. I got a small tattoo on my left wrist done by Amanda. It came out super neat. She was super professional and friendly, so that made my experience all the better. Recommended if you happen to be in the area and are looking to get a tattoo, but try to make an appointment beforehand, especially if you have a larger piece in mind (for reference, my tattoo came out to be about 3 inches wide). Read Less

Wow! Awesome experience from the very beginning! This team does it all right! The consultation by email, every phone call leading up to the appointment, and walking through the door - customer service at its best. I walked in with my husband (who had a 1:00pm appointment with Ryan T.). I thought I'd get worked in at some point during my husband's all day session, and luckily Kirk got right to me. I showed him a few pics of what I was going for and he had it sketched out and complete in no time! Seriously, quick and accurate. He's also a cool dude (as are all the crew we came in contact with) which made the experience even better. The cost was very reasonable and I'm 100% pleased! Read Less

Top quality tattoo parlor. Marty Mcewen did my first tattoo here. I still have 2 more sessions but so far I am extremely satisfied. Extremely clean environment. Very professional. Definitely coming back to get another tattoo. Read Less

This place is THE BEST. They were super helpful with getting my tattoo done in a timely fashion. Since I was coming from out of town to get it they had my artworks processed and ready at the beginning of the week and got me an appointment and ready to go! Brad was my artist. Super personable, great dude. 10/10 night recommend this place. Also, the butt chin painting is out of this world Read Less

My artist is Josh Woods and he always kills it . The shop has a really cool vibe and all the artist have their own specialty that they are masters at . I always recommend this shop to everyone . The only negative thing is you can't get right in , but that lets me know it's worth it . If your looking for a world class tattoo then call and set something up ! Read Less

Black 13 tattoo is the best shop I have ever been to! I have had 2 tattoos done by Jon Ragoe and they were awesome! Even over time they have held their color and people are amazed with the detail!! Marty also does really great work - I watched him tattoo as I was getting mine. You won't be disappointed with anything at black 13, just be sure to make an appointment early so u can get the artist you want because they usually have a waiting list. Read Less

Got my first ink here and it was a great experience. Giving a four due to initial artists time management.  I had to be switched to different artist- no biggie-I liked him better.  I had a simple  tattoo that was very meaningful to me.  Kirk was awesome and very thorough on how to take care of tattoo.  I have a feeling this is just the first of many! Read Less

I'm sure their tattoos are amazing because everyone says they are (so I'd feel bad for giving them three stars like I originally wanted to), but I'm just really disappointed with their customer service.  I called on Friday at 11:30am (30 mins before opening), leaving a message and asking for a return call because I was only in town until Monday and had heard AMAZING things about this place and just wanted a small tattoo.  When I didn't hear back by 3pm, I called again and there was no answer but I didn't leave another message.  The next day, I was in the area so I decided to stop by and see if they could squeeze me in.  The receptionist curtly said, "We're totally booked today."  And I said, "Awwww man!  I called yesterday twice and even left a message and I'm so sad no one called back because I've heard such good things!"  (I said this in a joke-y, pout-y sort of tone, that is clearly expressing disappointment, sadness, but was not critical or rude at all and even tried to compliment the place at the same time.)  She responded with way too much attitude saying, "Well we've been really busy."  Yo, lady.  I just walked in and saw NO ONE in the lobby, and you playing on the computer.  You're NOT too busy to call someone back and just say, "Sorry, we're fully booked.  Maybe next time you come back to Nashville."  Or even, "Hey come in and show us what you're trying to do and maybe we can squeeze you in before you leave town."  (I got it at Gold Club Electric, and it literally took him less than ten minutes.)  I actually would like to get one there in the future because of the great reviews, so hopefully this review doesn't make someone mess up my tattoo HAHA Read Less

This has nothing to do with Tattoos as I have none. This has to do with the guy's from Black 13. I met them during a tragic event for all of us, the funeral for their friend and brother Steve Martin Jr. Myself and Steve Sr. have been friends for 40 years and I was around for Steve Jr's childhood. I was very close to the whole family. I spoke to some of the guys from Black 13 as I was leaving the funeral home. I was hurting because Steve Sr Kim and the other kids were hurting. I told them who I was and shared some thoughts with them and it was as if we had all known each other for years. They drove from Nashville to Kingsport to pay their respects and put their friendship and love for Steve first over business. All of them are class acts as far as I am concerned. Steve had a great family at Black 13, everyone carry on his legacy by having this great bunch of men and women do your tattoos. Thanks again to all of the Black 13 employees for being great people and class acts. I will stop in and say hello next time I am in Nashville.Brian Davis,Kingsport, TN. Read Less

Kirk George was above exceptional! I went in at 12 on a Monday and was able to snag his last spot that night at 7.I was pretty vague in what I wanted when I first went in. I knew I wanted elephants. So they had me compile some photos and a description in an email for him. When I arrived at 6:30 he had a one of a kind design drawn up for me. He delivered something better than I had envisioned and the execution ended in a beautiful finished product. I was overwhelmed at how much I loved looking at my new pics for the first time. Thank you Kirt! You rock! I'll be back for sure! Read Less

I got an awesome tattoo done by Jay Quarles!! I could not be more happy with it! Every single day I hear someone say it is the best tattoo they have ever seen! I must agree. If you want a black and grey tattoo, Jay is your guy! Read Less

I got my first tattoo today at Black 13 by Josh Woods! I am absolutely in love with it. Everyone in the shop was kind and welcoming. I kept twitching during the process but Josh was patient with me and the tattoo still turned out amazing! No complaints here. I can't wait to get another Read Less

I chose Black 13 for my first tattoo because they seemed to be the most sanitary and have the highest quality artwork and I'm honestly so glad I did.From the moment I sent them my first email they were nothing but friendly and polite and undeniably helpful. Even when I was at my most confused and probably asked some stupid questions, they always answered with a smile. When it came to getting the tattoo, the artist (Steve Martin) was not only super invested but super nice! He cared about the details and how I felt and was really easy to talk to. He also took into consideration it was my first tattoo, and was encouraging and never condescending when I reacted to the pain.The environment was clean and sterile and all the other artists would walk by to comment on the work he was doing and they were all SUPER friendly too and funny. My tattoo came to a total of around 900 dollars which was entirely worth it. I couldn't have asked for a better first experience. They explained the aftercare process clearly, too. Which is a bonus because, yes please tell me how to not fuck this up because I do not want that LOL. All in all they were wonderful, sweet and passionate people and I'll definitely go back. Not to mention the artwork kicked major ass. Read Less

I absolutely 100% recommend this tattoo shop as well as Steve Martin. From the moment I walked in I felt comfortable. Patrick quickly greeted me and was super nice. I filled out a quick sheet agreeing that I was 18, wasn't drunk, high or anything else and that I knew all the rules. Steve brought me back to his chair and he took a lot of time figuring out exactly what I wanted and what would look good. I know I put a lot of pressure on him since the only guidelines I had sent beforehand was that I wanted a sweets themed half sleeve with a breast cancer ribbon and a tokidoki character somewhere in it. That's all I gave him. He took that and ran with it in an amazing direction. I took my phone, charger and headphones because I knew I would be in there for hours. I didn't end up needing my charger or headphones. Steve was very nice and we talked quite a bit. Marty came by a couple of times to look at how the tattoo was coming along and joked with us. We only got to the outline and shading of my half sleeve but I already love it and can't wait until it's finished. I can tell why they're popular but now I have to wait 2 months until I can get another session done. Patrick was very nice once again as I was paying and set up my next appt. He made sure I knew everything I needed to know before I walked out the door. I was just so impressed by everyone I encountered and the shop itself. Very clean and smelled good. Read Less

I am not creative enough or ambitious enough to write two different reviews so im using the same terrible review i used on a different review website... sorry \n\nI recently planned a vacation around going to nashville to get tattooed by TimmyB(a birthday gift to myself)...\nI live in MA and TN isnt exactly a day trip. This shop is pretty different than some of the other tattoo shops i have been in previously. The firs thing i noticed was how it was tucked away on the interior of a building, totally confused me. The next thing was the smell when you walked in the door. No idea what plug in stuff the use but it smells amazing. Lastly(there was more but im already going to make this too long) was the Music... very... interesting mix, i say this as a good thing, the music was everything i think at one point it went from the jackson 5 to some death metal with heavy guitar and double bass and what have you...What does all this have to do with tattoos? nothing... nothing at all. But it was certainly a + to my experience \n\nWhen timmyb showed me what he had drawn up it was exactly what i had asked for. This dude does some quality work. After the 8 or 9 hours i was there for i had a really fantastic chunk or art on my arm. The only complain i have about my entire visit was how brutal the chair i was in was. Its not often you get tattood for a long period of time and find more pain in your tail bone than in the fresh raw tattoo.\n\nWas my trip to nashville worth it? YES!\n\nWould i do it again? Sadly i am not made of money and work is difficult to accommodate multiple days off in a row so i probably will not be able to but i certainly would have tim do his thing and claim another chunk of skin as his canvas.\n\nWould i force a friend to go here over anywhere else? your damn right i would... again the distance would probably prevent this.\n\nOh one more thing... White hotel sheets and comforters and pillows dont look so nice when you wake up the day after the tattoo.... the plastic wrap did not make it through the night :/ Read Less

My reveiw of black 13 tattoo in nashvile tenn. is that there is nothing bad i can say about there establishment.From top to bottom they know how to get it done for you.Its the way all shops should be .My wife and i traveled there from N.Y after dicovering tattoo artist josh woods.what a great expierence we had being worked on by josh.His artwork is hands down some of the greatest i have seen.You give him an idea and he creates magic for u.Sitting in his chair for 6 hours watching ESPN,bulls@#$%ing, with each other was fantastic tattooing expierence. Dealing with one of the owners DOY was simply a pleasure .What a nice guy.Very attentive ,easy to talk to and he makes you feel at home.I can honestly say that you can not go wrong with black13 tattoo no matter what route u travel .all these guys are awesome and i highly reccommend you go visit these guys and if u dont you are defenitely missingout.from management doy and fred to the artist and owner josh or the other artists timmy,ian steve these guys want you leaving there the way i feel about them now-9WITH THE FEELING OF NOT BEING ABLE TO WAIT TILL YOU GET BACK) TRUST ME Read Less

From the time I got here to the time I left they were nothing but amazing. They worked with my design and turned it not only into something better, but something that I seriously enjoyed having done.\n\nRyan Thomas is an awesome guy and he is so talented. I really enjoyed being tattooed by him, and I don't want to go anywhere else after this tattoo. \n\nI had a pretty insane 6 hour rib tattoo. I felt comfortable and at home the whole time.\n\nProfessional shop. Professional artists. Laid back and homey feel. I will never go anywhere else. Definately worth the 2 hour drive. Read Less

Black 13 is beyond any tattoo parlor I have entered, the atmosphere was so upscale and had such creative style. I was greeted by everyone in the shop and it made me feel like I had been there before even though it was my first time. Josh Woods was the artist for my tattoo and I must say I LOVE it!!! He was such an awesome person to have met, he has style and a great sense of humor. I would recommend this shop to anyone that I encounter, I believe that each artist there has a style of thier own and whatever you are wanting in a design in a tattoo you will find a great tattoo artist here. The best there is........hands down... Read Less

They charge $100 to schedule an appointment and then refuse to refund your money even if you cancel way in advance. I've never been to a business that not only took your money for an appointment, but then refused to give it back. Read Less

Just a great frickin experience. Doy is about the most approachable person you'll meet; and the artists are second to none! I provided an idea and Josh ran with it. \nIf you're looking for ink and in Nashville - don't hesitate to visit; this is one great place. Read Less

Black 13 is THE place to get all your tattoo work done! I started over 2 years ago researching on where to get a memorial tattoo of my dad who passed in 2007. Every tattoo shop in the Nashville area except Black 13 had some kind of horror stories in the reviews I read. All my research kept sending me to Black 13. They have award winning artist that can do anything you can dream up. The atmosphere is so relaxing and friendly. And the professionalism is over the top. Steve Martin was the artist that did my tattoo. He did an EXCELLENT job on the portrait of my dad. It's AMAZING. I'm going back for another session to add a second part to it and I can't wait. If you want a piece of art on your body, this is the place. They have true ARTIST at Black 13. Every tattoo is customized just for you. Nashville is lucky to have a group of such talented artist in one shop. Thanks guys for a great experience. I look forward to many more!!!!! Read Less

From start to finish the entire process at Black 13 couldn't have been better. Doy was very courteous and quick with responses to my questions.\n\nThe shop is great in the layout and vibe. It's very laid back and welcoming. I knew I made the right choice as soon as I walked in.\n\nMy appointment was with Ian White, and he is an amazing artist. He was very attentive in listening to my ideas and making sure we got it perfect before we started. It was great to not feel rushed through the process. He was friendly and laid back throughout my session, and he made sure to explain everything I needed to do for aftercare. I walked out with a tattoo that is better than I could have imagined. \n\nWhen I am ready for my next tattoo, I will definitely be going back to Ian and Black 13.\n\nThanks guys for making my first tattoo a great time. I'll be spreading the good word. \n Read Less

The website, shop, artists, and management are all simply amazing. Doy was quick to answer any and all questions I had either via email or phone. The shop is immaculate and classic in it's design and decoration. The staff is extremely professional and the artists are unbelievably talented. Marty was able to take a vision I had in my head for my first tattoo and turn it into something beyond my wildest expectations. I walked in bound and determined to get ONE tattoo and left thinking about ideas for my next one. \n\nThanks gentlemen for a job well done. I'll be seeing you again in the near future.\n\n\n\n Read Less

My wife and I traveled from Seattle, WA to Nashville based entirely on the strength of Josh Woods' portfolio. We had been following Josh's work in any number of tattoo magazines over the last several months, and decided to see if he had any openings for a new client. The shop was extremely flexible with our scheduling, very friendly, and the process could not have been simpler -- let them know when we wanted what type / size of tattoo, put down a modest deposit, and away we go. Being so far away, Doy did a great job keeping up with my wife's thoughts for her upcoming tattoo, and was the epitome of courtesy and professionalism in the face of my wife's dozen e-mails or so.\n\nUpon finally arriving at Black 13, we found the shop to be very warm and much more contemporary than any other tattoo shops we had been in (from the Seattle area, anyway). There was absolutely no ""members only"" vibe in the place, and in fact, we overheard three other customer counseling sessions while we were waiting for the final artist proof and each time the office staff (Fred) was exceptionally patient and understanding, even helping one prospective client adjust her expectations associated with a particularly large piece that would have taken much longer than she was anticipating.\n\nThe work itself was first-rate. My wife even wanted a change made on the fly, and Josh smoothly made the updates right on her arm without a hitch. Artistically, Josh does color work in a fun, playful style that we have not often seen. So colorful and playful in fact, that I don't think people really believe it's a tattoo -- you know, the kind that involves needles and a good amount o' pain. That was exactly what we were looking for. My wife's tattoo took several hours, and came out beautifully, healing in no time. It may be stating the obvious, but listen carefully to the aftercare instructions and actually *do* it.\n\nI was impressed enough with Josh's work and the entire Black 13 experience that we're planning to make another trip from Seattle to Nashville in November (assuming Josh is still tattooing us regular folk at that time!).\n\nOh, and make sure to pick up a t-shirt or two on your way out -- they're awesome! Read Less

All the reviews I read before coming to Black 13 Tattoo were right! This is an awesome place to get your tatttoo. \n\nThe people are very friendly, professional and very talented. They'll work with you to turn your idea into reality and to express yourself through body art.\n\nThere's really good energy here. Laid back, and willing to help. Some tattoo parlors make you feel ""out of place"" because you don't fit the mold of someone who usually gets a tattoo. Not Black 13. They welcome you in.\n\nIf you've been afraid to get a tatttoo, then fear no more. They'll make you feel comfortable. As the description says, it's clean, professional and they make sure they do things right.\n\nPrior to coming to Black 13, I always got my tattoos when I was out of town. Now I'm so glad I have found a place in my hometown!\n\nWhat are you waiting for? Give them a call, or visit their shop!\n\n Read Less

I loved everything about the shop, the artist do great work, very professional, make you feel very welcome. I had my work done by Steve Martin & will be back with all the work that I want done in the future. Read Less

Loved the work done on my husband by Ian White. He created a very special tattoo, a white, celtic rose, and it is fabulous. Mr. White was extremely professional and made the experience more enjoyable. We will certainly be back. Read Less

Ok . . . me and a freind were in Nashville for the weekend and decided to get some ink done. I am really big on the vibe I get from a place and we visited one other tattoo parlor in downtown Nashville and no one spoke to us. We didn't get ""be with you in a minute"" we got nothing. I felt invisible. This place was not busy at all. So we leave and head to Black 13. We walk in and 1) The interior of the shop is amazing, there is a great atmosphere and it just kinda puts you at ease. 2) the guys were really nice, not condescending or intimidating. The artist are amazing. I just got a really simple tattoo (my third) and it was my friends first tattoo. She could not have asked for a better first tattoo experiance. All in all it was the best tattoo experiance I have had yet. I highly recommend this shop. I am from SC and would totally go back. Read Less

Very impressed with the cutomer service at the front of the shop! Doy is really great at managing the client to artist communications and scheduling.\n\nGot tattooed by Steve Martin- Great artist, very easy to communicate ideas too and a real professional. Can't wait for the second session to finish up a large peice and I am planning on getting few more tats from him. \n\nYou can't go wrong with any artist in the shop. I can't say that about other Tattoo Shops in town.\n\nThe shop itself is immaculate, clean, and upscale.\n\nIf you are thinking about getting work done, Black 13 is a sure thing! Read Less

Upon reading all the great reviews they have receive on this web site, I decided to check them out for my first tattoo. Called them, told them generally what I wanted and where it came from. When I arrived they had already reached the image and drawn up the sketch, putting to shame my rough drawing. 45 minutes later I'm out the door boasting my brand new tattoo. Exceedingly Professional, Very Clean, Skilled Artists. Don't look any further if your considering additions to your tattoo collection or your first one; this is the place. Read Less

After deciding to get a custom tattoo, I did extensive research and homework. I visited shops in and out of Tennessee. No where and nobody matched the artistic abilities and professionalism of the Black 13 staff and artists. From the minute I walked in I was treated like a welcomed guest. They spent time listening to me and offered creative advice in the process. This shop is upscale, clean and unmatched by any shop in the region. Period. The tattoos created by the artists speak for themselves. I highly recommend this shop. You will not be dissappointed. Read Less

Steve martin at black 13 took on my challenge of a marine tattoo. he took my crapy picture i had printed off and turned it into a freaking masterpiece. If u r looking for a tight tattoo go see the guys at black 13 Read Less