Analog Tattoo

Ok, sadly if I could give a ZERO, I would. I was referred to Matt Shamah by my student. I went for a consultation which was scheduled promptly. He literally spent 30 seconds with me and told me to email him the images, so he could draw things for me. He took $ 100 deposit from me to book the date. We scheduled the appointment. He then told me that he would email me sketches at least a day in advance, so if I did not like them, he would redo them. Well, this NEVER happened. I emailed him beforehand, but again NO response from him. I then went ahead and CANCELED my appointment (after hours) a day before I was scheduled to have it done. I gave the studio until the last minute to go ahead and contact me, which again NEVER happened. On the day of the scheduled appointment, Matt texted me at 10 am (the time of the appointment) that he will be late. This is the first time I got any contact with him. I told him that I cancelled because I have not heard from him, and I do not feel comfortable putting a permanent thing on my body without seeing the pictures. He told me that he had sketches for me, so I asked to have them emailed to me. I provided the email again, but he did NOT send me anything. Now, the studio does NOT want to give me my deposit back because they said that I canceled last minute and Matt lost money. Really??? I was doing everything I could to get in contact with him to even schedule a new appointment, but he did not send me any sketches. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THIS PLACE. PROFESSIONALISM IS NOT SOMETHING WHAT THIS PLACE KNOWS. It is sad because the artists who work there are really talented. DO NOT LEAVE ANY DEPOSIT MONEY UNTIL THEY SEND YOU SKETCHES.

I went here originally to inquire how much a tattoo would cost and if their artist could possibly do it and the employees here were friendly. I talked to Nate and asked him what he thought about my tattoo idea. We chatted for a bit and it seemed like he knew what he was talking about.
He did inform me that there is a $ 100 minimum and he was willing to work around if my tattoo was small enough. Great place, they made it very comfortable for me here.

Went down to Analog yesterday and had the best experience ever! Had an old cover up that needed revamping … Nate did an excellent job! The atmosphere was very welcoming, he was very professional and courteous. I walked out very happy with the work that had been done and will defiantly be going back. I will for sure be recommending Analog to all my peeps. (he also gave me some great advice, no more living room tattoos haha)
Thanks for the great work NATE!!!

This review is for Matt Shamah:
I was priviledged enough to acquire three gorgeous tattoos by Matt back in ²⁰⁰⁶⁄₂₀₀₇ while he was an artist at New Skool Tattoo. I originally had went in to see about getting tattooed by Paco Excel, but once I flipped open Matt’s portfolio, my mind was made up! His colors are beautiful, bold, and bright, even after 9 years my tattoos are still vibrant! I still get asked to the very day who did my work and get complimented!
For the negative reviews, you have to understand that a deposit is a guranteed fee for their time. Sometimes artists spend their free time out of work drawing up patterns, just for the client to bail out last minute! It’s unfair to complain about a shop minimum and imply that it’s a rip off for a tattoo that took ²⁄₃ minutes. In all fairness, it’s their time, skills, patience, talents that YOU are benefiting from. I guess it falls back into the «you get what you pay for» motto. Mind you, these artists are not paid hourly wages and work independently. Please DON’T complain about a $ 100 deposit or having to tip your artist! It’s tacky and rude to do such a thing!

Matt traveled A LOT however, he ALWAYS made time and accomodated my schedule, even staying later than shop hours just to tattoo me. He was very comforting in the sense that this being my first «big» tattoo, he made me feel relaxed. He was easy to get along with and played GOOD music, mostly he’d sing along aloud which was funny. He’s very genuine in the sense that he took care of me and made sure that his work was to my satisfaction. He never treated me disrespectfully, and honored my ideas. I have spent hundreds of dollars with Matt and it’s a bummer that I moved down south middle of 2007. Otherwise, I don’t doubt that by now, I would’ve been completely covered in Matt’s gorgeous art. Maybe if I’m ever back in the San Jose area I would be so lucky to add to my growing collection by Matt!

I’ve been here twice during the hours they say they are open and the door is locked and no one answers the phone. The quality of work is great from the friends I have seen with their work. I’m looking forward to getting in to see someone and updating the review when that happens

I went in with the intentions of getting Matt for a tattoo after being really wowed by his work. He did an outline of my body and a quick consult of what the concept we wanted. I gave him $ 100 deposit he wanted to have me back in later but kept canceling his appointment because he was going out of town for different tattoos. Luckily nothing was ever started on the work because I ended up moving to San Diego after he canceled on me numerous times. I talked to the shop who said he agreed to refund my hundred dollars and I gave them my address to send it. I followed up four or five times with phone calls they apologized and said they would send it.
Its two years later I still don’t have my hundred dollar refund.

Ron is solid! Been years since I have done work but he did my brothers bio mech sleeve back at new school and my shoulder to shoulder tribal/​bio mech back piece!
Nice dude was willing to done something I don’t think he a) normally does and b) doesn’t specialize in (tribal) and blended it amazingly with his world rebound bio mech!
Cheers!

This place is amazing! Andre did my husbands sleeve and two cover is on my back are still in progress. The guys at the front desk are so nice and humble and is defiantly worth the extra money. I won’t go anywhere else

Although my appointment was cancelled once, and we had a miscommunication on another appt. i still think this place is pretty awesome. despite some of the long wait time i really think my artist Andre is amazing. All the other artists here have very unique styles. Getting a tattoo is a big thing and shouldn’t be rushed. I really appreciate the time he took to draw my sleeve. As far as the price goes it’s pretty decent. Even if it wasn’t i wouldn’t mind because this is something you’d have forever on your body, and i’d want the best.
Can’t wait to be back to get my next session!
oh, the only thing i hate is that this place is downtown. hard to find parking XD
at least they have a nice comfy couch, ipad to browse with, and free coffee!

I started my relationship with Analog in 2008 and I think it’s about time I left a review!
I want to point out why analog has earned 5 stars and give a few tips so you’re not the reviewer that ends up writing a 1 star review on here. Every artist at Analog is talented further than I can explain in a Unilocal review. Matt, Jim, Ron, and of course Adrian have an incredible amount of experience and are known throughout the world. Not the bay area. the world. The shop has done an incredible job recruiting additional talent. Both Andre and Megan are solid and I guarantee they produce work far superior than what you’re use to.
With great talent comes… great demand. I’ve spent a lot of time there getting different large pieces. It is not uncommon to learn the client next to you is from a different country and is visiting just to get a tattoo from one of these guys!
Here are some tips to avoid disappointment:
1. Be cool and trust the process.
I’m not talking about the Fonz cool, I’m talking about don’t be an asshole. Don’t try to run the show because it’s your tattoo. You’re in talented hands, it’s time to trust. No one wants to spend hours of their time with an asshole.
2. Have an open idea and choose the right tattooer that fits your style.
If you’ve seen their portfolios do you really need to see the drawing way ahead of time? Shouldn’t you already be able to have an idea of what it will look like if you’ve discussed the general idea and seen their previous work? The more freedom you give, the much better off you will be. I promise.
3. Be flexible with scheduling.
You might get cancelled. Yes some tattooers are more reliable that others, but I’m sure even Justin Bieber cancelled some gigs when he was famous. It happens! Get over it. At least when you’re done complaining you’ll have a bad ass tattoo!
Analog makes incredible tattoos! If you’ve visited the shop and seen their books and portfolios you know this! You might get right on in, you might gotta wait. It don’t matter because it’s worth it!
Anyone complaining on here obviously is jealous because they don’t have an analog tattoo!

This is an awesome shop. All of the artists at Analog are extremely talented and each has a unique style.
I have been getting tattooed by Matt Shamah since pretty much the beginning of time. I have two full sleeves and two chest panels and I am starting on my back piece /​suit in a couple of months. When all is said and done, Matt will have tattooed pretty much all of my body. I trust his vision completely. All I do is give him a rough idea of what I want and then I let him run with the rest (design, color, placement, background and other suggestions). He has never let me down.
Artistic ability aside, Matt has always been really easy to work with whether that means squeezing me in when he has a cancellation or dealing with my reschedules and cancellations (sometimes last minute) due to my hectic schedule.
Although there are plenty of talented artists out there and price and location were never really limiting factors for me, I have not once in the several years that I have been getting tattooed by Matt, considered getting tattooed by anyone else.

Let me clear things up since Bryan, the reviewer below me doesn’t seem to understand…
I gave Matt a deposit to do a full sleeve, and HE agreed that we should be able to get started within a couple months. Two months pass, no drawing in sight, and Matt goes out of the country on vacation. Three months pass, still no drawing. .. Four months pass, still no drawing and Matt moves our appointment back because he has to attend his sister’s wedding. 5 MONTHS after my initial deposit and I still had not even seen a goddam drawing! That is just not right.
The fact is I PAID someone to do a job within a said amount of time. If you can’t do it, don’t agree to it, and don’t take someone’s money. Simple as that. I understand the need to be patient, but my story is not what you call a «lack of patience». It is more like getting strung along over and over again. I’m a reasonable person and I understand that life happens and sometimes you just can’t observe your commitments. If that’s the case, then be fair and return the money that was paid for a job that you didn’t do.
So Bryan, don’t call me out because I have a very good reason to write a negative review. You may have had a good experience with Matt, but he’s a POS from mine.

This ones for Megan Wilson. Tattooing me since mid 2012
I’ve gotten 3 pieces from Megan. She specializes in traditional tattoos. I’ve never thought much about traditional tattoos until i got my first 2 on my feet. I cant say how much i love them. She’s quick, easy to talk to, super funny and sweet (hello she bought me candy when i thought i was gonna pass out getting my feet done)
Did i say she does awesome script!
If your looking for beautiful traditional tattoos, check Megan out :)

I need to stand up for my hommie M. Shamah in lite of Mitchell W.‘s post. Mitchell is full on shit, as I know Matt is busy but always willing to work on scheduling from my years of experience with him. Maybe Mitchell should check his schedule a bit more before trying to throw people under the bus. You’ve got to pay your dues to get equal respect chump, it starts with patience.
First off Matt has been tattooing me since 2009, through these years he has created some outstanding tattoo artistry for me. A half sleeve, shoulder, chest and partial back traditional Japanese Phoenix piece, a forearm memorial piece and now a traditional Japanese Tiger full back piece. I have full trust in his abilites and a artist and tattooer, obviously.
Give Matt a shout if you want some quality work, great things come with patience and understanding which you will find working with Matt.
–B

Andre Malcolm is AMAZING!!!
I visited Analog for the first time this weekend. They were super friendly and clean. I wanted a very emotional/​healing script tattoo. Andre Malcolm free handed the script and it couldn’t be more beautiful. He was able to execute the feeling through his writing style. It came out so feminine, pretty and amazing. He even touched up my older tattoo from another shop for no extra charge. I can’t wait to get my next tattoo from here. I will definitely be calling Andre.

An update on my previous review:
I recently ran into Jim Miner at a café in downtown SJ. I introduced myself and explained my predicament (I had left my name, tattoo design ideas and number for him over a year ago and he never called me back). He looked confused and proceeded to tell me (in a standoffish way) that he had no idea what I was talking about, and had never heard of me, nor my ideas for a sleeve.
Funny and fishy, since his friend (who is also an acquaintance of mine) told me he was talking to her about doing a sleeve on me a few weeks after I had left my info… unless he forgot that too.
Either way, still not going to Analog.

Shady business practices.
I came into Analog and put down a deposit with Matt to get a whole sleeve done. Two months later, I was ready to see my drawing and get started, but he moved me back a month to go on vacation in Europe. The following month, he moved me back again because he had to attend his friend’s funeral. Finally 4 months after putting down my deposit, Matt tells me that he want to move our appointment back again because he has to go to his sister’s wedding.
By this time it’s been 5 months since my first visit, and I still have not even seen a drawing of my piece. Matt tells me to come in and get started, but how am I supposed to be OK with that when I haven’t even seen what my tattoo is going to look like?
Seriously, who does that to a client?
I finally say screw it, I’m tired of dealing with this shyster, and cancel my tattoo. Matt offers to send me the drawings, which I NEVER GOT. I call him and tell him I want my deposit back since I didn’t even see any drawings. He still never sends them until finally two months later when I complain, he sends me a picture on his iphone.
Don’t deal with this guy. He’s too busy to deal properly with paying customers.

I had a couple of ideas for a sleeve and was highly recommended to go to Analog. Saw Andre, he asked me what I wanted, took a stencil, noting I had a piece already. I told/​wrote down everything I wanted him to put together. I brought pictures on a flash drive and left it with him for a drawing… 2 weeks of calling him, he kept «forgetting» my drawing at home. Finally, he told me to come in at 6pm one night to see the drawing. I showed up, and he was in the middle of a session. He walks out with a computer printing (as if he just googled it). and wrapped it around my arm… (covering my existing tattoo… seriously?) He then started explaining that he usually does large peices and pointed at a tiger on the wall. My friends and girlfriend thought everything was a joke/​prank. I asked for my money back and was very suprised becuase of the good referrals I got about this place.
I ended up finishing my sleeve at Illusions Cal Tattoo.
Pros: Nice atmousphere, seemed clean and really nice art work on the walls.
Cons: The story above

Added #9 to my ink collection over the weekend…
Can never say enough good things about Matt! Had a spontaneous «I want another tattoo moment», sent him a text, and he was able to accommodate me that night. What tattoo artist does that? Umm, mine! :)
I had my design drawn out for months, so it was a quick & easy session. I was a little nervous about the location of the tattoo since it is a sensitive area (left inner bicep), but he zoomed right through it. «LOVE, LOVE, LOVE» my latest addition! Check out my pix and you’ll see why…

Waking up on my awesome bed to a pile of dry ass black, red, green, and blue-​colored, dead skin flakes everywhere is starting to become a normal thing. good thing i picked up that mini dirt devil for $ 20.
just finished up a 4^th session, added color and now the sleeve is starting to look more and more complete. another appointment to book and that’s a wrap (around my arm!).
I have one more final session to ink in a bit of grey shading, cloud elemental, wind bars and colorful flora to fill in a few skin gaps, produce a beautiful Japanese background, and connect everything to form a masterfully finished sleeve. an amazing work of art is about to get even better.
stay tuned