Tattoo for you?

[Robert]

I have started thinking about getting a tattoo, because my wife is talking about it all the time. She wants a viking ship. Me, I think I want a GEETAR!

Does anyone here have a tattoo or two? Tips, links, ideas - please share, as I'm new to this. I'm starting to think that a nice Strat on my arm wouldn't be completely wrong. Or maybe a Strat leaning against a little amp!

Other ideas I have is the 3 crowns - the symbol for Sweden (http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/se-3kron.html), or maybe something with running, since I love to run.

Examples I found on the net:

 

[Iago]

nice Rob.. some friends of mine are tatoo artists... I was even once "invited" to be one... long story that is...

hummm what you think about a guitar (the model of your choice hehe) and the Swedish flag as background? that could be a nice basic idea...

I once thought of doing a big psychodelic hendrix on my arm... but I gave up on the idea.

 

[Mark]

Personally Tats just dont appeal to me. If you do get one PLEASE make sure the instruments are sterile!! Dont take their word for it MAKE em show you! Hep B and C are easily transmited this way. I unfortunately have both from blood contact in my job as an apprentice many years ago. I am a Plumbing contractor and how I contracted it is so unbeliveably rare but I got it just the same. We were able to track it down since I had no surgeries, no tats and no drug use history but I had minor workday cuts that got exposed to blood tainted water servicing hospitals and Doctors offices. I been able to beat it (so far) but I havent been able to drink a beer in 7 years, alcohol and liver probs are real bad mixture. Theres reputable tat dudes out there who have no probs showing you their sterilization process dont accept nothing
less. Not trying to be a downer here just watching out for friends!

 

[marnold]

I've never been one for tats either. It's your body so feel free to make whatever choice you want. Just remember that you are stuck with this choice forever.

 

[Tone2TheBone]

They won't let me into the happy hunting ground if I had a tattoo.

 

[Myles]

I've always believed that a tattoo was fine, but personally it would require a lot of thought for me to get one. I'd want whatever tattoo I got to still be meaningful 20 years from now so that I didn't look back and think.. "Man I'm an idiot!"

So my guide to a tattoo:
1)No Names.
2)Keep it Small.
3)Not on your forehead.

That about sums it up for me

 

[Iago]

I agree with everybody

- make you tatoos with reconized professionals
- I would never do a "name tatoo"
- Don`t do a 15 inches one if you`re just 'starting' on the bussiness, keep it simple.

 

[t_ross33]

I have a little one of these on my right shoulder, from the band, Poco. Like the band, always thought this album cover was kinda cool. Got it when I lived in Toronto as a reminder of my prairie/cowboy roots without being TOO hick-like.

View attachment 402

Have a hankerin' for lots more but waiting to find just the right one(s).

I say go for it Robert!

 

[Tone2TheBone]

Hey Rob get one like Ritchen Valens (the flying guitar).

 

[Katastrophe]

Robert, you could get a Strat... but HOW would you figure out which model?

I kinda like the idea of your '51, leaning against the Vox or the Reverend, with a Bad Monkey on the floor would be a good one...

+1 to what everybody here says about getting tats, too. Make sure the artist is reputable. A good shop will open a presterilized package of needles right in front of you. Watch how the artists work. Do they wear gloves? Is the shop clean? Also, don't rely on pictures of tats on the wall. Talk to some of the customers hanging around and check out their work.

 

[t_ross33]

Tattoo parlors have come along way in the past 20 years. As body art, including tat's, piercings etc. have become, if not more popular, more mainstream, reputable artists are easier to find than ever. "Tattoo parlors", for lack of a better term now have more in common with day spas and salons than beer joints and barber shops, at least in my neck of the woods (though I'm sure I can find a seedy joint or two without having to look too hard).

Find an artist you like (review his/her portfolio) and make an appointment. If you're on a waiting list of 2 or 3 months, then chances are the guy/gal is good and in demand. The more reputable ones will take their art as serious as any axe slinger here at TheFret and will attend trade shows, seminars and classes to constantly learn and improve their technique and further their art. Ask lots of questions! I've been advised to stay away from places that take walk-ins for many of the reasons mentioned in previous posts. If you are ever in the Regina area I can recommend an artist for you. I've seen his work and he is very good. Comes highly recommended. I'll be looking him up when I get the courage up to get more serious "ink done".

Trev

 

[Robert]

I still would like a guitar tattoo, if I can find an artist who can make one look good.

My wife is getting a viking ship tattoo soon. That is pretty cool too.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Once upon a time I considered a tatoo, and an earring. Ended up deciding that in my case, it would look like I was trying too hard. Not really my look anyway.

 

[Ro3b]

Robert, if you ever make it down to DC I'll hook you up.

 

[carp3nt3r]

I had an earring once. man am i glad that healed over. tattoo, none for me thanks. I see my inlaws with thiers during the summer and man it isnt pretty.

just think about what youre gonna have done, because someday someone will ask you why you chose it. can anyone fathom a reason for a cactus wearing a sombrero and two dice? <--- told ya the inlaws were strange folks I married the only normal one outta that bunch !!


carp3nt3r (please pass the washable markers i am applying a psuedo-tattoo.)

 

[Mark]

I had an earring once. man am i glad that healed over. tattoo, none for me thanks. I see my inlaws with thiers during the summer and man it isnt pretty.

just think about what youre gonna have done, because someday someone will ask you why you chose it. can anyone fathom a reason for a cactus wearing a sombrero and two dice? <--- told ya the inlaws were strange folks I married the only normal one outta that bunch !!


carp3nt3r (please pass the washable markers i am applying a psuedo-tattoo.)

Oh man that is just too funny, soda in nose alert!!

 

[R_of_G]

I can't believe I'm first finding this thread now. Silly me spending all my time talking about music and sports.:thwap:

I just got a new tattoo this past Saturday. It is my fifth.

Here are some pics of it, as well as the others. May as well put them up in chronological order...

#1 - Skeleton - Inside of left ankle

This was my first. I didn't play guitar at the time. I have since talked to my current artist about covering up the yo-yo with a Gibson ES-135 like mine. That will prob be the next tattoo I have done.

#2 - Sun - Upper Right Arm

#3 - Om - Inside of left wrist

This is one of two that both my wife and I got the same design in the same location. They were anniversary gifts to each other for our 9th and 10th anniversaries.

#4 - Lotus Flower - Inside of right wrist

This is the other anniversary tat.

#5 - Rose - Inside of left forearm

This is the most recent.

 

[Ro3b]

Wow, that rose is beautiful. Congratulations!

I'll post a pic of my back piece when it's done, but it will probably take at least another year or so. Stay tuned.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I am partial to the sun one, go figure, Sun Valley and all. Robert, did you ever get one? Maybe you can combine your idea and your wife's and get a Hagstrom Viking.

 

[R_of_G]

Wow, that rose is beautiful. Congratulations!

I'll post a pic of my back piece when it's done, but it will probably take at least another year or so. Stay tuned.

Looking forward to seeing it.:AOK:

 

[just strum]

some people can do tats, but I had two removed years ago (just not me). I did have a pierced ear and you can still see it. I would pierce my ear again, but not both.

So I'm not a tat man, but change one letter and I will say I am a ______ man.

 

[Childbride]

i have four.

they are extremely personal to me and all commemorate an ideology of mine, or an expression of emotion.

[excepting the first, and tiniest. that one was a dare from the ex and is pure flash. the rest were all designed in collaboration with the tattooist. ]

robert, i'd be very picky about whom you allow to do the work, imho. what i personally conceptualize when you speak of those particular tattoos entails an artist in fine line, or single needle tattooing. you lose a great deal of detail when you move to the multiple needle work.

 

[M29]

I was never much into tatoos but to my surprise, my college bound son came home with one last year that I kind of got enthused about. He had the tree (Nimloth) from Lord of the Rings put on his back. He and I love that trilogy and have watched it many many times and read the books. I have had thoughts of doing the same thing on my back. Shoot not one would ever see it as I am a wrinkly, saggy, skinny runt now since I lost all my musckels over the years.

 

[sumitomo]

I've got 3,about 20yrs ago and the Hep C popped up 5yrs ago.Don't do it even if they clean good,they might just forget and pour the extra ink back in the container forgetting that it had blood in it.Sumi

 

[tunghaichuan]

So I'm not a tat man, but change one letter and I will say I am a ______ man.

Me? I'm an a$$ man. Everyone who knows me says: "Tung, you're and a$$, man." :rotflmao:

(apologies to Rodney Dangerfield, but I love that joke)

As for tats, never. I'm scared of needles. I don't dare look when they draw my blood

tung

 

[just strum]

One reason I am not a tattoo guy is I change my mind frequently (example: selling of guitars after owning them a week or two). I would get bored of it or them very quickly, so it's safer to have none. I see them on other people and I see a lot that I like, but not for me.

 

[just strum]

Me? I'm an a$$ man. Everyone who knows me says: "Tung, you're and a$$, man." :rotflmao:

(apologies to Rodney Dangerfield, but I love that joke)

As for tats, never. I'm scared of needles. I don't dare look when they draw my blood

tung

I like the joke.

As for needles, I wasn't fond of them, but when I was in the hospital with my heart attack they would draw blood twice a night. When they did it, they would wake you up to tell you what they were doing. It got to the point where I would fall asleep while they took the blood. Even now when they take blood, I will hold the needle while they get gauze or sometimes it takes a number of tries to find a vein (I'm the opposite of Robert in that department) and will have to guide them in how to hit a vein.

I just posted this because I thought it strange that I went from someone that didn't like them and had to turn away, to someone who tends to control the process.

 

[R_of_G]

CB, does the Rose tattoo look familiar to you? As a fellow Tower Junkie, it should.

 

[Childbride]

CB, does the Rose tattoo look familiar to you? As a fellow Tower Junkie, it should.

most excellent.

none of my tatts are SK related, but my favorite one, surrounding my left ankle, actually incorporates my own handwriting.

 

[R_of_G]

Sounds very cool CB!

The Rose is primarily because my daughter's middle name is Rose, but then again, part of the reason her middle name is Rose is bc my wife and I are both Tower Junkies.