Sweet Baby Octane

Mike Gombeda created a custom piece of art for my arm! He took his time with the drawing, planning, using the stencil, and free-handed portions. He always asked permission to free-hand something in place of an original idea to see if it would work better. He was never pushy and never made me feel like his ideas were better than mine. He was especially patient with me when picking out the colors, particularly when I was being indecisive. I really appreciated and welcomed his suggestions during the whole process. Also, as a woman a big plus for me was that Mike never gave me that creepy guy vibe.\r I never had a fear of infection or cross contamination because Mike is crazy about cleanliness. He washed his hands before we started each session and after breaks, he probably changed his gloves 10 times each session, too. Everything was wrapped in plastic i.e. trays, machines, chairs, electrical wires, etc. Plus, I had the opportunity to watch him open all the needles and tubes from their original packaging during every set up. \r After completely healing, there are no lumpy scar tissue spots and my skin is smooth to the touch. The colors in my tattoo are vibrant and beautiful, I get compliments all the time! \r Going to Mike Gombeda at Sweet Baby Octane was a great experience and I've already scheduled my next piece! more

My sister told me about this place, went there got 2 zodiac sign ""D"" was so awsome easy to talk to made you feel comfortable. I will definitely tell all my friends about Sweet Baby Octane... Going back to get my cover-up. Very Clean... Everybody in there are very nice. I now know best place in Cbus/Grandview.\r \r Thanks :) more

This place is awesome. Sweet fun atmosphere and very very clean. The guys are all professional and very friendly. I got large owl on my back last June from Rev Dice. I gave him a general idea of what I wanted but left the design and size up to him. I'm so glad that I did! His work is stellar! His design was leaps and bounds above anything I could have dreamt up on my own. My suggestion is to let him work his magic. That being said, he is committed to making the customer happy and genuinly concerned with making sure the design is what you want. When I came in for my appointment he had the design ready in 3 different sizes to find the best one that fit my body shape. He was also very understanding when I felt sick and had to take a break. (A bit embarrassing I must admit, but shows his character and professionalism). I will not go anywhere else for tattoos in the future. ...just be sure to book an appointment because these guys are in high demand. more

Great shop and great guys. You get what you pay for. I am extremely happy with the tattoo I received and will DEFINITELY go back. I recommend them to anyone who wants to receive a quality work and a great experience. My wife and I wanted to go together, since we were driving a couple of hours to get there, and they had no problem accommodating us. I can't believe anyone would come on here and bash these guys. It's ok, though, because I plan on making up the difference in what they would've made from that girl, plus a whole lot more. D, I will be scheduling very soon on resuming my Halloween sleeve. more

I have a few tattoos, none from the same artist. I was eager to get my next piece, and decided to try out SBO this time. My artist was Mike. I met with Mike one Friday afternoon, and showed him what I was looking for. We scheduled an appointment for a later Friday afternoon to do the actual tattoo.\r \r It took a while (a LONG while) to get Mike's interpretation of my idea to jive with what I truly wanted, but he was great about working with me, and redrawing, and redrawing, and REDRAWING the piece until I was satisfied with the result. Mike never showed discouragement or frustration when he showed me his latest modification, and I told him to rework the design again. He really was patient and gracious.\r \r My actual tattoo is exactly what I wanted and expected. Mike's technique is unusually tolerable. I was not uncomfortable the entire time I was under the needle. His lines are flawless, the fill is without blemish, and the design itself is definitely *ME*.\r \r Incidentally, in the middle of our session, Mike confessed to me that I wasn't actually scheduled for the tattoo that evening. My appointment was supposed to have been only for finalizing the artwork, with the intention of scheduling the real tattoo appointment for a later date. The mistake was completely *MINE*, not his. And even though I did not have an actual appointment for the tattoo that night, he saw how eager I was to get my ink, and he accommodated me despite the fact that I wasn't booked for that evening. That is some real professionalism.\r \r Mike will be the first, and likely ONLY tattoo artist I visit regularly. I am already conjuring up my next piece, and I don't want to go anywhere else. more

I had a great experience at SBO just before the holidays. Rev dice did amazing work on my right calf and I am headed back to have lots more work done very soon. I live in Detroit and drive a truck for a liveing and make special trips now just to git tattoos. more

everything was great the art was better than what i saw in my head .... just wish i didn't have to wait so long to get an appointment (not a bad sign though - would rather have a good artist who is in demand than some crappy work done just cause you can do a walk in, right?) Pros: everything (almost) more

D. Willy and crew are some of the coolest guys I've ever met. Clean shop, clean work, and they made me feel comfortable and welcome the entire time I was there. I would suggest them to anyone. more

Worth every needle stroke. D-Willy at Sweet Baby Octane is worth every needle stroke! I spent years in Columbus admiring his craft on my friends. When the day came to get my half-sleeve he was very professional and creative in adapting my 2D drawn idea into a tattoo on a 3D surface. ME! DWilly also did two touch-up sessions for free on my shoulder where MY skin had trouble accepting the ink, now it looks fantastic. I now live in Seattle, where ink seems to be a state requirement. I get compliments on my work all the time. Even during an ink discussion at Pikes Market Place with a random admirer, they knew of Sweet Baby Octane. We will be flying back to Ohio for any more work on my wife or myself because DWilly DELIVERS! Pros: Excellent tattoo artist. Cons: None. more

I recently has an excellent experience while getting a tattoo from Rev Dice at Sweet Baby Octane. I had been thinking about an intricate Celtic Knot design, interlaced with ravens for several years. \r Rev. Dice was able to create a work of art that brought my vision to life. He was very professional and had great insights on how to improve the design. He executed it perfectly and I love the tattoo. I highly recommend him and the shop. It was a great experience and I will definitely be back for my next tattoo. Also, a very cool shop and great atmosphere. Pros: Amazing Artists who do great work, Rev D is Excellent more

The location is cool, the shop is even cooler and the guys are the coolest guys you'll ever meet. Extremely professional, the shop is decked out and clean as a whistle. Any concerns or inhibitions are left at the door because the minute you walk in, your made to feel welcomed. Mike G tattoos me and what can I say? He's amazing. A true artist and professional. He loves what he does and accepts no less than perfection. A guy that can grab a pen and free hand the most amazing stuff I've ever seen is the guy that keeps me coming back for more. Mike has done a few of my tattoos and every one of them is more beautiful and more perfect than I could have ever imagined. It is an honor to wear his work. Mike, you are awesome. Go in, check out their portfolios, and find yourself in the right place. \r \r more

When you come to the shop, ask for Mike G. He has done some great work on me for almost 3 years now. I have a hand drawn butterfly that looks as good as it did 3 years ago and a huge backpiece that I love. He is a perfectionist so you will love what you have forever. He's now doing an entire leg piece for me, again all hand drawn, and I love it. It's amazing because I can tell him what I want and he can somehow draw it exactly . \r Everyone at the shop is great and very friendly and I always look forward to tattoo day. Definately worth it and I recommend you see Mike. You won't be disapointed Pros: great staff and great work more

Great shop, clean, private, friendly artists.. BUT... hands down, best in town, Mike Gombeda!! GREAT lines, GREAT eye, GREAT price, GREAT artist!! He did a back piece for me that is absolutely beautiful. My ideas were kindof off the wall and random and he made it work beautifully. There are so many tattoo artists in town that just want to make a buck and dont really care what their work looks like or will look like in 10 or 20 years. He is passionate about what he does and it really shows in his work, he considers everything!!! Mike will NOT disapoint. more

So I never do this, but I honestly felt so compelled to write a review on here for this place. It just blew my mind in every way.\r \r This was my first tattoo and I had narrowed it down to Sweet Baby Octane and another place in Columbus that most every is familiar with. I wrote both places initially but it was D's quick and kind response that won me over (and their work of course!)\r \r When I met up with him and discussed my ideas I knew that I had made the right choice. He sent me a sketch of everything we talked about that literally was a step further to what I had in mind. This concept had probably about 5 ideas and I was honestly doubting that D would be able to fit everything in without it looking like a jumbled mess. No way! It was so cool, I could not wait to have it done. And when he told me the price.. I thought he was kidding! I was expecting to spend at least 200 dollars more than what he quoted.\r \r On tattoo day I was really nervous, but he made me feel completely at ease and when he started I honestly could barely feel it. When we were finished I had honestly one of the most perfect, creative, and colorful tattoos I have ever seen in my entire life. After healing the colors even got brighter! (if thats even possible) I have gotten a billion compliments about the design and I cant stop looking at it myself, haha.\r \r So, don't miss out on this place. I will be going back and I have told all my friends about D and Sweet Baby Octane. I know theres some other places that probably do pretty good work, but, I can assure you, theres no one who can even touch what D does at Sweet Baby Octane. I'm not even kidding! Pros: Great attention to detail, stunning color, creative ideas Cons: None at all more

I highly recommend Sweet Baby Octane to anyone, who is considering getting a tat in Columbus.\r more

D Willy is the best tattoo artist around, bar none. He is experienced, professional and highly talented. I would recommend Sweet Baby Octane to anyone who is serious about body art. Thanx, D! Pros: Great atmosphere, talented artists, professional more

Well, I had thought long and hard about what tattoos would be my first...after all, I don't say anything that I don't mean, and tattoos should represent something about you; it should speak to your qualities in microcosm...\r \r ...and admittedly, as much time as I spent thinking about what it was I wanted, I spent that much time, or more, thinking about where to go. And lets face it, if you're reading this, you live in the metro CBus area or your near enough to be considering Sweet Baby Octane; and you've heard of the other joints out there [and I don't say anything to slight those other places, I'm sure there are quality artists out there that do great work and have nice shops]. But, for that matter, I'll only spend my time and my money in ONE tattoo studio in Columbus: Sweet Baby Octane.\r \r From the moment you walk up the stairs and through the doorway, this place speaks to you with an amazing vibe. It's a little bit metal, a little bit voodoo and a whole lot D. Willy [the owner and one of the two tattoo artists]. There is plenty to feast your eyes upon in this small shop [although it's every bit as big as it needs to be]. As you're waiting for either D. or Reverend Dice to be ready for your time slot, you can read a mag, look at some of the great artwork, or just chill listening to some great music.\r \r When it's time to get to work, D. and Rev. are all about it. \r They listen to everything you have to say, and definitely call upon their talents and their years of experience in making sure that the skin art they are about to create for you will be exactly what you want. For example, these first tattoos of mine were a pair of Kanji on my triceps. D. and Rev. both consulted with each other to make certain that the placement, the alignment, the size was right and proportionate in an effort to get it right. How is that for taking your art and craft seriously?\r \r And above that, D. and Rev. are great and interesting guys. Let's face it, you can go anywhere and get some ink slapped on your skin, but it takes someplace special to get quality skin art, a great atmosphere, great conversation and, above all else, have it done by great people. And to that extent, that's what I was waiting for...a place where I knew I could go and be treated right and have a great experience. And if that sounds like what you're looking for, you shouldn't think about going anywhere else.\r \r Truth be told, I had narrowed my field of tattoo studios down to three, prior to going to SBO. And without naming names, I emailed all three places. Only one returned my email, and in so doing made an impression on me with their sincerity and professionalism, and that was Sweet Baby Octane.\r \r I'm writing this for two reasons; first, I know there are those out there who were just like me looking for a great studio, and I hope this review helps. Second, I wish Sweet Baby Octane all the best for the quality work and kindness they extended to me. In writing this review I have but one reservation: I don't want their business to grow so large that I have a hard time getting back in...they are THAT good!\r \r Thanks for the Kanji, Rev.! I hope to see you guys VERY soon. Pros: Professionalism, vibe, price Cons: **None!** more

Let me say, I did my research before I went to Sweet Baby Octane, and the proof is in the pudding....My daughter & I wanted to get matching tat's. We had a symbolic reason for it as we both love the song ""Amazing Grace"", but specifically the Chris Tomlin version. This song has substantial meaning & we want the world to know God saved us both. The sterotype of tatoo shops is rough, attitude guys who don't speak. NOPE!! Dan & D made our experience a wonderful one. Dan (who did both our tats) makes you feel like he's known you forever & makes it very clear, he wants you to leave satisfied....and we did and then some. D's daughter helps run the shop & what an amazingly wonderful girl she is. She also sat w/ us (cause let's face it a tatoo doesn't tickle) and made us feel at ease. Just an awsome experience. I hope that God continues to bless them & their business cause their just awsome guys!!! Whether your someone getting your millionth tat or two girls like us getting their first.....doesn't matter, it's all the same to them :) Pros: Professional, Clean and amazing tat experience more

Everything at Sweet Baby Octane was very professional. The studio is top notch,as is the staff. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a tattoo artist or studio. Pros: Professional Courteous Staff more

D is awesome. I have several tattoos which D has done. He has done a portrait for me as well as several traditional and not so traditional pieces for me. I would not go anywhere else. Pros: Best work in town more